Atmosphere Circulation

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Atmosphere Circulation

• Unit 9 Chapter 8

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Properties of the Atmosphere

• Warm air- occupies more space, is less dense and
  rises compared to cool air of same mass. Can hold
  more water vapor.
• Humid air is less dense than dry air at same
  temperature

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Northern Hemisphere

• Three circulating cells of air
• Curve to the right-known as the Coriolis Effect
• Receives 3X as much heat in June compared to
  December

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Southern Hemisphere

• Curve of the air movement is to the left or
  counterclockwise

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Which is faster?

• Buffalo, New York is directly north of Quito,
  Ecuador which is on the equator. During one full
  day rotation are the two cities traveling at the
  same speed around the world or is one faster than
  the other?
• (Check page 183 of your text to see if youre
  right)

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Jet Stream

• Form between warm and cold air masses
• Winds move west to east at mid-latitudes in both
  hemispheres- caused by uneven heating and earths
  rotation.
• Creates climate and weather.
• Climate- long term average of weather in an area
• Weather- state of atmosphere at a specific time
  and place

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Wind Patterns

• Doldrums- equatorial lows
• Westerlies- surface winds at the 450 latitudes N
  and S
• Tradewinds-constant easterlies that sailors
  relied upon

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Wind Patterns

• Monsoons-changes with the season, wet summers and
  dry winters (Arizona)
• Sea Breeze-small, daily mini-monsoons, cooler air
  from the sea moves across the land
• Storms-strong winds with precipitation
• Cyclones-
• extratropical winter storms (snow, noreasters)
• Hurricanes-(tropical cyclones)

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• Hyperlink to MM CD 4
• Storm Surges

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• Hyperlink to MM CD 3
• Hurricanes and Hurricane Aftermath

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The Coast and The Open Ocean

• Coastal waters consist of the surf, beach and
  tidal zone
• Open ocean is the pelagic

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The Pelagic Realm

• Regulates climate
• Effects atmosphere
• Provides food and other resources
• No place for attachment- organisms live suspended
• No place to hide

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Upper Pelagic

• Surface layers of the pelagic are known as
  epipelagic
• From the surface down to about 200 m (650 ft).
  Also known as the photic zone
• Warmest area of ocean

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Components of the Epipelagic

• Neritic zone- coastal- over the continental
  shelf.
• Oceanic- beyond the continental shelf

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Upwellings

• Caused indirectly by Coriolis
• Large amounts of nutrient rich water come to
  surface
• Coastal upwellings carry nutrients to the photic
  zone
• Ekman transport- upper part of water column moves
  at 90 o from the wind direction

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Nutrient mixing

• Nutrients settle to bottom
• Plankton is in small supply on the bottom due to
  lack of light
• Denser water sinks so when cold and wind cool the
  surface waters , they sink and cause an overturn.
• Spring and fall blooms occur due to winter
  overturns and summers end