SIO 25 Lecture 1 flashcards

Weather

short term (hours/days) state of the atmosphere at a given time/place

• measured by temp, precipitation, cloudiness, humidity, air pressure and wind

• monitored by location (meteorological; temp, snow cover, wind etc), season shifts/migration, ocean temps/ice conc

• monitored by satellite coverage of outgoing/incoming radiation

Climate

long term conditions of the atmosphere, ocean, landcover or ice and describes atmospheric conditions

• classical period is 30 years (avg time period)

  • current dataset is  1991-2020

Climate variability

the way temp and precipitation differ from an average 

• happens due to natural and periodic changes in the circulation of air/ocean, volcanic eruptions, etc

Climate System

atmosphere , hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere that interact w/ one another

• evolves due to internal dynamics and external forcings (eruptions, human induced terrestrial/atmospheric changes)

Atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, biosphere

layers of gases, bodies of water, ice/glaciers/snow, earth/rock, plants and animals

Climate Change

any change in the long term stats of climate elements (temp, pressure or wind) sustained over several decades or longer

climate normal

30 year averages of climate variables to create a baseline to compare to current conditions

earths coordinate systems

longitude (east/west), latitude(south/north), equator, prime meridian and poles

Koppen Climate Zones

A: Tropical

B: Dry

C: Moist subtropical

D: Moist continental

E: Polar

Biome

Region of Earths surface characterized by specific plant/animal communities

• mapped onto climate zones

Units of energy

Energy= Joules

• heat capacity of water= 1 calorie = 4.18 Joules

• Dietary calorie = 1000cal

• Watt = rate of energy flow = J/sec

Thermal energy

Generated by molecular motion 

• measured in Kelvin, celsius, fahrenheit

calc K → C

K - 273 = C

melting/boiling pt of K, C, F

K: mp; 273K, bp; 373

C: mp; 0C, bp: 100C

F: mp: 32F; bp:212F

Pressure

force per unit area (gas or liquid pushing against a surface)

saturation vapor pressure

when evaporation is at same rate as condensation

What type of air holds more water vapor?

Warm air

• +7% water vapor per 1C+ warming

dew point temperature

temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor

• relative humidity = 100% at dp

Dew point depression

air temp - dew point temp = dp depression (C/K/F)

• higher dp depression = LOWER relative humidity

Wet bulb depression

dry bulb (air temp) - wet bulb temp

• psychrometers are used to measure humidity

  • dry bulb = measures air temp

  • wet bulb = measures temp as water evaporates from cloth to air (drier air = cooler temp)

Calc dew point with Ta (air temp) and Tw (wet bulb temp)

Dew point = intersection of dry and wet bulb lines on a psychrometric chart

heat index

heat index = temperature + relative humidity (RH)

• high humidity = air is more saturated with water vapor = cooling via sweat less effective

Hydrologic cycle

evaporation

transpiration = plants release water vapor in air

condensation

precipitation

runoff = water flows across land to bodies of water

groundwater = water in soil

glaciers = freshwater in ice and released through meltwater

wind = moves water vapor/clouds across regions

hydrologic cycle accelerated with warming 

latent heat 

energy released/absorbed during a phase change 

hvap = 2260 J/g

hfus (melting) =  334 J/g

When water vapor rises and condenses, latent heat is released into air → air parcel is warmer than environment

stratosphere

second layer of gas in atm; absorbs UV radiation

• gases not mixed well

troposphere

first layer of gas; well mixed gases

• weather and clouds in this layer

• adiabatic cooling takes place here

convection

water vapor condenses → releases latent heat → heat parcel gets warmer + rises bc its less dense

convection = vert transport of heat and moisture

Adiabatic cooling

reducing temperature via air pressure

Pressure increase = Temp decrease (as air pressure increases—moving upward—the temp gets cooler)

lapse rate

the change in temp with altitude

• temp gradient in troposphere

If latent heat wasnt released during condensation, the troposphere/upper atm would be much colder

orographic uplift

moist air rises over a mountain → rising air cools adiabatically due to temp drop at high altitude → air reaches dew point and vapor condenses to clouds/precipitation → dry air descents on other side of mountain and warms adiabatically = rain shadow region

Where is most water stored

ocean, ice and ground water

How long does water stay in diff reservoirs(bodies of water)

groundwater → 10K years

oceans → 4K years

atm = 10 days

what happens to the hydrologic cycle when theres warming?

Cycle accelerates = more evap, water vapor in air and precipitation

Seasonal cycle temp changes

Throughout hte seasons, land regions experience seasonal variability but due to the oceans high heat capacity, it exp less seasonal variability

→ the ocean absorbs 90% of earths excess heat (hence global warming)