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Geography 101 Part 1
Geography 101 Part 1
IntrotoEarthSystems
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IntroductoryMaterial
(ChristophersonCha1)
I. BriefHistoryOfGeography:
II. DefinitionsofGeography
A. Geography (fromgeo,"Earth,"andgraphein,"towrite,")isthescience thatstudiestherelationshipamonggeographicareas,naturalsystems, society,culturalactivities,andtheinterdependenceofalltheseover space(spatialanalysis).CHRISTOPHERSONINGEOSYSTEMS B. PhysicalGeography centersonspatialanalysisofallthephysical elementsandprocessesthatmakeuptheenvironment:energy,air, water,weather,climate,landforms,soils,animals,plants,andtheEarth itself. III. WhyGeography?
A.Importanttounderstandtheworldaroundus;thewayitworks. B.Humanenvironmentinterrelationshipsareincreasinglyimportant. 1.Humansareaffectedbytheenvironment 2.Humanscangreatlyaffecttheenvironment. 3.Technologywillnotsaveus;onlyhelpus... Whatdogeographersdo?Careers:Outstandingfoundationtomanycareerchoices! Looksatthebroadperspective.Trendinbusinesstohirestudentsfromotherbackgrounds.
IV.
C. SiteLocation Location,Location,Location.Areaknownaslocationalanalysis. :
D. Cartography(theartandscienceofmakingmaps) Accuratemapsare :
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EnvironmentalSystems
whichislinkedbymovementsofmatterandenergy.Systemscanbelargeor small,dependingonhowonewishestostudythem. **Insteadofstudyingtheenvironmentpiecemeal,wenowtrytolookatalltheelementsastheyinterrelate.
System=Adistinctandinterrelatedsetofcomponents(livingandnonliving)
I. TypesofSystems A. ClosedSystems:Closedwithrespecttotransferofmatter,butnotenergy.Rarein
nature.BiosphereProject.
III. ModelsofSystems:Modelsareattemptsbyhumanstosimplifyanddisplaythefunctionsofa
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UnitsofMeasure
I. LengthExamples A. 1inchisabout2.5centimeters(cm) B. 6feetisabout1.8meters(m) C. 1footisabout30centimeters(cm) D. L.A.toSac.isabout400milesor660kilometers(km) E. 1yardisabout1meter(m) II. WeightExamples A. 100poundsisabout45kilograms(kg) B. 1poundisabout450grams(g) III. VolumeExamples A. 1quartisabout1liter(L) B. 1gallonisabout4liters(L) IV. TemperatureComparisons
ColdestDayonRecord:Antarctica FreezingPointofWater: ChillyDay: RoomTemp: HotDay: HottestDayonRecord: BoilingPointofWater: (89C=129F) (0C=32F) (10C=50F) (20C=68F) (40C=105F) (58C=136F) (100C=212F)
V. ConversionExample
Howmanykilometersis3000feet? 3000feet x 1mile 5280feet x 1.6kilometers 1mile
=0.91kilometers
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GeographicInformationSciences
I. Cartography:Cartographyistheartandscienceofmakingmaps. A. Map:AmapisaflatrepresentationofthesphericalEarth.Theonlytrulycorrect
representationoftheshapesoftheEarth'slandmassesisaglobe.
B. Projections(seewebsiteonclasspage):Amapisactuallyaprojectionofa
sphericalsurfacetoaflatsurface.
1. TypesofProjections: a) Cylindrical:Trueshape,truedirection;distortedarea.Areasofland b)
SelfStudy
Whichislargerscale,aroadmapofSanDiegooraworldmap?Understandlargeand smallscale.
Hint:Thinksmallscale>largeareaandviceversa...
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C. GeographicInformationSystem(GIS)(seeAppendixII):Acomputersystem
forentering,storing,manipulating,analyzing,anddisplayingspatialdata.Alldataisdigital!!! andmetadata.
1. DatabaseofInformation:(RowsandColumns)Datawithspatialcomponents
2. Digital"Georeferenced"Map:Mapinformationisstoredinrealworld
coordinateslikelatitude/longitude.
3. Example:TrivialExampleTask:FindingtheperfectresidenceinSanDiego
PotentialHomedata ID# Price Pool Yard
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
SquareFeet
Garage
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TheEarth:Space,Location,andTime
I. TheEarthinSpace A. MilkyWayGalaxy:Groupofover100billionstarsarrangedinaflat,swirlingdisklike
D. TheRevolvingEarth:Theearthtakesanellipticalpatharoundthesun,whichit
completesonceevery3651/4days.Weaccountforthisquarterdaybyaddinganextraday onceeveryfouryears.WeaddFeb.29everyfouryears(leapyear).
SelfStudy
E. TheRotatingEarth:Theearthrotatesonitsaxis,whichisanimaginarylinepassing
Rotatingreferenceframe(thesurfaceoftheearth)introducesnewapparentforces(eg, theCoriolisForce).
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II. LocationTheGeographicGrid:Inordertobettermeasuretheearthandevaluateglobal
A. ParallelsofLatitude(Figure1.10):ImaginaryCirclesdrawnontheglobe
perpendiculartotheaxis.Lat=Flat
1. Equator:TheonewhichperfectlybisectstheglobeiscalledtheEquator,anditis
designatedas0Latitude.Definegreatcirclesandsmallcircles
2. AngularDistance:MeasuredindegreesnorthorsouthoftheEquator
ParallelsofLatitude
(examples)
NORTH POLE
30 South Latitude
SOUTH POLE
B. MeridiansofLongitude(Figure1.12):ImaginaryCircles.Eachcircleintersects
boththeNorthandSouthPoles.Theycrossallparallelsoflatitudeatrightangles.
1. PrimeMeridian:Thisisthemeridiandesignatedas0Longitude.Decided
arbitrarily.PassesthroughtheoldRoyalObservatoryatGreenwich,England.
2. AngularDistance:MeasuredindegreeseastorwestofthePrimeMeridian.
FromthePrimeMeridian,thereare180degreestotheEastand180degreesto theWest.(360degreestotal) Sacramento,CAliesatapprox.121WestLongitude. Eachdegreeoflongitudeisapprox.110km(70miles),butonlyattheEquator. TheyconvergetowardthePoles.
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MeridiansofLongitude(examples)
North Pole
90
90 West Longitude
C. TimeZone(Figure115):Political(human)designationswhichdividerough
D. CoordinatedUniversalTime(UTC):Specialaccurateatomicclockswhichprovide
anofficialreferencetimeforthewholeworld.UTCtimealwaysreferstothetimeatthePrime Meridian.ThisusedtobecalledGreenwichMeanTime.
E. InternationalDateLine(Figure116):Atapprox.180degLongitude.
Traveleastwardacrossitandloseaday. Travelwestwardacrossitandgainaday.
F. DaylightSavingsTime:Inthesummermonths,thispolicymovesourwaking/working
hoursintotheactualdaylighthours.So,ifthesunnormallygoesdownataround7:00pm duringthesummer,peoplewillbeginturninglightson.But,withdaylightsavingstimewe movetheclocksaheadsothatthesungoesdownaround8:00pm.Thiswaywesavean hour'sworthofenergybynotturningonlights.
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ReasonsfortheSeasons
(ChristophersonCha2)
I. TheTiltedEarth(Inclination):Theearth'saxisistilted23.5fromarightanglewiththeplane
oftheecliptic;theaxisisalwaysdirectedtoafixedpointinspace(Polaris,sameastheNorthStar).
TheTiltedEarth
North Pole
23.5
South Pole
II. comingSolarRadiation(alsocalledInsolation):TheEarthinterceptsSolar In
Radiation.
A. SolarConstant:TheaverageamountofenergyreceivedatthetopofEarth's
atmosphere,beforeitactuallyenters.Thevalueis1372Watts/m2.Generally,thisvalue doesn'tchange.
B. DistributionofRadiation:Dependingonlatitudeandtimeofyear,theamountof
insolationreceivedattheEarthdiffers!
1. HoursofInsolation:Lesshoursofinsolationmeanlesstotalinsolation. 2. AngleofIncidence(orSunAngle):Thisistheangleatwhichthesuns
rayshittheearth.Itiscriticalisindeterminingseasons. DirectRay(orVerticalRay):Whenthesunrayscomefromdirectlyoverheadat a90degreeangle.Thesearethestrongestrays!!! LowerAngleRays Whensunrayscometoearthatalowerangle;inotherwords,whentherays comefromlowerinthesky. Raysbecomeprogressivelyweakerwhentheanglebecomesless. Theseraysalsopassthroughmoreatmosphere,resultinginmorefiltering.
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SunAngles
SUN
SUN SUN Highest Angle / Highest Energy (Direct Ray) Medium Angle / Medium Energy Lowest Angle / Lowest Energy
C. SeasonalityofInsolation(Reasonsforseasons) 1. SubsolarPoint:ThepointontheEarthwherethesunisperfectlyoverhead,or
thepointwherethesun'srayshittheearth'ssurfaceabsolutelyperpendicular.
2. Declination:Thelatitudeofthesubsolarpoint.Itchangesthroughouttheyear. 3. CircleofIllumination:Thehalfoftheglobewhichisreceivingthesun'srays.
Itisalwaysexactlyonehalfoftheglobe.
4. TheKeyFactor:
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SummaryofSeasonalChangesinEarth/SunRelationships
*Declination23.5SouthLat.(Thislatitudeisreferredtoas theTropicofCapricorn.Thisisthehighestlatitudeinthe SouthernHemispherewhichreceivestheSun'sdirectrayon atleastonedayoftheyear.) *24hrs.darknessnorthof66.5NorthLat.(Thislatitude, referredtoastheArcticCircle,representsthelowestlatitude intheNorthernHemispherewhichexperiencesatleastone daywith24hrsofcontinuousdarkness.) *24hrs.lightsouthof66.5SouthLat.(Thislatitude,referred toastheAntarcticCircle,representsthelowestlatitudeinthe SouthernHemispherewhichexperiencesatleastonedayof 24hrsofcontinuoussunlight.) *CalledWinterSolsticeinN.Hem. *HoursANDanglesofinsolationhighestthroughoutSouthern Hem.,causingSummer! *HoursANDanglesofinsolationlowestthroughoutNorthern Hem.,causingWinter! *DeclinationEquatorat0Lat *AllpointsonEarthreceive12hrs.light/12hrs.dark *CalledVernalEquinoxinN.Hem. *Declination23.5NorthLat.(Thislatitudeisreferredtoas theTropicofCancer.Thisisthehighestlatitudeinthe NorthernHemispherewhichreceivestheSun'sdirectrayon atleastonedayoftheyear.) *24hrs.lightnorthof66.5NorthLat.(Thislatitude,referredto astheArcticCircle,representsthelowestlatitudeinthe NorthernHemispherewhichexperiencesatleastonedayof 24hrsofcontinuoussunlight.) *24hrs.darksouthof66.5SouthLat.(Thislatitude,referred toastheAntarcticCircle,representsthelowestlatitudeinthe SouthernHemispherewhichexperiencesatleastonedayof 24hrsofcontinuousdarkness.) *CalledSummerSolsticeinN.Hem. *HoursANDanglesofinsolationlowestthroughoutSouthern Hem.,causingWinter! *HoursANDanglesofinsolationhighestthroughoutNorthern Hem.,causingSummer! *DeclinationEquatorat0Lat *AllpointsonEarthreceive12hrs.light/12hrs.dark *CalledAutumnalEquinoxinN.Hem.
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Problem:Itisvaluabletoknowwhatthemaximumangleofthesunwillbeonagivendayatany
location.Highermaximumsunanglesproducehighinsolation;conversely,lowermaximumsun anglesproducelowinsolation.Thisimportantanglecanbecalculatedforanylocationbyfirst calculatingthetotaldifference(indegrees)betweenthelatitudeofyourchosenlocationandthe declinationforthatday.Then,subtractthisnumberfrom90 Calculatethemaximumangleof . thesuninSacramentoonthefollowingdates: Difference (seeHints below*)
Sacramento's Latitude JuneSolstice? September Equinox? December Solstice? MarchEquinox? 39North 39North 39North 39North
Declination
MaximumSun Angle
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TheAtmosphere
(ChristophersonCha2)
Atmosphere:ThecollectionofgasessurroundingtheEarth.Heldinplacebygravity.
Differentpartscanbecategorizedindifferentways.
I. Heterosphere(80kmandhigher):Wheregasesarenotevenlymixed.Filtersoutdamaging
radiation.
2. Oxygen(21%):highlyactive,involvedinoxidationreactions,importantfor
biologicalactivity.
3. Argon(approx.1%):inert 4. Carbondioxide(0.033%):veryimportantasanabsorberoflongwaveenergy
intheatmosphere.Calledaradiativelyactivegas.
5. Watervapor(approx.1%):varies,alsoimportantasanabsorberof
longwaveenergyintheatmosphere.Calledaradiativelyactivegas.
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2. SpecificPollutants a) Ozone:Createdwhensmogisbrokendownbysunlight.Dangerousatthe b)
surfaceoftheearth AcidRain:Rainwhichmixeswithindustrialsmoketocreateaslightly acidicsolution.Canbeespeciallydamagingtoplants,amphibians,and invertebrates.
3. ComplicatingFactorTheTemperatureInversion:Inthissituation,a
layerofwarmairsitsoveralayerofcoldair.Thistrapspollution.Causedbycoldair drainageand/orradiationcooling.
TemperatureInversion
Warm Air Layer (colder air above and below) Pollution trapped
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EnergyBudgets
(ChristophersonCha3)
ElectromagneticRadiation:TounderstandenergyrelationshipsintheEarth/Atmosphere
I. RadiationWavelengthReview:Wavelengthdecreaseswithincreasingtemperature.Hotter
objectsemitshorterwavelengths.Welumpradiationintotwotypes.
A. Shortwave(Solar) 1. Wavelengths<3m(peaksat0.5m)(mstandsformicrometers) 2. Alsocalled"insolation":(shortforincomingsolarradiation) B. Longwave(Terrestrial) 1. Wavelengths>3m(peaksat10m) 2. Alsocalled"thermalinfrared" II. ImportantRadiationTerms A. Emitted:Givenoff. B. Transmitted:Allowedtopass;unchangedbyatmosphereorwater C. Reflected:Boundedintheoppositedirectionbyatmosphereorwater D. Absorbed:Changedintoheatenergy.
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III. RadiationBudgetfortheEarth/AtmosphereSystem:Averagedovermanyyears,
incomingradiationEQUALSoutgoingradiationfortheearth/atmospheresystem.(Bankaccount example!!!)Inotherwords,INPUTequalsOUTPUT;theearth/atmospheresystembalances!!!
RadiationBudgetfortheEarth/AtmosphereSystem
RADIATIONINPUTS 100unitssolarradiationreceivedattop ofatmosphere(shortwave) RADIATIONOUTPUTS 30unitssolarreflectedbacktospace calledalbedo(shortwave)
6units(reflectedbyatmosphere) 20units(reflectedbyclouds) 4units(reflectedbythelandseasurface) reviewtheconceptofalbedobelow
30+64+6=100unitsofOutput
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IV. RadiationBudgetfortheSurfaceoftheEarth:Radiationbudgetatthesurfaceofthe
Earthdoesnotbalance:
RadiationBudgetfortheSurfaceoftheEarth
RADIATIONINPUTS 55unitsshortwavereceivedat Earth'ssurface 95unitslongwave(fromthe atmosphere)absorbedatsurface 55+95=150unitsofInput InputexceedsOutputby30units!!! RadiationBudgetfortheSurfaceoftheEarthdoesnotbalance!!! Thereisa30unitsurplusofradiationattheEarth'ssurface!!! ImportantPoints:
WhentheEarthisheatedbyinsolation(solar),itbeginstoemitlongwaveradiationbacktowardthe atmosphere. LongwavefromtheEarthisthenabsorbedbytheatmosphere(CO2andH2Ovapor)andreradiated backtowardearth(calledcounterradiation). Becauseofthis,itiscorrecttosaythattheatmosphereisactuallyheatedfrombelow.Itisheatedby thelongwaveradiationemittedbytheearth. Thisissimilartoacaronahotdaywheretheshortwavecanenterthroughthewindows,butthe longwavecannotescape;thus,thecarheatsup.Greenhouseeffect.
V. EnergyBudget(includesheatandradiation)fortheSurfaceoftheEarthBalances!The
EnergyBudgetincludesbothheatenergyandradiationenergy
TotalEnergyBudgetfortheSurfaceoftheEarth
(includesheatANDradiation)
ENERGYOUTPUTS 23unitsLatentHeat:Theheatenergy
trappedinevaporatedwater(watervapor). Wedonotfeelit.
7unitsSensibleHeat:Sensibleheatisthe 30units(net)Input
heatwefeelandtheheatmeasuredby thermometers.
23+7=30unitsofOutput
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Sensibleandlatentheatissubsequentlyproducedatlowlatitudes Thisheatflowspoleward(towardthehighlatituderadiationdeficitareas)
2. NetDeficitofRadiation:OUTPUTSOFRADIATIONgreaterthanINPUTSOF
RADIATION(resultsincoolingatthesurfacecalledRADIATIONCOOLING)
B. Latentvs.sensibleheat:
Problem:Assumeyoumeasurethefollowingforanunknownsurface:
80unitsshortwavereceivedatsurface(input) 40unitsshortwavereflectedbysurface(output) 110unitslongwavereceivedandabsorbed(input) 120unitslongwaveemitted(output)
RadiationDiagram
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AirTemperature
(sensibleheat)
(ChristophersonCha3)
I. Whatdeterminessurfaceairtemperature? A. TheProcess:
B. AirTemperatureLag:Becauseittakestimetoheattheair,thewarmesttimeofthe
C. NormalLapseRate:Onaverage,tempdropsatanaveragerateof6.4C/1000
meters.Calledthenormallapserate.
II. MeasuringAirTemperature:AirTemperatureisameasurementofsensibleheat,themotion
oftheindividualmoleculesofatmosphere. liquidorsolid.
A. Thermometer:Generallymeasurestemperaturesbytheexpansionandcontractionofa B. Thermistor:Anelectricthermometer.Measureselectricalresistanceatdifferent
temperatures
2. NightClouds:CloudsradiateincreasedlongwavetowardEarth;resultsinhigher
minimumtemperatures.i.e.Itdoesn'tgetascoldasaclearnight.
3. DailyTemperatureRange:Differencebetweenthemaximumandminimumis
lowinacloudysituation.
D. Land/WaterHeatingDifferences:Waterhascertainpropertiesascomparedtoland.
Itheatsandcoolsmoreslowlythanland!!!!!!
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Water(Maritime)
Land(Continental)
1. SpecificHeat:Waterhasahighspecificheat,
2. Transparency:Sinceinsolationpenetratesandis Sinceinsolationisabsorbedentirelyat
absorbedatdepth,theheatisdispersedwidely.For thisreason,ittakesalongtimetodissipateinwinter.
3.Mixing:Waterheatsslowlybecauseitmixeswith
cooler,deeperwater.Thus,thewholeoceanis heating,notjustthesurfacelayer.
4. Evaporation:Evaporativecoolingconstantly
keepsoceanwatercoolinthesummer.
SpecialNote:Oceansarelikeanenergystoragebank.Duringthesummer,theyabsorbthesurplus
ofenergy,keepingmaritimelocationscoolerthancontinentallocations.Duringwinter,theyemitthat storedenergy,sothesamemaritimelocationsarekeptslightlywarmerthancontinentallocations. MARITIME: Locatedbytheocean Coolerinsummerandwarmerinwinter. Lowannualtemperaturerange. CONTINENTAL: Locatedfarfromtheocean Hotterinsummerandcolderinwinter. Highannualtemperaturerange.
**LookatFigure3.23.Doesthisgraphseemtomakesenseinlightofthe informationpresentedhere?
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A. June/JulyWorldAirTemperaturePatterns
SELFSTUDY Ingeneral,howdoestheEquatorcomparetothePoles? Wherearethecoldestwintertemperatures?(Highorlowlatitude;overoceansorland surfaces?) Comparecoastalandcontinental(inland)locationswiththesamelatitude;whichoneis colderinwinter?Whichiscolderinsummer? Whichseemstohavethewarmersummers,NorthernorSouthernHemispheres?Why? (HINT:Seemaritimevs.continentaldiscussion.)
B. AnnualTemperatureRange(differencebetweenyearlyhighandlow)
SELFSTUDY Whathappenedtotherangeaslatitudeincreases? Wherearethehighestranges?(Highorlowlatitude?;overoceansorlandsurfaces?) Wherearethelowestranges?(Highorlowlatitude?;overoceansorlandsurfaces?) Howdorangescomparebetweencoastalandinlandlocationsofthesamelatitude?
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AtmosphericandOceanicCirculation
(ChristophersonCha4)
I. AtmosphericPressure:Atmosphericpressureistheforceexertedbyairmolecules.Since
theatmosphereisfluid,thisforceactsinalldirections.Itisapprox.1kg/cm2.Theoretically,ifwe weretotakeaperfectlyverticalcolumn1cm2atthebaseandrisingtospace,thecollectiveweight wouldbe1kg.
A. RelationshipBetweenMolecularDensityandAtmosphericPressure:
Highdensitymeanshighpressure;lowdensitymeanslowpressure. Atmosphericpressureishighestatsealevelanddecreasesrapidlytowardspace. Thisisbecausegravityisholdingthemoleculesinplace.
B. RelationshipBetweenTemperatureandAtmosphericPressure:
Heatedairbecomeslessdense:Moleculesmovefasterandspreadoutward.Resultsin LOWpressure. Cooledairbecomesmoredense:Moleculesmoveslowlyandstaycompact.Resultsin HIGHpressure. ThesearecalledTHERMALhighandlowpressures.
small,sealedmetalchamber.Thechamberexpandswithloweredexternalpressure andcontractswhenexternalpressureincreases.
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A. ThePressureGradientForce:Theforcegeneratedbythepressuredifferences
betweentwopoints.
1. Isobars:Onamap,thesearelinesofequalpressure. 2. Closelyspacedisobars:Indicateahighpressuregradientandhighwind
speeds
3. Widelyspacedisobars:Indicatealowpressuregradientandlowwindspeeds 4. DirectionofForce:Thepressuregradientforceactsperpendiculartothe
isobars.
B.
Deflectionofwinds andoceancurrents:
SouthernHemisphere
totheLEFT
1. WindSpeed:ThestrengthoftheCoriolisForceincreasesaswindspeed
increases.
2. Latitude:ThestrengthoftheCoriolisForceincreasesaslatitudeincreases. 3. NoforceatEquator
Thisapparentforceoccursbecause,asawindoroceancurrentissetinmotionina particulardirection,theearthbasicallyrotatesoutfromunderit.Thismakesitseemas thoughthewindoroceancurrenttakesaleftorrightturn,dependingonthehemisphere. Tounderstandthis,youwillhavetoreadthissectioninthetextcarefully.Wemayhave aninclassdemonstration.
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C. CyclonesandAntiCyclones:Spiralingwindsystems(NOTstorms) 1. Cyclones(LowPressure):Inwardspiralingwindsystems!
NorthernHemisphere(SideView) SouthernHemisphere(SideView)
ascending converging
ascending converging
LOW
LOW
NorthernHemisphere(TopView)
SouthernHemisphere(TopView)
NorthernHemisphere(SideView)
2. Anticyclones(HighPressure):Outwardspiralingwindsystems!
SouthernHemisphere(SideView)
descending diverging
descending diverging
HIGH
HIGH
NorthernHemisphere(TopView)
SouthernHemisphere(TopView)
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D. E. F.
G. H.
convectionallifting(THERMALLOWPRESSURE).Windsareweakhere(called Doldrums);pressureislow.Lotsofrain!!! HadleyCell Thiswarmairrisestothetroposphereandthenturnspolewardinboth : directions.Atapprox.30N&SLatitudethesecurrentsdescendfromthetropopause towardearth.ThecirculationiscalledaHadleyCell. SubtropicalHighPressureCells: CreatedwheretheHadleyCelldescendsto Earth.Centerswithgenerallyfair,warmweather.Windisweakhere;(calledHorse Latitudes).Theseareanticyclones.(SincetheyareNOTdirectlycausedbyheatingor cooling,theyareconsideredDYNAMICHIGHPRESSURE.) TradeWinds NortheastandSoutheasttradewindscreatedasairspiralstoward : EquatorawayfromSubtropicalHighPressureandintotheEquatorialLowPressure Trough.Foundbetween525N&SLatitude(roughly) Westerlies CreatedasairspiralsawayfromSubtropicalHighPressuretowardthe : Poles.Foundbetween4060N&SLatitude(roughly) SubPolarLowPressureCells: UsuallysynonymouswiththePolarFront, whichisadistinctboundarybetweenwarmandcoldairatabout60N&SLatitude. Associatedwithstormyweather.Steeptemperaturegradientexistshere.Important zoneofmixing.(SincetheyareNOTdirectlycausedbyheatingorcooling,theyare consideredDYNAMICLOWPRESSURE.) PolarHighPressureCells Bittercold,denseairdescendsatthepoles,creating : highpressure(THERMALHIGHPRESSURE). PolarEasterlies:Cold,drywindathighlatitudes(70+NorthandSouth.).Spirals outofthePolarHighPressure
AtmosphericCirculationACloserLook:
Thesepatternsarecomplicatedbythedifferentsurfacesoftheearth. ThepressuresystemsusuallytaketheformofCELLS(aconcentrationofpressure).
PressureandWindSystemsMigrate:PressureandWindSystemsMigrateNorthand
SouthDuringtheYear,roughlyfollowingthenorthandsouthmigrationoftheSubSolarPoint
b) AzoresSubTropicalHigh:CenterednearAzores(offthecoastof
Portugal).HasthesameeffectasthePacificSubtropicalHigh.
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P O L AR H I G H PRESSURE
S U B - P O L AR L O W P R E S S U R E
S U B - T R O P I C AL H I G H P R E S S U R E Hadley Cell
ITCZ ITCZ
S U B - T R O P I C AL H I G H P R E S S U R E
Hadley Cell
S U B - P O L AR L O W P R E S S U R E
P O L AR H I G H PRESSURE
Dynamicvs.ThermalPressureSystems:Thermalpressuresystemswilldevelop
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PressureSystemReviewTable
Subtropical Highs(also Associated Temperature Cycloneor Anticyc. Directionof Spiral(N.Hem) BasicCause Movementof Air Associated Weather WhereFound Warm SubPolarLows
(alsocalledDynamic (usuallyonland) Lows)
ThermalHighs
ThermalLows
(usuallyonland)
calledDynamic Highs)
CooltoCold Cyclone
Anticyclone Clockwise
Counter Clockwise GeneralCirc.ofAtmosphere Descending andDiverging Clearand Warm OverOceans atapprox. 30NorSLat (always present, migratesome northorsouth) Stable Ascendingand Converging Cloudy,Rainor Snow OverOceansat approx.60Nor SLat(generally travelwestto east) Unstable AleutianLow, IcelandicLow
SurfaceCooling SurfaceHeating Descendingand Ascendingand Diverging Converging ClearandFreezing Warmand Thundershowers AtPolesandOver OverContinentsin Continentsin SummerHigh WinterLowSun SunSeasonand Season AlongtheInter Tropical Convergence zone(ITC) Stable Unstable PolarHighs SiberianHigh, CanadianHigh AsianLow, EquatorialLow PressureTrough
B. PolarJetStreamExample:GeostrophicwindatthePolarFront
Westtoeast"pipe"ofwind 350450km/hr. Thepolarfrontjetstreamroughlymarkstheglobalboundarybetweencoldpolarairand warmtropicalair. Itisacrossthisboundarythatmuchglobalenergytransferoccurs. RossbyWaves(Fig.416):Hugeundulationsinthepolarjetstream.Pocketsofcoldair arebroughtsouthwhilepocketsofwarmairarebroughtnorth.
V. LocalWinds(Windsonasmallerscale)
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A. LandandSeaBreezes:Windsarealwaysdesignatedbywheretheyarecomingfrom;
ifyouarestandingatthebeachfacingtheoceanandthewindisinyourface,thisisasea breeze. Duringawarmdaythelandsurfaceheatsmorerapidlythantheseasurface, generatingathermallowpressureonland. Asheatedairascendsbyconvection,avacuumiscreatedandcoolmarineair convergestofillthevoid. Thelandbreezeoccursatnightasthereversehappens(thelandcoolscausingthe airaboveitbecomescooleranddenser.Thisgeneratesathermalhighpressure.) SeeFig.418.
SeaBreeze
LandBreeze
B. MountainandValleyBreezes:Mountainslopesheatrapidlywhenheatedbythe
ValleyBreeze
MountainBreeze(alsocalledCold AirDrainageorKatabaticWind)
Cooled air
Heated air
C. MonsoonalWindsSouthAsiaExample:Similartoalargescaleseabreeze.
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1. December/January:......theITCZiswellsouthofsoutheastAsia,andthearea
isdominatedbytheSiberianHigh(thermalhigh).Windblowsoffshore(outtosea)
2. June/July:Thermallowpressuredevelops(theAsianLow).Thisthermallow
mergeswiththeITCZ.Thisthermallowpressureservesasavacuumforwarm, moist,tropicalairofftheIndianOcean.Precipitationissubstantial.
alongthroughtheforceoffrictionbetweenthewaterandair.Thesubtropicalhigh pressurecenters(anticyclones)formhugecirculatingoceancurrentscalledgyres.
b) CaliforniaCurrent:Coldcurrentwhichtravelssouthdownthecoastof
California.
c) "Upwelling"andtheCaliforniaCurrentExample:
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Upwelling
VII.ElNio(seeFocusStudy,pg220):