Unit 6: Atmosphere Interactions and Weather

1. Unit 6: Atmosphere Interactions and Weather At the end of this unit you will be able to Calculate: Dewpoint and Relative Humidity Read and Interpret Charts in Reference Tables Determine the height of a cloud base using a graph Read and create station models List the characteristics of Pressure zones, and fronts Create synoptic maps

2. Laboratory Activities for this unit: • Measuring Dewpoint and Relative Humidity • Dewpoint and Cloud Formation • Hurricane Floyd • Station models • Climactic factors: Mountains and Rainfall • Coastal Vs. Continental

3. Prevailing wind: Winds that usually blow from a certain direction all year • Wind: horizontal movement of air in the atmosphere • Isobar: A line that connects equal air pressure

4. Barometer: instrument used to measure air pressure • Air pressure/ Barometric pressure: weight of the air above you • Jet Stream: Winds at the top of the troposphere

5. Anemometer: instrument used to measure wind speed • Evaporation: change of a liquid to a gas, water into the atmosphere • Evapotranspiration: evaporation of water from plants, water into the atmosphere

6. Visibility: the farthest distance you can see • Precipitation: water coming out of the atmosphere in the form of liquid or solid • Condensation: water vapor turning to liquid water to form clouds

7. Dewpoint: temperature at which dew (condensation) forms • Relative Humidity: what percent of the air is water • Psychrometer: instrument used to measure relative humidity and dewpoint

8. Air mass: body of air in the troposphere with the same temperature and humidity • Cyclone: Low pressure system, counterclockwise and towards the center, aka, a Low pressure center • Front: an interface between two different air masses

9. Isotherm: a line that connects equal temperatures • Climate: overall conditions of a regions weather • Insolation: Incoming Solar Radiation , sunlight • Coriolis Effect: deflection of winds and ocean currents based on the rotation of the earth.

10. Storm: a violent disturbance in the atmosphere • Hurricane/Typhoon: a large Low pressure that forms over warm water, with winds over 74 miles per hour

11. I. Interactions in our atmosphere A.Density of air 1. As temp , it takes up more space (expands) volume , density 

12. Analogy: Dancing, as you dance you get hotter so you move away from each other and take up more space.

13. I. Interactions in our atmosphere B. Wind 1.caused by density differences (different air pressure) a. unequal heating of the earth’s surface 1.poles = low temperature 2. equator = higher temperature

14. The poles get less direct light and that makes them cooler The equator gets direct light and that makes it warmer

15. Wind is caused by differences in pressure because land and water do not heat up at the same rate

16. During the day land heats up faster causing a low pressure over the land and high pressure over the water At night the water is warmer and a low pressure is found over it where the land is cooler and has a high pressure

17. REMEMBER: EVERYTHING FLOWS FROM HIGHS TO LOWS INCLUDING PRESSURE

18. I. Interactions in our atmosphere Wind Analogy You go to Sea Breeze during the day

19. I. Interactions in our atmosphere 3.(p 14), ESRT, Wind pattern chart

20. The purple arrows indicate cold air sinking a high pressure zone an area of convergence The light green arrows indicate warm air rising a low pressure zone of divergence On your ESRT draw in the Highs and Lows and label with blue the areas of high pressure and in red the areas of low pressure

21. I. Interactions in our atmosphere C. Water into our atmosphere 1. evaporation rates

22. I. Interactions in our atmosphere Analogy: Surface area- wadded up towel versus a towel hanging on the rack Analogy: Windspeed- A blow dryer on low or on high Analogy: Temperature: a blow dryer on hot or cool

23. I. Interactions in our atmosphere D.Water out of the atmosphere1.Condensation: process by which water vapor is turned into a liquid. a. energy is released, heat is given off

25. I. Interactions in our atmosphere D.Water out of the atmosphere 2. Precipitation: clouds fill with water droplets (saturated) and cannot hold anymore and they fall to earth. a. Types: rain, hail, snow, freezing rain, sleet

26. 5. Dewpoint (F): point at which clouds (dew) forms a.  p. 12, ESRT b. Dry bulb = air temp AS air rises it cools and when the air condenses a cloud forms, we say that the dewpoint has been reached

27. Dry bulb… just a regular thermometer Wet bulb.. Has a sock over the end of the thermometer

28. 6. Relative humidity: a. amount of moisture (water vapor ) in the air,  b.  Measured in %.  c. Use a sling psychrometer

29. 3 things you need to have clouds: • Water vapor • Condensation Nuclei • Temperature to cool off & hit the DEW POINT!

31. Cloud types Fair weather Cumulus Big and puffy Alto Cumulus

32. Cloud types Cirrus Cirrostratus

33. Cloud types In Syracuse we typically have these clouds all winter long These clouds cover the entire sky

34. Nimbus means: RAIN Cloud types This is caused by high winds that pull the top of the cloud These are thunderstorm clouds, notice the anviling

35. As you go up there is less air so the cloud expands

36. Practice: 1. Dry bulb = 12°C Wet bulb = 10°C DP = ? Cloud height= ?

37. Practice: 1. Dry bulb = 12°C Wet bulb = 10°C DP = 8°C Cloud height= ?

38. Practice: 1. Dry bulb = 12°C Wet bulb = 10°C DP = 8°C Cloud height=0.5 km

39. 2. Dry bulb = 22°C Wet bulb = 17°C DP = ? Cloud height = ?

40. 2. Dry bulb = 22°C Wet bulb = 17°C DP = 14°C Cloud height = ?

41. 2. Dry bulb = 22°C Wet bulb = 17°C DP = 14°C Cloud height = 1.0 km

42. 3. Dry bulb = 30°C Wet bulb = 24 °C DP = ? Cloud height = ?

43. 3. Dry bulb = 30°C Wet bulb = 24 °C DP = 21°C Cloud height = ?

44. 3. Dry bulb = 30°C Wet bulb = 24°C DP = 21°C Cloud height = 1.1 km

45. Weather 3

46. II. Weather and Our Atmosphere • Weather: observations based on air temperature, dewpoint, humidity, cloud cover, wind, etc… at a certain time and location.

47. B. Page 13, ESRT Station Models

48. Station model map NY State Station model map

49. II. Weather and Our atmosphere B. Page 13, ESRT Station Models 1. Temperature F C use thermometers above.

50. II. Weather and Our Atmosphere 1.Wind direction, the place where the tail is pointing (named by where it comes from)