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UA GC 170A1 - Weather vs Climate
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GC 170 1st Edition Lecture 18 Outline of Last Lecture I. Climate Change Impacts: a. Arctic Sea Icei. Changes over the past yearsb. Ice Sheetsi. Consequences ii. Dynamics c. Glaciersi. Photography II. Sustainable City AssignmentOutline of Current Lecture I. Weather vs ClimateII. Droughta. Definitionb. Californiac. 1930’s Dustbowld. 1950’s Droughte. Consequencesf. Wildfiresi. 2002ii. 2011Current LectureI. Weather: The state of the atmosphere at any given place or timea. Rainstormsb. Tornadoesc. Blizzardsd. Hurricanese. Heat waveII. Climate: The long-term average of weather in a given place a. Refer to typical weather patterns i. Monsoon rains in TucsonIII. Drought: prolonged period of dry weather (lack of rainfall) that results in a serious water shortageThese 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.a. Defined by: i. Severity (how dry)ii. Length (# of years)iii. Special extent b. California: currently in severe 3-4 year drought i. Jet Stream: 1. The jet stream ridge prevents storms from reaching California for several months and decreases rainfall for multiple yearsii. Global-Change type drought1. A drought episode with warmer temperatures 2. Leads to more evaporation and drier soils 3. Regional droughtsiii. Why?1. Natural Variability: a. La Nina Eventsb. Sea surface temp in northern Pacific 2. Global Warming:a. Expansion of Hadley Cell Circulationb. Jet Stream Patterns c. 1930’s Dustbowl i. Widespread for several yearsii. Covered big portion of USiii. Mass migration of peopled. 1950’s Drought i. Severe drought in SW and Central US ii. Not as long or as extensive as 1930’s iii. Led to tree mortality & crop failure e. Medieval Warm Periodi. Periods of extended drought and low stream flow f. Consequences of prolonged and severe drought i. Loss of cropsii. Less water available iii. Forest Mortalityiv. Wildfiresg. Global warming and extreme weatheri. Potential for increases in heat waves1. A period of very warm temperatures for a few days to weeks 2. Can lead to death in elderly or vulnerable populations 3. Damage to crops and livestockii. Increasing likelihood of record temperaturesh. Wildfires i. 2002 severe drought across the intermountain west1. Fire activity increased sharply in early 2002’s2. Colorado, Arizonaii. 2011 severe drought in Texas 1. Wallow Fire (Arizona)a. 841 square miles b. Biggest wildfire in Arizona c. 6,000 people evacuated d. 32 homes destroyed e. $109 million in fire fighting and damage costs2. Texas Wildfire: a. Beginning of fire season: West Texasi. <200 homes destroyedb. End of fire season: East Texasi. <2000 homes destroyed3. Bastrop County Complex Firea. Exceptional drought that had been ongoing for monthsb. Sparks from a powerline started the fire c. Huge winds because of a nearby tropical stormd. Consequences: i. 2,000 homes in one weekend ii. 2 firefighters were killed iii. 3.4 billion in fire fighting costs, economic losses (timber, homes, infrastructure)iii. Relation between increasing temperatures and wildfires1. Increase in the number of fires and warmer temperatures across the western US for the past 40 years 2. Warmer temperatures create a longer summer seasoniv. Preparations: 1. Fire-adapted communities2. Wildland Urban Interface


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UA GC 170A1 - Weather vs Climate

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