January 28th lecture Flashcards
If air moves in the Meridional, what direction is it moving?
North to south
What is the Coriolis effect?
The application of angular momentum of the earths winds, and oceans
As you approach the poles ( as wind ) what happens to your angualr velocity?
Your angular velocity increases
In the northern hemisphere as you move northward what direction are you deflected? why?
You are deflected to the East,
This is because in order for there to be a increase in angular velocity you need to have an eastward acceleration.
For air travelling northwards in the northern hemisphere, what direction is the deflection acceleration?
It is deflected eastward
For air travelling southwards in the northern hemisphere what direction is the deflection of acceleration?
It is deflected westward
For air travelling northwards in the southern hemisphere, what direction is the deflection of acceleration?
It is deflected westward
For air travelling Southward in the southern hemisphere, what direct is the deflection of acceleration?
There is a eastward acceleration.
What is it called when air moves from east to west?
Zonal air motion
What happens when you have zonal winds? (what happens in both directions)
If the air moves eastward it will take less time to complete one rotation of the planet as it is traveling faster over the earths surface.
If it moves westward, it is opposing the earths rotation and would take longer to complete a rotation.
While air travels eastward what happens to its angular velocity?
it increases
While air travels westward what happens to its angular velocity?
It decreases
Eastward motion in the northern hemisphere leads
to what?
A southward acceleration
Westward motion in the northern hemisphere
leads to what?
A northward acceleration
Why is it that when you have wind going eastward in the northern hemisphere the winds travels to the equator?
This is due to when you have an increase in angular velocity you also get an increase in radius
What is a Hadley cell? ( 3 steps )
- Warm, moist air rises to the Equator
- flows poleward ( and is deflected to the right )
- Sinks in subtropics and returns to surface flow
What is a Ferrel cell
- poleward surface flow, rising in the mid-latitudes
- Returns equatorward at height and sinks in subtropics
What do hadley and Ferrel cells drive?
- Drives northeasterly TRADES in sub-tropics
* Drives WESTERLIES in mid-latitudes
How are clouds and precipitation created?
Since rising air is often moist and since air cools as it rises, that moisture can’t held, producing clouds and precipitation
Why is there dry conditions in the sub tropics?
Sinking air can hold more moisture (as it is
warming as descending), which normally means
dry, clear conditions
What three factors make the 3 cell model idelaized?
- tilt of the earths axis and seasons
- Lower heat capacity of continental rock vs seawater
- uneven distribution of land and ocean
