Climatology , oceanography Flashcards
What is role of atmosphere
Oxygen CO2 and Nitrogen
Regulate solar heat
No harmful UV rays
Control temperature
What are aerosols
Solid and liquid particles
What is the order of gases present in the atmosphere
Nitrogen > oxygen > argon >co2 > neon> helium> hydrogen
Explain the greenhouse effect
Uneven distribution of the ozone block UV rays
Co2 absorbs radiation and gives heat back
Water vapour absorbs infrared and night heat, gives out latent heat which is the force for storm
Explain the structure of the atmosphere
EXOSPHERE 500 km = helium and hydrogen temperature is very high
THERMOSPHERE 400-500 km = High-temperature
IONOSPHERE 85-400km = Radio transmission as it is electrically charged
MESOSPHERE 60-85 km = temperature reduces to -100 degrees at 80 km, meteorites
Ozone 30-60km = temperature increases by 5° per kilometre
STRATOSPHERE 10-30km = temperature at 50 km is 0°, no clouds … aeroplanes
TROPOSPHERE 8 to 18 km at equator, tropopause causes temperature inversion, temperature falls at 6.5° per kilometre
What is absolute Humidity
Actual amount of water vapour present at the atmosphere
What is relative humidity
Absolute humidity compared to humidity at a particular temperature
What is dew point
The temperature at which air cannot carry any more moisture
What is specific humidity
Weight of water vapour divided by weight of air
What is the insolation
Percentage of heat received by the earth
How does earth absorb heat during the day and during the night
During the day in short we visible light
During the night in long wave infrared
Discuss the ways of heat transfer on the earth
Radiation no contact
Conduction molecular action conductor required
Convection actual transfer of matter
What are the factors that affect the transfer of heat
- Angle of rays
- Duration of sunshine
- Transparency of atmosphere
- If the radius of particle is greater than wavelength then the light is reflected if it is less then the wavelength then scattering takes place
- Land sea differential- Albedo of land is greater than sea Prevailing winds
- Prevailing winds
- Slope
- Or is the distance from sun
What is the meaning of albedo
The percentage of light reflected by a surface
When is the earth closest to the sun
Fourth of July apehelion
When is the earth farthest from the sun
3 jan perihelion
What is latitudinal heat balance
The planetary winds and ocean currents cause transfer of excess energy from the tropics to the poles
The energy is transferred at 50° and 30° latitude therefore these are known as storm zones
What is heat budget how is it maintained
global heat budget is the balance between incoming and outgoing solar radiation.
Short wave is absorbed and long wave is reflected hence the heat budget is maintained
What are isotherms
Isoterms are imaginary lines joining places with same temperature
What are the characteristics of isotherms
are parallel latitude since they have similar sunlight
bend at Ocean and continent boundaries since
different heating of land and sea
Narrow space have a rapid changes
Discuss the behaviour of isotherms on the surface of the earth
Daily and annual temperature ranges are high at interiors
Lowest temperature radiant is at the tropics since the sun is overhead almost all year
Temperature gradient is low at the eastern margins since warm currents
While passing through warm ocean currents they drift phone words
What is lapse rate
Rate of change of temperature moving upwards in the atmosphere
Why does temperature reduce with altitude
Greenhouse gases reduce hence heat absorption reduces
Discuss the adiabatic lapse rate
When there is no loss of heat and no heat exchange between the parcel and the environment
When the parcel of air receives more heat from surrounding the volume increases and density reduces and it rises this is not an adiabatic process
When the air parcel rises , ambient pressure which is pressure of the surrounding reduces with height hence pressure and temperature reduced and volume increases this is an adiabatic process
What is the significance of the adiabatic lapse rate
It defines the stability of the atmosphere
What is latent heat
Heat released and observe during the change of phase slg
What is temperature anomaly
Mean temperature of a place-mean temperature of parallel latitude Largest at north hemisphere
What is temperature inversion
Cooler temperature at lower levels and higher temperature at higher layers
What are the ideal conditions for temperature inversion
Long night therefore outgoing heat is greater than incoming heat
Clear skies therefore with radiation heat can escape
Calm and stable air therefore there is no mixing of air
Discuss the various types of temperature inversion
Air drainage = in valleys the temperature of lower areas increases with altitude at the slopes hence surface heats and rapidly cools then upper layers … inverted
Ground inversion
Air comes in contact with cooler surface and cools , slowly become cooler than upper areas
Subsidence inversion
Air layer descends , the pressure increases… compressed and heated moved down and heat lower layers hence upper layer is more hotter than the lower layer
Frontal inversion
Cold air mass goes under warm air mass
What are the effects of temperature inversion
- Determines cloud types
- Limits convection
- Stop smoke at lower layers
- Daily temperature range is small
- 0°C and valleys but above air is warm
- If the temperature at the surface is less then dew point then there is fog
- Stable condition hence less rain
Draw a diagram of the pressure zones of the earth
Polar high -60 - converge Sup polar low ——Ferrell cell ——Hadley cell Subtropical high =horse 30-5 Equatorial low
Discuss the formation of equatorial low , subtropical high , polar high and subpolar low
Direct heat from the sun at equator hence temperature increases and pressure reduces =equatorial low
Air rises due to temperature increases has become light , rises till tropopause , sinks at 30° north and 30° south and hence form subtropical high
@polar sun rays slant hence cold air moves s@n , n@s ….polar high
Air converges and rises up hence low pressure hence subpolar low
What is the ITCZ
Low-pressure zone where north east and south west winds converge at the equator
What are the forces of the ITCZ
Easterly trade winds Circle at the equator
Air mass
What is the Coriolis force
It is the force due to the rotation of the earth which causes the wind to get deflected If object goes from south and west here to the north and west where it is deflected to the eastIt is zero at the equator and it is maximum at the polls
Draw the position of wind on the earth
Easterly westerly , north-east trade and South East trade
Which ones are known as the roaring 40s and shreaking 60s why
The westerlies are knownThere is ocean in the southern hemisphere hence there is no obstruction in the 45° to 60° south
Discuss the effects of the seasonal winds
In the summer the sun moves north word hence low-pressure zone is created
Therefore the south hemisphere winds go to the north hem - tradeCrossing the equator they deflect to the right due to Coriolis force
Have travelled a long way on the ocean hence have collected moisture which is released at the western edge of the Asian landmass
In winter high-pressure zone is created in the northern hemisphere hence north trade winds go to the south from the Tibetan plateau and hence Northeast monsoon is at the east coast of India
Name some local winds and their regions
Chinook at North America Pampers @ s am Foehn @alps Karaburan @ Russia Loo Sirocco @n af Berg @ s af
Discuss the significance of the foehn wind
Benefits the Alps
15 to 20°C
Helps in animal grazing
Discuss the significance of loo
45 to 50°C
Cause dust storms
During may and June
What is the meaning of geostrophi wind
Wind if pressure gradient and Coriolis force are equally balanced
What is jet stream
Fast flowing narrow meandering air currents in the atmosphere
Circumpolar narrow concentrated bands of air streams
meandering at high velocity
in the upper troposphere
bounded by the low speed wind
and are a part of the upper level westerlies