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Air-Sea Interactions Convection currents, coriolis , and wind patterns

Air-Sea Interactions Convection currents, coriolis , and wind patterns. Fig. 6.11. Overview. Atmosphere and ocean one interdependent system Solar energy creates winds Winds drive surface ocean currents and waves Examples of interactions: El Niño Currents. Seasons.

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Air-Sea Interactions Convection currents, coriolis , and wind patterns

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  1. Air-Sea InteractionsConvection currents, coriolis, and wind patterns Fig. 6.11

  2. Overview • Atmosphere and ocean one interdependent system • Solar energy creates winds • Winds drive surface ocean currents and waves • Examples of interactions: • El Niño • Currents

  3. Seasons • Earth’s axis of rotation tilted with respect to ecliptic • Tilt responsible for seasons- will discuss later • Vernal (spring) equinox • Summer solstice • Autumnal equinox • Winter solstice • Seasonal changes and day/night cause unequal solar heating of Earth’s surface

  4. Seasons Fig. 6-1

  5. Movements in atmosphere • Air (wind) always moves from regions of high pressure to low • Cool dense air, higher surface pressure • Warm less dense air, lower surface pressure Fig. 6.6

  6. Movements in air Non-rotating Earth • Air (wind) always moves from regions of high pressure to low • Convection or circulation cell Fig. 6.7

  7. Physical properties of atmosphere • Warm air, less dense (rises) • Cool air, more dense (sinks) • Moist air, less dense (rises) • Dry air, more dense (sinks) Fig. 6.5

  8. Low & High Pressure Systems • Winds: H L Air movement

  9. Low & High Pressure Systems Winds: Air movement H L

  10. Low & High Pressure Systems Winds: Air movement H L

  11. Low & High Pressure Systems Winds: Air movement H L

  12. Low & High Pressure Systems Low and high pressure areas “chase” each other around H L Air movement

  13. Air movement Air Movement • What happens to warm air as it rises? • Temperature: • Precipitation: • Density: • Movement:

  14. Air movement Air Movement • Warm air rises • Heat makes molecules move more • Further-apart molecules = lower density • Less dense air rises above more dense air • Cold air sinks • Colder molecules move less • Become packed more closely together • Denser cool air sinks below less dense air

  15. If this is true, how come the earths wind patterns don’t look like this?

  16. Movements in air on a rotating Earth • Coriolis effect causes deflection in moving body • Due to Earth’s rotation to east • Most pronounced on objects that move long distances across latitudes • Deflection to right in Northern Hemisphere • Deflection to left in Southern Hemisphere • Maximum Coriolis effect at poles • No Coriolis effect at equator

  17. Coriolis Effect

  18. Coriolis Effect The Coriolis Effect • In the Northern Hemisphere: • Objects are deflected to the right • Faster-moving objects are deflected more • Deflection is stronger closer to the poles • In the Southern Hemisphere: • Objects are deflected to the left • Faster-moving objects are deflected more • Deflection is stronger closer to the poles

  19. N W E S Coriolis Effect Northern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  20. N W E S Coriolis Effect Northern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  21. N W E S Coriolis Effect Northern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  22. N W E S Coriolis Effect Northern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  23. N W E S Coriolis Effect Northern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  24. N W E S Coriolis Effect Northern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  25. N W E S Coriolis Effect Northern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  26. N W E S Coriolis Effect Southern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  27. N W E S Coriolis Effect Southern Hemisphere Deflection Equator

  28. Coriolis Effect Examples: • A plane leaves Myrtle Beach for Montreal, but does not correct for the Coriolis Effect. Where does it wind up in relation to its intended destination? • A plane leaves Myrtle Beach for San Diego, but does not correct for the Coriolis Effect. Where does it wind up in relation to its intended destination?

  29. Coriolis Effect Montreal San Diego Aerial Image: NASA

  30. Coriolis Effect Montreal San Diego Coriolis Effect Not To Scale Aerial Image: NASA

  31. Coriolis Effect Montreal San Diego Coriolis Effect Not To Scale Aerial Image: NASA

  32. Due to coriolis , unequal solar heating, and convection, air patterns actually look like this Fig. 6.10

  33. Global Wind Patterns

  34. Global atmospheric circulation • Circulation cells circulate as air changes density due to: • Changes in air temperature • Changes in water vapor content • Circulation cells • Hadley cells (0o to 30o N and S) • Ferrel cells (30o to 60o N and S) • Polar cells (60o to 90o N and S)

  35. Global atmospheric circulation • High pressure zones • Subtropical highs • Polar highs • Clear skies • Low pressure zones • Equatorial low • Subpolar lows • Overcast skies with lots of precipitation

  36. Fig. 6.10

  37. Global wind belts • Trade winds • Northeast trades in Northern Hemisphere • Southeast trades in Southern Hemisphere • Prevailing westerlies • Polar easterlies • Boundaries between wind belts • Doldrums or Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) • Horse latitudes • Polar fronts

  38. Atmospheric Summary • Pressures • -- lows • -- highs • Circulationcells: • -- Hadley (equatorial) • -- Ferrel (mid-latitude) • -- Polar • Winds: • -- NE trade winds • -- SE trade winds • -- Prevailing westerlies • -- Polar easterlies • Boundaries: • -- Doldrums (ITCZ) • -- Horse latitudes • -- Polar front Atmospheric Circulation

  39. Coastal winds • Solar heating • Different heat capacities of land and water • Sea breeze • From ocean to land • Land breeze • From land to ocean Fig. 6.13

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