Mid-latitude WesterliesPolar EasterliesCircumpolar VortexThe Jet StreamLand-Sea ContrastSeasonal ShiftsHydrologic CycleGEO 155 1st Edition Lecture 7Outline of Last Lecture I. Atmospheric Forces and Its General CirculationOutline of Current Lecture I. General Circulation of the Atmospherea. Pressure and Winds on a Smooth, Uniform Earthi. Surface Winds in Middle and High Latitudesii. Circumpolar Vortex and the Jet Streamb. The Real Worldi. Land-Sea Contrastii. Seasonal ChangesII. Moisture in the Atmospherea. Hydrologic CycleCurrent Lecture General Circulation of the AtmosphereMid-latitude Westerlies- Located above the sub-tropic highs- In the Northern Hemisphere, winds deflect to the right- In the Northern Hemisphere, winds deflect to the lefPolar Easterlies- There is a high pressure gradient at each of the poles- At the North Pole, winds deflect to the rightThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- At the South Pole, winds deflect to the lefCircumpolar Vortex- There are a series of low pressure cells in between the high pressure of the mid-latitude westerlies and the poles- Winds blow parallel to the isobars- Winds blow west to east o Same direction in the Northern and Southern HemisphereThe Jet Stream- Between 70 degrees latitude (low pressure) and 30 degree latitude (high pressure)- Wind here is stronger and faster- Zonal pattern – when winds in the Jet Stream blow straight- Meridional pattern - when winds in the Jet Stream blow in a curved patternLand-Sea ContrastWater is conservative – meaning, it does not change temperature as quickly as land surface does- Water has a high heat capacity- Water circulates- Water evaporates- Radiation penetrates through water1. High pressure pushes down at the surface2. Air at the ITCZ tries to rise3. High pressure is reduced over the continents at 30 degrees latitudea. Isobars at the ocean at 30 degrees latitude enclose, so that there is a center of high pressure – anti-cyclonici. These winds add to the mid-latitude westerlies and the easterly trade windsb. Isobars curve depending on the temperature of the land and water in the pressure gradientSeasonal Shifts- Warm air expands towards the tropics- Cold air from the poles contract downwards- Lack of land in Southern Hemisphere results in more zonal patterns and less seasonal changes Moisture in the AtmosphereHydrologic CycleThe cycle of water- Water evaporates from the ocean- Water vapor rises to the atmosphere- Vapor condenses to give us clouds- Water returns to ocean or onto land which returns to the seao Vapor to saturation (maximum vapor) to condensation (vapor becomes liquid water drops or solid crystals) to precipitation (falls back to the
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