Final

Question 1

What are the conditions for Hurricane formation (4)

Answer 1

(1) latitude (2) SST (3) weak trade wind inversion or subsidence so air can rise (4) weak wind shear aloft

Question 2

what latitudes are good for hurricane formations? Why?

Answer 2

[5-25N >5degN b/c CF is big enough to create spinning, <25 b/c SST gets cold],

Question 3

What SST are good for hurricane formation? Why?

Answer 3

[>26.5c] you want warm water b/c it gives energy to the storm

Question 4

Name the 4 initial mechanisms that could form a hurricane

Answer 4

1. mid latitude cold front 2. convergence along ITCZ in summer 3. Sahel MCC 4. Convergence along easterly wave

Question 5

Describe the cold front needed for hurrican formations

Answer 5

originates in mid latutdes, extends down to 5-25 N, causes air to rise, forming a low pressure center

Question 6

Describe the convergence along ITCZ needed for hurricane formation

Answer 6

ITCZ must be far enough north (5-25N), only happens in the summer

Question 7

Describe the MCC needed for hurricane formation

Answer 7

MCC=mesoscale convective complex (groups of thunderstorms merged together), must originate over the Sahel (Africa), moves across ocean and creates disturbance

Question 8

Describe the easterly wave needed for hurricane formation

Answer 8

air rises in regions of convergence, resulting in sfc low

Question 9

Which hurricane formation mechanism is most likely?

Answer 9

convergence along an easterly wave

Question 10

What are the sources of energy in a hurricane? (2)

Answer 10

Sensible heat is transferred directly from warm SSTs to air, latent heat released in upper troposphere results in a high pressure system aloft, leading to divergence

Question 11

What is the process that strengthens hurricanes? Cycle type? (5)

Answer 11

(1) divergence aloft and rising warm air causes sfc pressure to fall, (2) air convergence CCW around sfc low, (3) speed of air increases as it moves inward (v=wr) (4) faster winds draw more energy from SSTs and increases evap (5) warm moist air rises, lowering sfc pressure more

Question 12

Compare the energy source of a hurricane to that of a mlc

Answer 12

hurricane (warm SSTs, latent heat release), mlc (strong N/S temp gradient)

Question 13

Compare the isobars in a hurricane to those in a mlc

Answer 13

hurricane (circular, strong gradient), mlc (kinked, weak gradient)

Question 14

Compare the winds in a hurricane to those in a mlc

Answer 14

hurricane (slow winds aloft), mlc (fast winds aloft)

Question 15

Compare the wind shear in a hurricane to that in a mlc

Answer 15

hurricane (weak), mlc (strong)

Question 16

Compare the conditions at the core of a hurricane to those in a mlc

Answer 16

hurricane (clear, sinking air), mlc (cloudy, rising air). Figure out why this is

Question 17

Compare the location of a hurricane to that of a mlc

Answer 17

hurricane (ocean), mlc (land)

Question 18

What are the drivers of Climate Change?

Answer 18

external causes (changes in: incoming solar radiation, composition of atm, at Earth’s surface), internal causes (circ. patterns of ocean and atm)

Question 19

List 5 positive feedback loops wrt Climate Change

Answer 19

water vap - temp rise, snow-albedo, water vapor-high cloud, CO2 stability, permafrost melting

Question 20

Describe the water vapor-temp rise positive feedback loop

Answer 20

temp increase -> more evap -> greater H20 in atm -> increased absorption of Earth’s IR -> greater temp increase

Question 21

Describe the snow-albedo positive feedback loop

Answer 21

temp increase -> melting of ice/snow at poles -> lower sfc albedo -> more radiation absorbed -> greater temp increase

Question 22

Describe the water vapor-high cloud positive feedback loop

Answer 22

temp increase ->-> more atm H20 -> more high clouds->high clouds let solar rad through, but not earths IR->greater temp increase

Question 23

Describe the CO2 stability positive feedback loop

Answer 23

temp increase -> reduced solubility of CO2 in oceans -> greater atm. CO2 -> more absorbed IR -> greater temp increase

Question 24

Describe the permafrost melting positive feedback loop

Answer 24

temp increase -> melting permafrost -> release of CH4 (GHG) -> greater temp increase

Question 25

wtf is permafrost

Answer 25

soilat or below the freezing point of waterfor two or more years. Most permafrost is located close to the North and South poles

Question 26

List 2 negative feedback loops wrt Climate Change

Answer 26

water vap - low cloud, CO2-plant growth

Question 27

Describe the water vapor-low cloud negative feedback loop

Answer 27

temp increase ->-> more atm H20 -> increased low clouds -> low clouds reflect solar rad -> less temp increase

Question 28

Describe the CO2-plant growth negative feedback loop

Answer 28

temp increase -> more CO2 -> increased photosynthesis aka CO2 uptake -> less climate forcing -> less temp increase

Question 29

What are Milankovitch Cycles? List them

Answer 29

changes in the earth’s orbit that lead to long-term climate changes. Eccentricity, precession, obliquity

Question 30

Describe eccentricity [def, period, 2 facts]

Answer 30

shape of orbit, 100,00yrs, orbit varies from near circular to slightly elliptical, greater eccentricity leads to greater temp variation w/season and lower avg T

Question 31

Describe precession [def,period,2 facts]

Answer 31

wobble, 23,000yrs, currently earth is closest to sun in January, in 11,000yrs it will be closer in July

Question 32

Describe obliquity [def,period, 2 facts]

Answer 32

tilt, 41,000yrs, current tilt is 23.5 deg, varies btw 22 and 24.5deg

Question 33

What are sunspots? How do they influence the Earth?

Answer 33

huge magnetic storms on sun, their strength and freq match an 11yr cycle, can only account for 0.1K of the observed 0.7-0.8K of current warming