GEOG 203 1nd Edition Lecture 4 Outline of Last Lecture I Radiation Balance a Outgoing energy longwave energy lost from the earth b Latitudinal variations in energy gain and loss II Global temperature patterns a Latitudinal variations b Land and water contrasts c Effects of ocean currents d Elevation e Geographic situation Outline of Current Lecture I Introduction to atmospheric and oceanic circulation II Linking temperature pressure and wind a Pressure gradient force b Coriolis force c Friction Current Lecture Introduction Eastern side of Hawaii receive 120 inches of rain per year College Station receives about 39 inches of rain per year Why the big difference One island alone in New Zealand receives 140 inches per year while eastern side receives about 40 inches of rain per year These 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 Wind is a resource of increasing interest Wind is directly associated with pressure Isobars identical to isotherms but mapping atmospheric pressure Pressure gradient o Steep strong winds Our primary interest climatic not weather patterns Linking temperature pressure and wind sea breeze H high pressure o Cool in high pressure areas o Divergence at surface o Subsiding air o Convergence L low pressure o Hot in low pressure areas o Convergence at surface o Rising air o Divergence aloft sea breeze Energy budget by latitude o Since higher latitudes receive much more radiation than lower latitudes the same effect happens as with land and water temperatures Forces that cause atmospheric motion Pressure gradient force o Causes wind to blow o Wind blows from high to low pressure o The stronger the pressure the steeper the gradient o Geostrophic flow flow parallel to the isobar Coriolis force o In the northern hemisphere wind is deflected to its right o Pulls the wind perpendicular of its original direction o In the southern hemisphere wind is deflected to its left o Varies in strength Stronger at high latitudes Does not exist at the equator o Stronger at higher wind velocity Friction o Slows wind down most present closer to the surface Effects strength of Coriolis force