Atmosphere Flashcards
Where are pressure gradients important?
- At the ITCZ (no Coriolis force)
- Localised scales
- Pressure gradients and differences initial force responsible for circulation
How does a land/sea breeze work?
- Underpinned by differential heating because of differences in thermal inertia between land and sea
- Land warms up faster during the day, creating low pressure
- At night ocean stays warmer (more inertia)
Why is the Coriolis force an “apparent force”?
It cannot perform work
In what direction does the Coriolis force act on wind?
Perpendicular to the wind direction (right in NH; left in SH)
Why do geostrophic winds occur?
When a pressure gradient is in equilibrium with the Coriolis force (after deflection of wind direction by Coriolis force)
high pressure always on the right
How do frictional forces act on wind direction?
Reduces geostrophic wind, increasing pressure gradient force
(pressure gradient = friction + Coriolis)
Why do tropical storms not occur at the equator?
No Coriolis effect
What is the underlying driver of global circulation?
Solar input imbalances, poleward circulation is the mechanism of balancing the temperature gradient
Is the atmosphere the only mechanism of poleward heat transport?
No, oceans are equally important
What is a good paper to exemplify the role of friction on a non-rotating planet?
Schubert, et al., 1980 Structure and Circulation of the Venus Atmosphere - v. similar to Hadley (single) cell model
