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Atmospheric > Final > Flashcards

Final Flashcards

1
Q

Can air pollution transport around the globe?

A

Yes

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2
Q

What is the pollutant behavior at the local scale

A
  • Path is given by wind speed and direction.

- Pollutants are dispersed by turbulence

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3
Q

What is the mixing layer

A

is the unstable atmospheric layer that extends from the surface up to the base of stable layer (inversion).

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4
Q

Mixing depth

A

is the vertical extent of the mixing layer.

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5
Q

How does the mixing layer form?

A

From the surface upward

  1. Surface based inversion
  2. Sunrise causes the surface of ground to heat.
  3. Mid a.m. causes more surface heating
  4. Afternoon vertical mixing
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6
Q

Explain how surface based inversion effects mixing layer formation

A

early in the morning inversion starts at ground surface

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7
Q

Explain how Sunrise effects mixing layer formation

A

surface heating, shallow unstable layer erodes inversion from the ground upwards (mixing in a shallow layer)

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8
Q

Explain how Mid a.m. effects mixing layer formation

A

more surface heating, unstable layer grows thicker as inversion is eroded from the ground up (mixing in a deeper layer)

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9
Q

Explain how afternoon effects mixing layer formation

A

vertical mixing virtually unlimited: ground based inversion completely eroded from below.

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10
Q

What factors control air pollution

A
  • wind
  • stability
  • topography
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11
Q

What do high wind speeds affect?

A

Transport and dispersion

how fast and how far the pollutants move downwind

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12
Q

What would faster winds imply with regards to the transport and dispersion of pollutants

A

Concentrations will be lower because:

  • Increased spreading pollutants along transport direction farther.
  • Increased dispersion due to turbulent mixing caused by more interaction with surface features.
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13
Q

how far up vertically is considered near surface

A

<1000m

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14
Q

What does near surface stability depend on

A

Change in temp with height (ELR)

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15
Q

When is the ELR stable

A

Night/early morning when the sky is clear

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16
Q

What does a stable ELR mean

A

Vertical motion is suppressed (no or little mixing)

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17
Q

When is the ELR unstabe

A

Hot afternoons

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18
Q

What does an unstable ELR mean?

A

Strong vertical motions (intense mixing)

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19
Q

What is the plume behavior when: Inversion layer > Hstack

A

Little up and down motion (Fanning Plume)

-This happens in early morning when there is strong surface inversion.

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20
Q

What is the plume behavior when: Inversion layer above Hstack

A

Pollutants mix downward (Fumigation Plume)

This happens in late morning due to surface inversion destabilizing

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21
Q

What is the plume behavior when:Mixing height increases very high above stack

A

Enhanced vertical dispersion. Rising and sinking air make wavy path (Looping plume)

This happens in afternoon due to the inversion disappearing

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22
Q

Describe what a fanning plume looks like

A

Flat line of smoke just below temperature inversion

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23
Q

Describe what a fumigation plume looks like

A

Smoke fans out from top of the temperature inversion to the ground

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24
Q

Describe fanning as a plume behavior

A
  • Caused by stable (inversion) with light winds, no or little vertical movement,
  • plume spread only horizontal (from the top it looks like a fan).

Little or now smoke near the ground (unless there is a hill)

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25
Q

Describe fumigation as a plume behavior

A

-Caused by mixing layer grows upwards with continued surface heating, reaches elevated fanning plume, rapidly mixes concentrated plume to surface.

-Ground level concentrations:
near zero, followed by high “burst” for short-period, then concentrations drop (as mixed layer continues to grow higher)

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26
Q

Describe looping as a plume behavior

A
  • Caused by Unstable conditions, strong vertical mixing (updrafts and downdrafts).
  • Plume has up and down wavy shape.

-Ground level concentrations:
high at a localized spot near stack. Farther away, low

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27
Q

What are some factors that affect dispersion of pollutants from chimneys

A
  • Temp
  • exit velocity
  • wind speed/direction,
  • chimney height
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28
Q

Why do pollutants get trapped downhill at night?

A

Cold air drains downhill at night which strengthens existing surface inversion and traps pollutants.

This carries pollutants from surrounding hillsides and traps them in the valley

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29
Q

What is the urban heat effect

A

Urban infrastructures release heat during night, warm the city’s air

This Temperature gradient causes a country breeze, and bring rural pollution: plumes, pollen, rural dust etc… into the city.

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30
Q

What would an episode of major air pollution due to?

A

combination of:

  • Many sources of air pollution
  • High pressure system with light winds and poor vertical mixing causing atmospheric stagnation
  • Light wind
  • A shallow mixing layer
  • Geographical features (e.g. valley)
  • Local condition
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31
Q

What are some local conditions that could cause severe pollution at night

A
  • clear skies: ground-based inversion with stable conditions, no mixing of pollutants emitted near ground
  • valleys/basins, pollutants accumulate at bottom due to drainage flows
  • if urban area large enough, heat island effect can pull pollutants from rural areas into core and re-circulate
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32
Q

What are some local conditions that could cause severe pollution in the day

A

-clear skies, surface heating may not completely erode inversion (cooler seasons), thus trapping pollutants in mixing layer

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33
Q

Why is weather forecasting important

A
  • Saves lives
  • Saves property from being damaged
  • Informs general public
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34
Q

What does diurnal mean?

A

Happening during the day instead of at night

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35
Q

What is involved in weather forecasting>

A
  1. Establishing current state
  2. Data centers
  3. Analysis products
  4. Remote sensing
  5. numerical weather prediction (NWP) Models
  6. Local conditions
  7. Forecaster
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36
Q

What does establishing current state mean in regards to weather forecasting?

A

Observations

World Meteorological Organization (procedures for observation):

  • surface (temp, dew point, winds, pressure, clouds, precipitation, visibility) every hour at observation stations
  • upper level (upper level balloons, Doppler radar)
  • Satellite (visible, IR, water vapour)
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37
Q

What does data centers mean in regards to weather forecasting?

A

collect and distribute observations:

NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) USA

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38
Q

What does Analysis Products mean in regards to weather forecasting?

A

(00, 06, 12, 18 hour intervals)

  • Weather charts: surface maps, upper air isobaric maps and soundings
  • Canada: Canadian Meteorological Centre produces analysis products
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39
Q

What does Remote Sensing mean in regards to weather forecasting?

A

Satellite, Doppler Radar

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40
Q

What does Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models mean in regards to weather forecasting?

A

Canada: Canadian Meteorological Centre

-Mathematical equations describing how the atmosphere/atmospheric processes changes over time (complex and solved by supercomputers using current data to predict future events/ state of atmosphere) Produces prognostic charts (charts to predict things)

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41
Q

What does Local Conditions: mean in regards to weather forecasting?

A

consideration of unique local characteristics

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42
Q

What does Forecaster mean in regards to weather forecasting?

A

synthesis of all information – forecasts disseminated by web and media

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43
Q

What are some other examples of Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models?

A
  • General Circulation model (GCM) -> Coast resolution/global coverage and predicts deviation from average conditions
  • Regional (limited area) model -> Fine resolution and forecasts precise weather conditions
  • Model ensemble ->Combination of multiple models or one model with different initial conditions
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44
Q

How do models work?

A

Equations are translated into complex software using programming language (ex. FORTRAN)

  • Surface and upper air observations are fed into equations
  • Equations are solved for small time increments (e.g. 5 min) covering large geographical areas and vertical levels
  • supercomputers solve it and produce outputs for post processing and visualization
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45
Q

What are some uncertainties with forecasting?

A
  • Flaws in models
  • Resolution
  • Model sensitivity
  • Inaccurate initial condition
  • Representation of physical processes
  • Local effects
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46
Q

What are some simple forecasting methods?

A
  1. Persistence Forecasting
  2. Steady state or trend forecasting
  3. Analogue Method
  4. Climatological Method
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47
Q

Explain persistence forecasting?

A

future weather will be same as present weather. If snowing today, then snow tomorrow as well.

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48
Q

Explain steady state/ trend forecasting?

A

moving weather systems or fronts continue to move at constant speed and same direction.

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49
Q

Explain Analogue method

A

forecast weather associated with recurring weather patterns on a weather chart (pattern recognition)

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50
Q

Explain climatological method

A

forecast based on past climatic conditions

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51
Q

What are some local influences on forecast for Vancouver island?

A
  • Elevation (Rain here but snow at higher elevations)
  • Rain shadow (Sooke hills get more rain then oak bay)
  • Coastal effects (i.e. sea breeze winds different then inland, Cooler/less variation in daytime temp compared to inland)
  • Vallleys, mountains, land use (Forest vs. Open) and urban heat
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52
Q

What are the different time ranges for forecasts?

A
  • Now cast
  • Short-Range forecast
  • Medium-Range forecast
  • Long-range forecast
  • Seasonal outlook
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53
Q

Explain now cast

A

Very short range (Less then 6 hours)

54
Q

Explain short - range forecast

A

up to 3 days

55
Q

Explain medium range forecast

A

about 3 - 8 days

56
Q

Explain long range forecast

A

past 8 days

57
Q

Explain seasonal outlook

A

forecast covering 3 months, gross features (probability of warmer or cooler, or wetter or drier than normal)

58
Q

What is the role of forecasting?

A

Analysis products, remote sensing, NWP and local knowledge are synthesized by forecaster and disseminated by wed and media

59
Q

Define the ocean

A

the vast body of saline water that occupies the depressions of Earth’s surface.

60
Q

What are the 5 major oceans

A
  1. Southern
  2. Atlantic
  3. Pacific
  4. Indian
  5. Arctic
61
Q

How much of earths surface is covered by oceans

A

71%

62
Q

How much of earths water is in the ocean?

A

97% (2.5% is land ice, groundwater, lakes and rivers)

63
Q

What are the 3 largest oceans?

A
  1. Pacific (~46% ocean area)
  2. Atlantic (~23%)
  3. Indian (~20%)
64
Q

Is the average ocean depth more then the height of mount everest?

A

No, Average ocean depth is 3,682 m whereas mt everest is 8,848

The deepest part of the ocean is about 11,000 m (Marianas trench)

65
Q

Define Salinity

A

The concentration of dissolved salt solids in seawater

66
Q

What is the average seawater salinity

A

3.5% (35g/kg)

67
Q

Is warm slightly salty water or cold more salty water more dense?

A

Cold

68
Q

Is seawater or fresh water more salty?

A

seawater is 2% to 3% heavier due to dissolved salt

69
Q

Can two water samples have the same density with different combinations of temp and salinity?

A

Yes

70
Q

What is the ocean organized by?

A

Density (the ocean is stratified by density)

71
Q

What does seawater’s density increases with?

A
  • increasing salinity
  • increasing pressure
  • decreasing temperature
72
Q

What is the principal of constant proportions

A

Salinity may vary with location, but the ratio of dissolved solids (% of salts) in seawater remains constant

73
Q

True or False: The ocean is at chemical equilibrium

A

True (What goes in must go out)

74
Q

Should you measure salinity in the ocean by heating up water and measuring residual salts

A

No, not accurate

In certain type of salts, water molecules do not evaporate completely and some of the salts evaporate

75
Q

How is Salinity calculated?

A

by conductivity

you can use a salinometer

76
Q

Does the equator or the poles have high salinity?

A

Equator

77
Q

What are the three zones of density in the ocean

A
  1. surface/mixed layer
  2. Pycnocline layer
  3. Deep layer
78
Q

Explain the surface zone/mixed layer

A
  • Well mixed layer
  • Temp. and salinity constant due to waves and currents
  • Least dense water
  • Depth varies from 150 m – 1000 m
79
Q

Explain Pycnocline layer

A

means strong slope

  • Temperature decreases rapidly with depth ->thermocline -> major factor to form the pycnoline layer
  • Polar water receive less radiation = much colder, no stratification -> no thermocline layer (forms in mid-low latitude)
  • Density increases with depth due to decrease in water temperature
  • Low salinity
80
Q

Explain deep zone

A

-Below 1,000 m in mid-latitude

  • Very cold water (-1°C – 3°C)
  • Very little change in density
  • Contains about 80% of ocean water
81
Q

What are Colligative Properties and what do they depend on?

A

Properties of a solution, they depend on the concentration

82
Q

What are some examples of Colligative Properties?

A
  • Heat capacity (Decreases with increasing salinity)
  • Freezing point (Decreases with increasing salinity)
  • Evaporation (decreases with increasing salinity)
  • Osmotic pressure (increases with increasing salinity)
83
Q

What is osmotic pressure

A

Pressure exerted on a biological membrane

84
Q

Can cold or hot water hold more gas?

A

Cold

85
Q

Why are dissolved gases importan

A

MArine plants and animals need them to survive

86
Q

Can marine animals break down water

A

no

87
Q

Can marine plants manufacture CO2

A

no

88
Q

what percentage of the ocean is nitrogen

Whats its purpose

A

48%

organisms require N to build proteins but cannot use them directly from atmosphere of ocean (they need nitrifying bacteria)

89
Q

what percentage of the ocean is oxygen

A

36%

90
Q

what percentage of the ocean is CO2

A

15%
-Dissolves quickly but is hard to get out of the ocean.

present in the form of H2CO3, H+, HCO3,-, and CO3^2-

Carbonate then forms calcium carbonate (limestone) this is used by marine organims to form shells

91
Q

Do gas concentrations vary with depth

A

Yes

92
Q

Does O2 increase or decrease with depth?

A

Decrease due to respiration

93
Q

does co2 increase or decrease with depth

A

increases due to respiration

94
Q

What is the pH of seawater?

A

8

95
Q

is water acidic or basic at surface

A

basic

96
Q

is water acidic or basic at the deep layer?

A

acidic

97
Q

What is ocean circulation driven by?

A

winds and differences in water density

98
Q

How is tropical heat distributed worldwide?

A

by winds and ocean currents

99
Q

What are surface currents

A

wind driven movements of water at or near the oceans surface

100
Q

what are thermohaline currents

A

the slow, deep currents that affect the seawater circulation

-Depend on density differences by T and salinity

101
Q

How do surface currents move

A

In circular path around the peripheries of major ocean basins called gyre

102
Q

Do El Nino and La nina affect the ocean and atmosphere?

A

yes

103
Q

What is mass flow (currents) driven by?

A

Wind and gravity

104
Q

What are the main currents in the ocean

A
  • Surface

- Thermolhaline

105
Q

How much of the water in the ocean is influenced by surface currents

A

10%

106
Q

What is the primary force driving surface currents

A

wind

107
Q

What direction does water move in Northern hemisphere

A

Clockwise

108
Q

What direction does water move in southern hemisphere

A

Counter-clockwise

109
Q

Can gyres be subdivided into distinct currents?

A

Yes, There are four interconnected currents in the north atlantic gyre which all have different flow characteristics and temperatures

110
Q

How many major gyres are there

A

6

111
Q

What is Ekman Transport

A

When the movements of all the individual layers of water in the spiral are added, the net direction of transport within the water column is at a right angle (90°) to the wind direction.

112
Q

Why does water move in a circular pattern

A

Ekman spiraling and the coriolis effect

113
Q

What are geostrophic gyres

A

Gyres in balance between pressure gradient and corriolis effect

114
Q

what is the only major gyres that is not geostrophic

A

antarctic circumpolar current

115
Q

what are western boundary current

A
  • narrow, deep, fast, move warm water
  • at western bounaries of oceans
  • well defined boundaries
  • can move long distances
116
Q

How many western boundary currents are there

A

5

117
Q

What are eastern boundary gyres

A
  • Flow in eastern edge of ocean basin
  • cold, shallow, broad currents
  • boundaries not well defined
118
Q

How is heat distributed from equator to poles

A

ocean surface currents

119
Q

What is up welling

A

The upward motion of water. This brings cold nutrient rich water to the surface.
(occurs where flow of surface water is away from sea)

Happens where there is divergence at the surface and deeper water moves to replace it

120
Q

What is downwelling

A

Downward motion of water. It supplies the deeper ocean with dissolved gasses (occurs where there is convergence)

121
Q

`Explain El nino

A

An extensive ocean warming that extends westward from the coast of Peru and Ecuador across eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, typically every 2-7 years

122
Q

Explain La nina

A

A condition where the surface temperature of the central and eastern tropical pacific ocean turn cooler than normal.

123
Q

Explain an el nino year

A
  • Air and surface water flow westward
  • Upwelling of nutrient rich water along the coast of south amarica = high pressure area
  • trade winds drag huge ammount of warm water over pacific =low pressure
  • causes rainfall across Australia and Asia
124
Q

Explain an La nina year

A
  • Trade winds weakens or reverse
  • warm water across eastern pacific = more evaporation/ sea levels rise
  • flooding across eastern pacific and drought across australia and asia
125
Q

Explain thermohaline circulation

A
  • Movement of deeo ocean water due to density differences

- water masses (Water masses often dont mix easily)

126
Q

What are the five types of water masses

A
  1. Surface water (200m)
  2. central water (to bottom of main thermocline)
  3. Intermediate water (to 1500m)
  4. Deep water (below intermediate water to 4000m)
  5. Bottom water (in contact with seafloor)
127
Q

What does the circulation of deep water resemble

A

a conveyor belt that carries surface water to the depths and back again

128
Q

How do ocean water circulate

A

in currents

129
Q

How much of the ocean do surface currents affect

A

uppermost 10%

130
Q

What is thermohaline circulation driven by

A

Density

131
Q

What shapes global circulation patterns

A

The coriolis effect

Atmospheric (3 decks)

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