OM

In-Depth Weather and Climate Notes

  • Book Purchase Inquiry

    • Only eight attendees bought the book.
    • Four purchased the online version.
    • Inquiry about the correlation between book purchases and completion of extra credit assignments by regular students.

  • Current Understanding

    • Review of previous concepts with a visual model illustrating atmospheric dynamics.

  • Key Atmospheric Components

    • ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone):
      • Area where trade winds meet, leading to thermal low pressure.
      • Important for understanding wind patterns and weather systems.
    • Wind Deflection:
      • In the Northern Hemisphere, wind deflects right; in the Southern Hemisphere, it deflects left.
      • Mid Latitude Winds: Characterized by westerlies in the Northern Hemisphere and near westerlies in the Southern Hemisphere.
    • Tropical vs. Polar Jet Streams:
      • Polar jet stream is faster and has a greater amplitude compared to the subtropical jet stream.

  • Seasonal Atmospheric Changes

    • High and low pressure regions shift with seasons, influencing climate and precipitation patterns.
    • Observations show significant changes, e.g., the Aleutian low and Icelandic low.
    • The declination of the sun affects these patterns as it migrates northward and southward seasonally.

  • Temperature and Precipitation

    • Confirmation that temperature and precipitation are defining elements of climate.
    • Snow Water Equivalent: 10 centimeters of snow is roughly equivalent to 10 millimeters of rainfall.
    • Regions like Southeast Asia experience monsoons as a result of ITCZ migrations, leading to dry and wet phases.

  • Monsoonal Activity

    • Discussed occurrences in Southeast Asia, the U.S. Southwest, West Africa, Northern Australia, and parts of South America.
    • Mechanisms driving these patterns include the migration of low and high-pressure zones.

  • Upper Atmosphere Circulation

    • Understanding how high pressure at the poles and thermal lows at the equator influence upper atmospheric flow.
    • High altitude temperatures influence weather patterns significantly.

  • Ocean Currents Influence

    • Wind-driven Surface Currents: Currents develop due to wind friction at the surface and correlate with climate differences across regions.
    • Deep Ocean Currents: Influenced by temperature and salinity, these currents operate on much longer timescales and are fundamental to global climate.
    • The role of gyres in ocean distribution and climate, with five major gyres noted in oceans.

  • Key Factors Affecting Ocean Currents

    • Wind direction, Coriolis Effect, climate, and the shape of coastlines all impact ocean current movements.
    • Currents like the Gulf Stream transport heat and significantly influence coastal climates.

  • Hydrology and Circulation Mechanisms

    • Density differences due to temperature and salinity drive thermohaline circulation.
    • Areas of downwellings contribute to oceanic currents and affect global temperature regulation.

  • Summary of Atmospheric Dynamics and Currents

    • Emphasis on the interconnected nature of atmospheric circulation and ocean currents in understanding climate dynamics.
    • Future topics to explore include detailed mechanisms of mid-latitude cyclones and their development.