Transcript Climate2009
News • http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinam erica/articles/2009/10/21/hurricane_weake ns_as_it_nears_resorts/ • http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/art icles/2009/10/21/8_nations_resist_binding _limits_on_emissions/ Climate Image courtesy of United States Federal Government Hot Air Rises Air can hold less water at higher altitudes 1. Hot air rises over land due to heating by the sun. 2. The rising air leaves less air in one spot, low pressure forms. 3. Generally, from 3,000 to 5,000 feet, the air cools, high pressure develops. 4. Meanwhile, over the cooler water, air sinks, leaving less air aloft. 5. More air piles up at the surface of the water, high pressure forms. 6. Air moves from high pressure to low pressure. 7. The sea breeze generally forms during the afternoon. This creates a mini cold front that helps lift air upward to create thunderstorms. Hadley Cells Image courtesy of NASA Coriolis Force • Result of earth spinning • In Northern Hemisphere, Coriolis Force deflects moving objects to the RIGHT • Force is proportional to velocity • Force is a function of latitude (zero at equator) Winds Westerlies Trade Winds Image courtesy of NASA SeaBreezes and Monsoons • • • • • Land heats up faster than ocean Air moves from high to low pressure Cold air holds less water vapor Diurnal—Sea Breeze Seasonal--Monsoon Rain Shadow Effect Image courtesy of Wikipedia Climate drives Ecosystems Images removed due to copyright restrictions. Biomes Image courtesy of United States Department of Agriculture Climate & Temperatures Images removed due to copyright restrictions. Climate driven by Temperature and Precipitation Images removed due to copyright restrictions. Climate Image courtesy of United States Federal Government Global Conveyor Belt Upwelling Image courtesy of NOAA El Nino Normal pattern El Nino Conditions Image courtesy of United States Federal Government El Nino Conditions Greenhouse Effect Images removed due to copyright restrictions. Greenhouse Effect Image courtesy of U.S. Department of the Interior