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GEO 101: Exam 3
Tropical disturbances
|
Cyclones
|
Mid Latitude Cyclones
|
from 35°to 75°
Responsible for much of the mid latitude weather
Diameter 1000miles, Pressure 990-1000mb
Counter Clockwise |
Cyclogenisis
|
3-6 days
|
Mid Latitude anticyclone
|
Divergent air
No fronts
Clear and dry
Strong winds |
Easterly waves
|
Long weak low pressure system
5°-30° |
Major Tropical Disturbances
|
Hurricanes
typhoons
cyclones. |
Types of storms
|
Tropical depression-less than 33 knots (38MPH)
Tropical Storm-33-63 knots(39-73)
Hurricane-63 knots(73+) |
Hurricane origins
|
Only form over warm oceans in tropics
Water temp>80°F to a depth of 160 Ft
They are intense centers of low pressure |
a) Duration and Seasonality of Hurricains
|
Most develop in late summer/early fall
|
Saffer-Simpson scale
|
Used to track Hurricanes Ranges from 1-5
|
Localized Sever weather
|
Thunderstorms
Tornados |
1) Thunderstorms
|
Violent Convective Storm
Cumulonimbus Clouds (big clouds)
Instability
High humidity |
Three Stages of Thunderstorms
|
Cumulus-Up draft prevails cloud grows tall
Mature-Down draft causes water to leave
Dissipating-Down Draft(from the rain fall) dominates causes the rain to end |
1) Lightning
|
Can heat air to 10,000°C
All over the world there are 6,000 flashes a minute
+ goes to the top and
– to the bottom
moves at 5 sec/ miles |
1) Tornadoes
|
100mb difference from surrounding air
Wind Speeds of greater than 300 MPH |
Origin of Tornadoes
|
Causes air to roll along a horizontal axis
Strong up draft in a Super Cell thunderstorm
Develops to a Mesocyclone
Vertical cyclone of rotation air |
Enhances Fujita Scale
|
Used to Measure Tornadoes
EF1-5
EF 5 have- 322 mph winds |
4 great oceans
|
Pacific
Atlantic
Indian
Arctic |
Water Distribution
|
Oceans are 97.2%
2% is in Glaciers
.5% is underground |
Salinity |
Salinity varies worldwide from 3.4 to 3.7%
The Average is 3.5%
Brine is >3.5
Brackish is <3.5
99% of all solutes in ocean water are 7 elements
|
Water Structure
|
Surface layer
Mixing zone (2%)-same temp at SL
Thermocline transition zone (18%)- temp dose change with depth
Deep Cold zone (18%) – dark no solar energy no temp change as a result |
Tide Timing
|
Two complete Cycles take 24 hours and 50 min to complete
Water rises 6hrs and 13 min
The rise is called the flood tide
Water drops gradually 6hrs and 13 min
Tidal Range: difference between the two tides. |
Tidal Cycle
|
Highest tide: when all are positioned in a line
Called spring tide
Lowest tide when they are at right angles
Called the neap tide (lowest high tide |
Thermohailine circulation
|
Deccrease in temp = increase in density
Increase in temp = decrease in density |
El Nino-Southern Oscillation
|
Around Christmas
West to East
Every 3-7years
A change in pressure patterns prevent Upwelling and warm water builds off the coast of S. America. |
La Nina pattern (normal pattern to the extreme)
|
Stronger trade winds
Pulls more warm surface water to the west
East to west
Upwelling causes extremely cold water off west coast of South America |
Koppen system
|
Numerically based
Zone Boundaries determined by vegetation as a proxy fro true boundaries
Includes Mean annual and monthly temp and precipitation
5 major groups called the modified Koppen system |
Letter code
|
One to three letters
First letter is the group
Second letter: usually ppt
Third: usually temp |
Horizontal Distribution
|
The different climate classes are sorted horizontally by Temperture
|
Group A
|
Tropical Humid Climates
Generally Within 20 degrees N and S
Noted for lack of coldness not extreme Heat
Winterless
ITCZ critical for the three subdivisions |
Subdivisions of A group
|
Af-Tropical wet climates, from 10 degrees N or S, No seasonality, tropical rain forest
Aw- Tropical Savana, Most extensive of the A group, Lair after Af, 30 degrees N and S, ITCZ over Aw in Summer, Subtropical High pressure in winter
Am- Tropical monsoon climates, Enormous ppt is summer, Apear in Coastal tropical regions, cooler than Af and Aw |
Group B
|
Dry Climates-Cover about 30% of all land area
Occur in: High pressure, away from water, cold currents, lee-sides of Mountains
Balance between ppt and evapotranspiration |
Group B occurs in:
|
High pressure areas
away from water,
cold currents
lee-sides of Mountains |
Group C
|
Midlattidue Climates
Seasonal Contrast
Variation in Temp is due to air mass contrast
Ppt is relativity constant |
Mediteranian - Csa, Csb
|
Western side of continents
35Degrees
more ppt in winter (inverse of whats normal)
Clear skies and sunshine |
Humid subtropical-Cwa, Cfa
|
Easternside of continents
Tuscaloosa is a Cfa
Hot and Humid, winter is affected by midlattitude cyclones |
Group D
|
Severe mid lat climates
From 40 degrees to 70 (only in North Hemisphere)
Continental (little maritime influence)
Large annual temp range and seasonality
Types: Humid continental climates, Subarctic climates |
Group E
|
Polar climates -coldest on earth
below 50°F all year
Not arid- evapotranspiration is low
Types: Tundra and Ice cap |
Group H
|
Highland climates
Lattidude become less important in these climates b/c of elevation
ELR: 3.6°F/1000ft
S/W are hot dry,
N/E are cool and moist |
The Tierra's
|
Tierra:
Caliente-hot
Templada- Temperate
Fria_ cold
Helada- Frozen |
Paleoclimatology
|
Study of past climates
Used Dendrochronoly, Pollen analysis, Ice coreing, |
IPCC 2007 Report
|
Temps are up 1.37Degrees since 1850
Since 1974 sea ice is on the decline 7.4%/ decade
CO2 is >380 ppm |