Winds and Water Uneven Heating Convection
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Winds and Water Chapter 9 continued... Uneven Heating •The various materials of the earth absorb and emit energy at different rates Convection •Heated air expands; density reduced; air rises –Upward movement of air over a heated surface Convection •Cooled air contracts; density increased; air sinks –Downward movement of air over a cooled surface __________________ •Horizontal movement of air between cooler and warmer regions •____________ - horizontal movement of air Convection •___________ ___________ over areas where __________ is _______________ _________________ •Clear sky indicates air is moving downward Average Wind Speed - 10 mi/hr (know) Differences in Atmospheric Pressure Convection Cell Sea Breezes and Land Breezes •Uneven heating of land and water –High specific heat of water –Heat spread out in water Sea Breeze (KNOW) Land Breeze (KNOW) Mountain Breezes _____________ •A ________ of ______________ ____________ with sharp ___________________ __________________ that can sublimate or melt away any existing snow cover in a single day –_________________ ________________ _________________ Santa Ana Winds •Warm dry winds blowing westward •High pressure area over Great Basin –Great Basin High Santa Ana Winds •Low pressure zone off the coast destabilizes Great Basin High •Air moves down across Southern California Santa Ana Winds •Compressional heating of air –5 °F / 1000 ft •Hot, dry winds Global Wind Patterns Unequal Heating of the Earth •Equator receives more direct incoming solar radiation –higher average temperatures –temperatures decrease toward the poles Coriolis Effect on Wind Patterns . Winds are bent by the spinning of the Earth: – to the right north of the equator – to the left in the south. _________________ ______________ ____________ •Low Pressure Region –between ______ _____________ ____ and _____ ______________ ______ latitude –Warm air rises –Heavy precipitation --unusually calm or very light winds __________________________ ______________ ___________ ___________ •30° North and 30° South •Great ______________ Desert Biome __________ ____________ . Blow from the horse latitudes toward the low pressure of the ITCZ (know this definition) . Northeast Trade Winds – blow from the northeast . Southeast Trade Winds – blow from the southeast ___________ ____________ . between 30° and 60° latitude north and south . blows from horse latitudes toward poles . responsible for many of the ___________ ___________ across the _______ _________ and Canada. Polar Easterlies . formed as cold air at the poles sinks and begin to move towards the equator. meet warmer air from the westerlies and create a polar front located at 60 degrees north and south – area of low pressure that often results in storms. Winds Poleward •Above the High Pressure Belt are controlled by the jet stream _____________ ___________ •_______________ ________________ ___________________ that blow ___________ than _________ miles per hour •marks the boundary between cold polar air to its north and warmer air to its south (northern hemisphere). •blows west to east •Upper _____________________ –Above 20,000 feet •6-9 miles Jet Stream •Up to 300 mph •Circle the globe •Few hundred miles wide •Less than 3 miles thick Jet Stream •Surface temperature contrasts –the greater the contrast the faster the flow •_______________ in __________________ Jet Stream Affects Weather •Warm air masses move northward ahead of trough •Cold air masses move southward behind trough The States of Water Water vapor •Water existing as a gas •“Moist” air contains a lot of water vapor Concentration of Water Vapor •Over ________ of ________ on Earth is ____________ •If all the water vapor in the atmosphere condensed: –I inch of water would cover the Earth Water Vapor Services •Contributes to greenhouse effect –warmer planet •Weathering and erosion •Maintains life –water cycle _______________ •_______________ of the average _______________ _____________ of a substance •The more kinetic energy a molecule has, the faster it is moving _________________ •Water molecule escapes and becomes a gas –High kinetic energy –Headed in right direction •Overcomes attractive forces •More molecules are leaving than returning (KNOW) ________________ •Water molecule captured by other water molecules •More water molecules are returning than leaving (KNOW) ___________ _________ •Equilibrium –evaporation __________ condensation Temperature and Saturation •Molecules with higher kinetic energies are less likely to be pulled together •Warm air holds more water vapor _______________ •The _____________ of _______________ ______________ in the ____________ –High humidity •more condensation –Low humidity •more evaporation Absolute Humidity •A measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air at a particular time _____________ ___________ •A ______________ between –(1) the amount of water vapor in the air and •actual _____________ humidity –(2) the amount of water vapor needed to saturate the air at that temperature_________________ ___________________ humidity Relative Humidity Playing with relative humidity •________________ the air _____________ the ___________ of air to hold ___________ ________________ Playing with relative humidity •Dry winter air –Just warming the air reduces relative humidity •50% - 3% –Evaporation increases •cooling process –Warm up using humidifier Playing with relative humidity •Wind Chill Factor –Cooling power of the wind –Evaporation increased •reduces chances of condensation –no latent heat of vaporization –relative humidity declines Playing with relative humidity •“It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” –Humidity slows the rate of evaporation •Fans will increase evaporation –At _____________ relative humidity, a _________is ______ going to _______________ Measuring Relative Humidity •_____________________ –Measure evaporation of wet bulb •evaporation lowers temperature –Measure temperature difference –See Appendix C Measuring Relative Humidity •Hair Hygrometer –Hair becomes less curly in humid weather –Hair absorbs moisture from the air and becomes longer –Length of hair = RH Condensation Condensation •For condensation to occur, the air must be saturated –water vapor added through evaporation –cooling •increase in RH •distillation ___________ _________ temperature •_____________ at which _________________ ________________ –__________ •________________ ___________ –_______________ •_______________ _______________ –sublimation Clear, Calm, and Cool Nights •Loss of infrared radiation –Clouds serve as a blanket –Trees do the same •Grass covered with frost –more surface area •greater loss of infrared radiation Clear, Calm, and Cool Nights •Dew and frost form first in low-lying areas –cold air sinks •Citrus orchards placed on slopes Clear, Calm, and Cool Nights •Wind mixes upper warm air with lower cool air –fans in orchards .