1 / 28

Air Temperature

Air Temperature. Temperature : a measure of the average speed at which molecules are moving or vibrating. Air temperature the rate of motion of gas molecules in the atmosphere as a result of the absorption of energy measured by a thermometer. Temperature scales. Celsius

helmut
Download Presentation

Air Temperature

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Air Temperature

  2. Temperature : • a measure of the average speed at which molecules are moving or vibrating.

  3. Air temperature • the rate of motion of gas molecules in the atmosphere as a result of the absorption of energy • measured by a thermometer

  4. Temperature scales • Celsius • water freezes at 0o • water boils at 100o • Fahrenheit • water freezes at 32o • water boils at 212o • Kelvin • no molecular motion at 0K • water freezes at 273 K • water boils at 373 K

  5. Conversions • oF = (1.8 x oC) + 32 • oC = 0.56 (oF - 32) • K = oC + 273

  6. What determines the temperature of a place? • Insolation (daily and annual cycles) 2. Latitude 3. Urban/Rural Surface 4. Coastal vs. Interior location 5. Elevation

  7. 1. Insolation A. Changing angle of noon sun throughout the year changes temperature on a seasonal basis.

  8. Why temperature difference between equinoxes?

  9. Spring : at end of cold, short day period • more energy loss • Autumn : at end of warm, long day period • more energy gain

  10. 1. Insolation B. Changing angle of sun throughout the day changes temperature on a daily basis.

  11. lag between max insolation and max temperature • because highest temp at time of max ABSORBED insolation

  12. 2. Latitude • Higher latitudes receive less insolation than lower latitudes • sun’s rays are more oblique • daylength is variable • Net energysurplus in tropics; net energy deficit in polar regions

  13. 3. Urban/rural Surface • Evapotranspiration differences • Urban impervious surfaces • Urban highly absorbent (low albedo) surfaces • Urban fuel consumption and excess heat • “Urban heat island”

  14. 4. Coastal vs. interior locations • Water bodies have a moderating effect on temperature.

  15. “Land heats up and cools down more rapidly than water.” • Therefore: • Coastal: smaller temperature ranges than continental locations. • Coastal locations have their maximum temperatures well after maximum insolation.

  16. Lake effect in Duluth is an example of changes in temperature due to being close to a large body of water.

  17. 5. Altitude / Elevation • Temperature decreases as elevation increases. • less mass, less pressure, less absorption

  18. Exception: temperature inversion

  19. Conditions favorable for a temperature inversion: • cool, clear, calm night

More Related