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Geog 101 > Sub-Synoptic scale process - Climatology > Flashcards

Sub-Synoptic scale process - Climatology Flashcards

1
Q

Mesoscale phenomena

A

Part of a continuum of atmospheric motion - spatial size range is 10 - 200km, with a time scale of a few hours to a few days

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2
Q

Mesoscale phenomena can be separated into two broad groups depending on their origin

A
  1. Free atmosphere processes
  2. Thermal and mechanical effects of the surface - surface induced processes
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3
Q

Two aspects of earths surface that lead to development of mesoscale weather processes

A
  1. Physical character of the surface - Orographic forcing
  2. spatial variability of the surface energy balance - Thermal forcing
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4
Q

In stable situations air tends to get blocked and flows around an obstacle.
What happens with decreasing stability.

A

More and more air passes over the obstacle and forms lee waves

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5
Q

Measure for the amount of blocking:

A

Froude number

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6
Q

Froude number equation

A

Froude number = pi(horizontal wind speed/stability of the atmosphere x width of the obstacle

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7
Q

Four types of foehn effect

A
  1. Stable foehn
  2. Unstable foehn
  3. Low-level blocking
  4. The typical bora
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8
Q

Bora

A

Cold, dry gusty wind that occurs when cold air is trapped below an inversion

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9
Q

Most common dynamic mesoscale feature created by mountains

A

Foehn effect

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10
Q

Temperature change with height for non-saturated air (1 degree per 100m)

A

Dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR)

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11
Q

Temperature change with height for saturated air (0.4 - 0.8 per 100m)

A

Saturated (moist) adiabatic lapse rate (SALR)

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12
Q

Foehn effect results

A

Precipitation on the windward side of a mountain range and a drying effect on the leeward side

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13
Q

Foehn effect process

A
  1. Moisture lost through precipitation on the windward side
  2. Consequently, the condensation level on the lee side is at a higher level
  3. This results in longer dry adiabatic warming on the lee side
  4. Therefore, at the same altitude, air on the lee side is warmer than on the windward side
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14
Q

Two thermal effects on horizontal airflow

A
  1. Land-sea breeze system
  2. Mountain valley winds
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15
Q

Boundary layer

A

The region of the atmosphere that is directly influenced by the surface beneath it

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16
Q

Layers of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL)

A
  1. Outer layer
  2. Turbulent surface layer
  3. Roughness layer
  4. Laminar boundary layer
  5. Sub surface layer
17
Q

Outer layer (ABL)

A

The remaining turbulent layer that extends to the top of the ABL

18
Q

Turbulent surface layer

A

Immediately above the surface elements, small-scale turbulence dominates

19
Q

Roughness layer

A

Strongly influenced by the roughness elements, complex 3-d flows around them

20
Q

Laminar boundary layer

A

Molecular diffusion

21
Q

Sub surface layer

A

Molecular diffusion of heat away from the ground

22
Q

Four primary forms of energy

A
  1. Radiant energy (electromagnetic waves)
  2. Thermal energy (energy possessed by a body as a consequence of its sensible/latent heat content)
  3. Kinetic energy (energy of motion)
  4. Potential energy (energy that a body possesses as a result of its position in gravity
23
Q

Flow rate of mass

A

Mass flux

24
Q

Flow rate of mass per unit (surface) area

A

Mass flux density

25
Q

Rate of work/flow rate of energy

A

Power,heat flux

26
Q

Flow rate of energy per unit (surface) area

A

Heat flux density

27
Q

Flow rate of radiative energy per unit (surface) area

A

Radiant flux density

28
Q

Three modes of energy exchange

A
  1. Radiation - electromagnetic waves
  2. Conduction - molecular motion
  3. Convection - mass movement in a fluid
29
Q

Net all-wave radiation

A

The amount of all-wave radiant energy that is available at a surface, which is then partitioned into different energy balance components

30
Q

Net all-wave radiation equation

A

Net all-wave radiation = net shortwave radiation + net longwave radiation

31
Q

Most important link between energy and water balance

A

Latent heat flux - evaporation and condensation at the surface results in mass loss or gain of water

32
Q

Input/output of a glacier terms:
Accumulation -
Ablation -

A

Accumulation -
Snow/ice gain e.g snowfall, rainfall, superimposed ice
Ablation - Snow/ice loss e.g Surface melt, basal and englacial melt, evaporation, sublimation, calving and avalanching

33
Q

How does ice and snow compare with radiation exchanges on glaciers

A

Albedo of snow is higher than ice, meaning once a glacier loses its snow in the summer, it absorbs more energy and melts faster.

34
Q

How much melting occurs in summer on a glacier in the ablation zone

A

30-40mm

35
Q

High and low ablation events are associated with which wind direction

A

North-west
South west

Geog 101 (5 decks)

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