// lecture 12

Question 1

winds in the atmosphere

Answer 1

we define a cartesian coordinate system: east is X, north is Y, and up is Z.

east wind is U, north wind is V, upward is W

east is a westerly wind, north is a southerly wind

Question 2

westerlies and easterlies

Answer 2

• westerly means the wind comes from the west and flow towards the east, positive U
• southerly means the wind comes from the south and flows toward the north, positive V

Question 3

1 nautical mile

Answer 3

1 min of latitude = 1.15 statute mi = 1.85 km

Question 4

mean meridional cirulation

Answer 4

polar cell near top, then ferrell cell, then hadley cell then ferrel cell, then polar cell near other pole

Question 5

real mean meridional circulations

Answer 5

• mostly one cell from summer to winter hemisphere in solstice seasons
• in annual mean, S. Hem. cell is larger
• ITCZ is in NH most of time

Question 6

hadley cell circulation brings…

Answer 6

moist (latent energy) and warm (sensible energy) TO THE TROPICS but moves potential energy AWAY FROM THE TROPICS

Question 7

sensible and latent energy is used to…

Answer 7

lift air in the ITCZ, converting sensible and latent energy to potential energy

Question 8

sensible energy

Answer 8

contained in the brownian motion of molecules of air

Question 9

latent energy

Answer 9

contained in water vapor and be released when water vapor condenses

Question 10

potential energy

Answer 10

energy available from gravitational acceleration

Question 11

poleward energy transport by atmosphere

Answer 11

dry static energy = potential + sensible

Question 12

transport by mid-latitude storms

Answer 12

storms (eddies) do most of the transport of sensible and latent heat in midlatitudes (potential is no so important).