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How differences in pressure cause the atmosphere (or ocean) to move Dr. Rob Black Meteorology Professor Georgia Tech. What are we trying to understand? 1) Sea Breeze (at the beach). Millersville University NOAA Jet Stream
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How differences in pressure cause the atmosphere (or ocean) to move Dr. Rob Black Meteorology Professor Georgia Tech
What are we trying to understand? 1) Sea Breeze (at the beach) Millersville University NOAA Jet Stream http://www.atmos.millersville.edu/~lead/SeaBreezeYard.jpg http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/yos/resource/JetStream/
2) Monsoon (in India) The Telegraph NC State University http://www.telegraph.co.uk/http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.Monsoons
3) Afternoon rain in Paradise dreamstime.com http://www.dreamstime.com/
What do we need to know? • Unequal heating of Earth’s Surface: http://sharegeography.co.uk/
What do we need to know? 2) Fluid parcels: Blobs of air or water
What do we need to know? 3) Heat a fluid parcel -> What happens: Size? Density? Movement? Process? Increases Decreases Rises Up Convection
What do we need to know? 4) Pressure: “Pushing” of nearby parcels
What do we need to know? 5) Fluid parcels move from regions of high pressure toward low pressure
Let’s now consider an experiment!! Locally heat bottom of bowl of water: 2: Bowl heats water (by conduction) 1: Flame heats bowl (by radiation)
Let’s now consider an experiment!! Try to predict what will happen in bowl: Size? Density? Movement? Increase Decrease Rise upward (Convection) Q1: What will happen to hot blob of water?
Let’s now consider an experiment!! Hot water blob now pushes upward: H At top? At bottom? Increases Decreases L Q2: How does pressure change above/below?
Let’s now consider an experiment!! “Close the loop” on what will happen: H Spread out (Diverge) Sinking Move Inward (Converge) At top? At sides? At bottom? L Q3: How will water move at top and bottom?
Experimental Instructions • Place a drop of blue food color at one side • Place a drop of red food color at opposite side • Drops will first sink and then mix with water • Mixed drops will then show motion in water • Look for area where water is rising • Place a drop of green food color in rising water • Watch what happens!
Experimental Observations • Where does water appear to rise or sink? • Where does water spread out (diverge)? • Where does water move together (converge)? • How do your observations compare with your expectations (based upon physical principles presented in the powerpoint)? • How are the 2 experiments different or similar? • How do the experiments compare to sea breeze, etc?