Chapter 7 Winds and the Global Circulation System
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Basic Concepts in Oceanography
Chapter 1 XA0101461 BASIC CONCEPTS IN OCEANOGRAPHY L.F. SMALL College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America Abstract Basic concepts in oceanography include major wind patterns that drive ocean currents, and the effects that the earth's rotation, positions of land masses, and temperature and salinity have on oceanic circulation and hence global distribution of radioactivity. Special attention is given to coastal and near-coastal processes such as upwelling, tidal effects, and small-scale processes, as radionuclide distributions are currently most associated with coastal regions. 1.1. INTRODUCTION Introductory information on ocean currents, on ocean and coastal processes, and on major systems that drive the ocean currents are important to an understanding of the temporal and spatial distributions of radionuclides in the world ocean. 1.2. GLOBAL PROCESSES 1.2.1 Global Wind Patterns and Ocean Currents The wind systems that drive aerosols and atmospheric radioactivity around the globe eventually deposit a lot of those materials in the oceans or in rivers. The winds also are largely responsible for driving the surface circulation of the world ocean, and thus help redistribute materials over the ocean's surface. The major wind systems are the Trade Winds in equatorial latitudes, and the Westerly Wind Systems that drive circulation in the north and south temperate and sub-polar regions (Fig. 1). It is no surprise that major circulations of surface currents have basically the same patterns as the winds that drive them (Fig. 2). Note that the Trade Wind System drives an Equatorial Current-Countercurrent system, for example. -
Hadley Cell and the Trade Winds of Hawai'i: Nā Makani
November 19, 2012 Hadley Cell and the Trade Winds of Hawai'i Hadley Cell and the Trade Winds of Hawai‘i: Nā Makani Mau Steven Businger & Sara da Silva [email protected], [email protected] Iasona Ellinwood, [email protected] Pauline W. U. Chinn, [email protected] University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Figure 1. Schematic of global circulation Grades: 6-8, modifiable for 9-12 Time: 2 - 10 hours Nā Honua Mauli Ola, Guidelines for Educators, No Nā Kumu: Educators are able to sustain respect for the integrity of one’s own cultural knowledge and provide meaningful opportunities to make new connections among other knowledge systems (p. 37). Standard: Earth and Space Science 2.D ESS2D: Weather and Climate Weather varies day to day and seasonally; it is the condition of the atmosphere at a given place and time. Climate is the range of a region’s weather over one to many years. Both are shaped by complex interactions involving sunlight, ocean, atmosphere, latitude, altitude, ice, living things, and geography that can drive changes over multiple time scales—days, weeks, and months for weather to years, decades, centuries, and beyond for climate. The ocean absorbs and stores large amounts of energy from the sun and releases it slowly, moderating and stabilizing global climates. Sunlight heats the land more rapidly. Heat energy is redistributed through ocean currents and atmospheric circulation, winds. Greenhouse gases absorb and retain the energy radiated from land and ocean surfaces, regulating temperatures and keep Earth habitable. (A Framework for K-12 Science Education, NRC, 2012) Hawai‘i Content and Performance Standards (HCPS) III http://standardstoolkit.k12.hi.us/index.html 1 November 19, 2012 Hadley Cell and the Trade Winds of Hawai'i STRAND THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS Standard 1: The Scientific Process: SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION: Discover, invent, and investigate using the skills necessary to engage in the scientific process Benchmarks: SC.8.1.1 Determine the link(s) between evidence and the Topic: Scientific Inquiry conclusion(s) of an investigation. -
Weather Maps
Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________ Student Exploration: Weather Maps Vocabulary: air mass, air pressure, cold front, high-pressure system, knot, low-pressure system, precipitation, warm front Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.) 1. How would you describe your weather today? ____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 2. What information is important to include when you are describing the weather? __________ _________________________________________________________________________ Gizmo Warm-up Data on weather conditions is gathered from weather stations all over the world. This information is combined with satellite and radar images to create weather maps that show current conditions. With the Weather Maps Gizmo, you will use this information to interpret a variety of common weather patterns. A weather station symbol, shown at right, summarizes the weather conditions at a location. 1. The amount of cloud cover is shown by filling in the circle. A black circle indicates completely overcast conditions, while a white circle indicates a clear sky. What percentage of cloud cover is indicated on the symbol above? ____________________ 2. Look at the “tail” that is sticking out from the circle. The tail points to where the wind is coming from. If the tail points north, a north wind is moving from north to south. What direction is the wind coming from on the symbol above? ________________________ 3. The “feathers” that stick out from the tail indicate the wind speed in knots. (1 knot = 1.151 miles per hour.) A short feather represents 5 knots (5.75 mph), a long feather represents 10 knots (11.51 mph), and a triangular feather stands for 50 knots (57.54 mph). -
NWS Unified Surface Analysis Manual
Unified Surface Analysis Manual Weather Prediction Center Ocean Prediction Center National Hurricane Center Honolulu Forecast Office November 21, 2013 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Surface Analysis – Its History at the Analysis Centers…………….3 Chapter 2: Datasets available for creation of the Unified Analysis………...…..5 Chapter 3: The Unified Surface Analysis and related features.……….……….19 Chapter 4: Creation/Merging of the Unified Surface Analysis………….……..24 Chapter 5: Bibliography………………………………………………….…….30 Appendix A: Unified Graphics Legend showing Ocean Center symbols.….…33 2 Chapter 1: Surface Analysis – Its History at the Analysis Centers 1. INTRODUCTION Since 1942, surface analyses produced by several different offices within the U.S. Weather Bureau (USWB) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service (NWS) were generally based on the Norwegian Cyclone Model (Bjerknes 1919) over land, and in recent decades, the Shapiro-Keyser Model over the mid-latitudes of the ocean. The graphic below shows a typical evolution according to both models of cyclone development. Conceptual models of cyclone evolution showing lower-tropospheric (e.g., 850-hPa) geopotential height and fronts (top), and lower-tropospheric potential temperature (bottom). (a) Norwegian cyclone model: (I) incipient frontal cyclone, (II) and (III) narrowing warm sector, (IV) occlusion; (b) Shapiro–Keyser cyclone model: (I) incipient frontal cyclone, (II) frontal fracture, (III) frontal T-bone and bent-back front, (IV) frontal T-bone and warm seclusion. Panel (b) is adapted from Shapiro and Keyser (1990) , their FIG. 10.27 ) to enhance the zonal elongation of the cyclone and fronts and to reflect the continued existence of the frontal T-bone in stage IV. -
Chapter 4: Pressure and Wind
ChapterChapter 4:4: PressurePressure andand WindWind Pressure, Measurement, Distribution Hydrostatic Balance Pressure Gradient and Coriolis Force Geostrophic Balance Upper and Near-Surface Winds ESS5 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu OneOne AtmosphericAtmospheric PressurePressure The average air pressure at sea level is equivalent to the pressure produced by a column of water about 10 meters (or about 76 cm of mercury column). This standard atmosphere pressure is often expressed as 1013 mb (millibars), which means a pressure of about 1 kilogram per square centimeter (from The Blue Planet) 2 (14.7lbs/in ). ESS5 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu UnitsUnits ofof AtmosphericAtmospheric PressurePressure Pascal (Pa): a SI (Systeme Internationale) unit for air pressure. 1 Pa = force of 1 newton acting on a surface of one square meter 1 hectopascal (hPa) = 1 millibar (mb) [hecto = one hundred =100] Bar: a more popular unit for air pressure. 1 bar = 1000 hPa = 1000 mb One atmospheric pressure = standard value of atmospheric pressure at lea level = 1013.25 mb = 1013.25 hPa. ESS5 Prof. Jin-Yi Yu MeasurementMeasurement ofof AtmosAtmos.. PressurePressure Mercury Barometers – Height of mercury indicates downward force of air pressure – Three barometric corrections must be made to ensure homogeneity of pressure readings – First corrects for elevation, the second for air temperature (affects density of mercury), and the third involves a slight correction for gravity with latitude Aneroid Barometers – Use a collapsible chamber which compresses proportionally to air pressure – Requires only an initial adjustment for ESS5 elevation Prof. Jin-Yi Yu PressurePressure CorrectionCorrection forfor ElevationElevation Pressure decreases with height. Recording actual pressures may be misleading as a result. -
Anticyclones
Anticyclones Background Information for Teachers “High and Dry” A high pressure system, also known as an anticyclone, occurs when the weather is dominated by stable conditions. Under an anticyclone air is descending, maybe linked to the large scale pattern of ascent and descent associated with the Global Atmospheric Circulation, or because of a more localized pattern of ascent and descent. As shown in the diagram below, when air is sinking, more air is drawn in at the top of the troposphere to take its place and the sinking air diverges at the surface. The diverging air is slowed down by friction, but the air converging at the top isn’t – so the total amount of air in the area increases and the pressure rises. More for Teachers – Anticyclones Sinking air gets warmer as it sinks, the rate of evaporation increases and cloud formation is inhibited, so the weather is usually clear with only small amounts of cloud cover. In winter the clear, settled conditions and light winds associated with anticyclones can lead to frost. The clear skies allow heat to be lost from the surface of the Earth by radiation, allowing temperatures to fall steadily overnight, leading to air or ground frosts. In 2013, persistent High pressure led to cold temperatures which caused particular problems for hill sheep farmers, with sheep lambing into snow. In summer the clear settled conditions associated with anticyclones can bring long sunny days and warm temperatures. The weather is normally dry, although occasionally, localized patches of very hot ground temperatures can trigger thunderstorms. An anticyclone situated over the UK or near continent usually brings warm, fine weather. -
El Niño and Its Impacts on Federated States of Micronesia – Pohnpei And
El Niño and its Impacts on Federated States of Micronesia – Pohnpei and Kosrae What is El Niño? The El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and the patterns of sea level pressure, lower- and upper-level winds, and tropical rainfall across the Pacific basin. On periods ranging from about two to seven years, the surface waters across a large swath of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm or cool by anywhere from 1°C to 3°C, compared to normal. This irregular oscillation between warm and cool patterns, referred to as the ENSO cycle, directly affects rainfall distribution in the tropics and can have a strong influence on weather across the Pacific basin. El Niño and La Niña are the extreme phases of the ENSO cycle; between these two phases is a third phase called ENSO-neutral. ENSO-neutral: Under normal conditions strong El Niño in FSM trade winds blow from the east along the equator, pushing warm water into the western Pacific Ocean. Rainfall Less more at first, but then much less; longer and drier dry-season Trade Winds Less weaker, with occasional westerly winds Tropical Cyclones More increased risk, as more storms form closer to the islands El Niño conditions occur when abnormally warm Sea Level Less waters build in tropical region of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and are usually associated with lower at first, then gradually recovering a weakening of the easterly trade winds, sometimes even reversing to westerlies. -
Anticyclones – High Pressure Task 11 A: Read the Notes on High Pressure
Anticyclones – High pressure Task 11 A: Read the notes on high pressure. B: Watch the video clip on Anticyclones and sing along! C: Write out the information and fill in the blanks. D: Print/ sketch the diagram and add the labels. E: Using the information on summer and winter anticyclones, fill in the table to identify how they are similar and different in summer and winter F: Write a paragraph describing the hazards for people that are created by summer and winter anticyclones. G: Watch the two video clips on the 2003 European heatwave and write down 10 facts you have learned. H: Quiz, is it an anticyclone or a depression? I: Complete the grid comparing anticyclones and depressions. A WHAT CAUSES HIGH PRESSURE? • When air high in the atmosphere is cold, it falls towards the earth’s surface. • Falling air increases the weight of air pressing down on the Earth’s surface. • This means that air pressure is high • Because the air is falling, not rising there is no clouds forming • A high pressure system is called an ANTICYCLONE. B https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCz8J_mxswg C Anticyclones • Anticyclones are areas of high pressure in the atmosphere, where the air is sinking. • High pressure brings settled weather with clear,, bright skies. • As the air is sinking, not rising, no clouds or rain can form. • Winds may be very light . • In summer anticyclones bring dry, hot weather. • High pressure systems are slow moving and can persist over an area for a long period of time, such as days or weeks. -
Synoptic Meteorology
Lecture Notes on Synoptic Meteorology For Integrated Meteorological Training Course By Dr. Prakash Khare Scientist E India Meteorological Department Meteorological Training Institute Pashan,Pune-8 186 IMTC SYLLABUS OF SYNOPTIC METEOROLOGY (FOR DIRECT RECRUITED S.A’S OF IMD) Theory (25 Periods) ❖ Scales of weather systems; Network of Observatories; Surface, upper air; special observations (satellite, radar, aircraft etc.); analysis of fields of meteorological elements on synoptic charts; Vertical time / cross sections and their analysis. ❖ Wind and pressure analysis: Isobars on level surface and contours on constant pressure surface. Isotherms, thickness field; examples of geostrophic, gradient and thermal winds: slope of pressure system, streamline and Isotachs analysis. ❖ Western disturbance and its structure and associated weather, Waves in mid-latitude westerlies. ❖ Thunderstorm and severe local storm, synoptic conditions favourable for thunderstorm, concepts of triggering mechanism, conditional instability; Norwesters, dust storm, hail storm. Squall, tornado, microburst/cloudburst, landslide. ❖ Indian summer monsoon; S.W. Monsoon onset: semi permanent systems, Active and break monsoon, Monsoon depressions: MTC; Offshore troughs/vortices. Influence of extra tropical troughs and typhoons in northwest Pacific; withdrawal of S.W. Monsoon, Northeast monsoon, ❖ Tropical Cyclone: Life cycle, vertical and horizontal structure of TC, Its movement and intensification. Weather associated with TC. Easterly wave and its structure and associated weather. ❖ Jet Streams – WMO definition of Jet stream, different jet streams around the globe, Jet streams and weather ❖ Meso-scale meteorology, sea and land breezes, mountain/valley winds, mountain wave. ❖ Short range weather forecasting (Elementary ideas only); persistence, climatology and steering methods, movement and development of synoptic scale systems; Analogue techniques- prediction of individual weather elements, visibility, surface and upper level winds, convective phenomena. -
Global Climate Zones Id: an Idealized Simple View
Railsback's Fundamentals of Quaternary Science Global climate zones Id: an idealized simple view Vertical Map view Climate Zones Wind Belts Precipitation cross-section and Zones Polar Cell H Polar High Dry Polar Easterlies 60°N Subpolar Lows Polar Front Rainy Ferrel L L L L Cell Temperate Westerlies Winter wet; summer dry 30°N H H H H H H Subtropical Highs Horse Latitudes Dry (anticyclones) Hadley Winter dry; summer wet Cell Easterlies Trade Tropics (Northeasterlies) Winds Intertropical L L L L L L L 0° Convergence Doldrums Rainy Zone (ITCZ) Easterlies Trade Tropics (Southeasterlies) Winds Hadley Cell Winter dry; summer wet H H H H H H 30°S Subtropical Highs Horse Latitudes Dry (anticyclones) Winter wet; summer dry Temperate Westerlies Ferrel Cell L L L L Subpolar Lows Rainy 60°S Polar Front Polar Easterlies Polar Cell H Polar High Dry The diagram above is a typical schematic repre- Atmospheric circulation is driven by rising of warm air at the the poles warms and rises at about 60° N and S, and the air that sentation of Earth's surface atmospheric pressure, equator (at the latitude of maximal solar heating) and by sinking returns aloft to the pole closes the Polar Cells. In between, the Ferrel surface winds, and tropospheric circulation. It of cold air at the poles (at the latitude of minimal heating). On Earth, Cells mirror the vertical flow at 30° and 60° N and S, with each Ferrell mimics diagrams in many introductory climatology the air that has risen from the equator sinks at about 30° N and S, Cell like a ball bearing rolled by the Hadley and Polar cells. -
The Wind-Wave Climate of the Pacific Ocean
The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research A partnership between CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology The wind-wave climate of the Pacific Ocean. Mark Hemer, Jack Katzfey and Claire Hotan Final Report 30 September 2011 Report for the Pacific Adaptation Strategy Assistance Program Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency [Insert ISBN or ISSN and Cataloguing-in-Publication (CIP) information here if required] Enquiries should be addressed to: Mark Hemer Email. [email protected] Distribution list DCCEE 1 Copyright and Disclaimer © 2011 CSIRO To the extent permitted by law, all rights are reserved and no part of this publication covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means except with the written permission of CSIRO. Important Disclaimer CSIRO advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such information may be incomplete or unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must therefore be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. To the extent permitted by law, CSIRO (including its employees and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. Contents -
El Niño and Its Impacts on Federated States of Micronesia – Yap And
El Niño and its Impacts on Federated States of Micronesia – Yap and Chuuk What is El Niño? The El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and the patterns of sea level pressure, lower- and upper-level winds, and tropical rainfall across the Pacific basin. On periods ranging from about two to seven years, the surface waters across a large swath of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm or cool by anywhere from 1°C to 3°C, compared to normal. This irregular oscillation between warm and cool patterns, referred to as the ENSO cycle, directly affects rainfall distribution in the tropics and can have a strong influence on weather across the Pacific basin. El Niño and La Niña are the extreme phases of the ENSO cycle; between these two phases is a third phase called ENSO-neutral. ENSO-neutral: Under normal conditions strong El Niño in FSM trade winds blow from the east along the equator, pushing warm water into the western Pacific Ocean. Rainfall Less more at first, but then very much less; longer and drier dry-season Trade Winds Less weaker, with occasional westerly winds Tropical Cyclones Less reduced risk, as more storms form closer to the Dateline El Niño conditions occur when abnormally warm Sea Level Less waters build in tropical region of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and are usually associated with lower at first, then gradually recovering a weakening of the easterly trade winds, sometimes even reversing to westerlies.