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atmospheric
Circulation Ch. 8
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Movement of air masses are due to what 2 major factors? | Uneven solar heating (depends on latitude)and Deflection due to the Coriolis effect |
rising air at the equator && tropics carries a lot of vapor which is caused by? | Moisture |
Molecule by molecule (solids, liquids, gases) | Conduction |
By mass motion in a fluid (gas or liquid) | Convection |
either by particles (photons) or waves | Radiation |
What is the main source of Energy for the oceans and atmosphere of Earth? | Solar Heating |
Transfer of heat from regions of greater heating at the EQUATOR to LESSER HEATING at the POLES drive movement of what? | air and water control our seasons and control our weather. |
What does the amount of heat (radiation) depend on? | the position of the sun at the horizon |
What is the Earths axis of rotation tilted to? | 23.5 relative to its orbits around the sun |
In December, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from? | the Sun, so it gets less heat input. |
In June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards? | towards the Sun, so it gets more heat input. |
The Tilt determines our? | Seasons |
the Earth’s surface takes time to absorb the heat and warm, especially the oceans due to high heat capacity. | Thermal inertia |
On average, the Earth re-radiates as much heat in as it gets from the Sun. | Heat In >>> Earth >>> Heat out |
Net surplus at the equator and a deficit at the poles? | Heat transfers |
How does heat transfer | winds and ocean current |
Why does hot air rise? | molecules in warm air are farther apart because of higher vibration energy (temperature), so density is less hot! |
Air pressure is a fancy word for? | weight of the column of air above you |
As air rises | pressure decreases |
As pressure decreases | air expands |
it takes energy for the air molecules to move farther apart, in which energy has to come from the? | vibrational energy molecules= tempature |
Adiabatic is when | there is no heat in or out which then is cooling; air sinking |
Adiabatic heating | warming undergoes |
Covection | is formed when air cools. (Convection is clouds) |
Cold Air holds | less moisture |
The ocean at the equator is warmer, thus water is | evaporating and the rising air has more water vapor, thus causes humiditiy |
Dry air is more dense then | humid air |
three cells per hemisphere | Hadley Cell, Ferrell Cell, Polar Cell |
Hadley Cell | tropical latitudes (0-30 N or S) |
Ferrel Cell | mid latitudes (30-60 N or S) |
Polar Cell | Polar high latitudes (60-90 N or S) |
Doldrums or Intertropical Convergence Zone is? | equatorial area where air moves vertically upward |
Where can Intertropical Convergence Zones or Doldrums be found at? | low atmospheric pressure regions.. Surface winds are WEAK, rainy weather, thunderstorms |
Jet Stream | High altitude winds that form between cells- useful for pilots- westerly winds across US |
Oceans and atmosphere are in | continuous contact |
Movement of air masses in the atmosphere is due to mainly what 2 major factors? | Uneven solar heating (depends on latitude) and deflection due to the Cariolis effect |
The intensity of the Coriolis Effect increases with | latitude, thus the STRONGEST are at the POLES and the WEAKEST are at the EQUATOR |
N. hemisphere rotates | clockwise |
S. Hemisphere rotates | anticlockwise |
2/3 of heat transfer to poles occurs by | air currents |
Average wind directions are set by what two processes? | uneven solar heating and Cariolis effect |
Storms are powered by | solar energy |
Extra tropical cyclone | when air masses collide between Ferrel and Polar cells |
Tropical Cyclone | when a warm humid air mass aqcuires energy from warm water as it passes over. (forms in tropical regions) |
water warmer then 26 C | warm and humid air rise and produces rain |
air IN cyclone storms turns in | opposite direction to Cariolois |
extratropical cyclones usually develop | in winter when temp differences across the polar front are LARGE |
Nor Easters | examples of extratropical cyclones. Atlantic Ocean.. North America |