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Local Weather and Climate: The North American Monsoon

Learn about the North American Monsoon and its impact on local weather and climate. Discover how Tucson and Sonora, Mexico receive most of their rainfall during the summer months, and how high pressure systems bring moisture from the south. Explore recent monsoon rainfall records and the effects of the monsoon on water flow.

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Local Weather and Climate: The North American Monsoon

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  1. Lecture 1-Nats 101 http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/ann/ann05.html

  2. Lecture 1-Nats 101

  3. Local Weather and Climate: The North American Monsoon • Tucson gets half of its rainfall during the summer • Sonora, Mexico gets most of its rainfall during the summer • During summer, high pressure sets up to the east/northeast of Arizona which brings moisture in from the south • The monsoon is still going: Thunderstorms yesterday • For a monsoon overview and daily forecast, see: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon.php http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/products/models/forecasts/forecast.html Lecture 1-Nats 101

  4. Local: Recent Monsoon Rainfall • Record water flow through the Sabino and Rillito Creeks on July 31 • Rillito flow higher than Colorado river! Lecture 1-Nats 101 See http://fpnew.ccit.arizona.edu/kkh/rillito.flood.jul.06.htm

  5. Course Building Blocks • Intro  1st week or so • Energy  ~2 weeks • Moisture  ~2 weeks • Dynamics  ~3 weeks Above are interdependent • Specific Topics  ~6 weeks Lecture 1-Nats 101

  6. Atmospheric CompositionPermanent Gases • N2 and O2 are most abundant gases • Percentages hold constant up to 80 km • Ar, Ne, He, and Xe are chemically inert • N2 and O2 are chemically active, removed & returned Ahrens, Table 1.1, 4th Ed. Lecture 1-Nats 101

  7. N2 and O2 N2 Boiling point: 77 °K or -196°C or –320 °F O2 Boiling point: 90 °K or -183 °C or -297 °F Balance between input (production) and output (destruction): Input:plant/animal decaying Output: soil bacteria; oceanic plankton-->nutrients Input:plant photosynthesis Output: organic matter decay chemical combination (oxidation) breathing Lecture 1-Nats 101

  8. Atmospheric CompositionImportant Trace Gases Ahrens, Table 1.1, 3rd ed. Which of these is now wrong even in the 4th edition of Ahrens? Lecture 1-Nats 101

  9. Carbon Dioxide CO2 • Sources • vegetative decay • volcanic eruptions • animal exhalation • combustion of fossil fuels(CH4 + 2 O2 > 2 H2O + CO2) • Sinks • photosynthesis (oxygen production) • dissolves in water • phytoplankton absorption (limestone formation) Lecture 1-Nats 101

  10. CO2 Trend “Keeling Curve” Some gases vary by season and over many years. The CO2 trend is the cause for concern about global warming. CO2 increases in northern spring, decreases in northern fall Lecture 1-Nats 101 See http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/globalchange/keeling_curve/01.html

  11. H2O Vapor VariabilityPrecipitable Water (mm) Some gases can vary spatially and daily Lecture 1-Nats 101

  12. Aerosols 1 cm3 of air can contain as many as 200,000 non-gaseous particles. • dust • dirt (soil) • ocean spray • volcanic ash • water • pollen • pollutants Lecture 1-Nats 101

  13. Aerosols - Volcanic Ash Lecture 1-Nats 101 Fig. 1-4, p.6

  14. Aerosols - Dust Particles Dust Storm on Interstate 10, between Phoenix and Tucson, AZ. Lecture 1-Nats 101

  15. Aerosols • Provide condensation nuclei for water vapor. • Provide a surface area or catalyst needed for much atmospheric chemistry. • Aerosols can deplete stratospheric ozone. They can also cool the planet by reflecting sunlight back to space. Lecture 1-Nats 101

  16. Reading Assignment • Ahrens Pages 1-22; 425-426-427 (Appendix A: Units etc.), 431-432 (Appendix C: Weather chart symbols) Problems 1.2, 1.3, 1.10, 1.14, 1.17, 1.18, 1.20 (1.17  Chapter 1, Question 17) Don’t Forget the 4”x6” Index Cards Lecture 1-Nats 101

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