Physical Geography:Weather and Climate

Chapter 4

Dr. Emily Berndt

I. Weather and Climate

A. Weather:

B. Climate:

C. Geographers

Figure 4.2

II. Air Temperature

A. Why do temperatures vary from place to place?

II. Air Temperature

B. Earth Inclination

Figure 4.3

II. Air Temperature

iv. What if Earth’s axis was not tilted?

Figure 4.6

II. Air Temperature

v. Effects of Inclination

Figure 4.5

Figure 4.7

Figure 4.7

II. Air Temperature

C. Reflection and Reradiation

i. Reflection

ii. Reradiation

Figure 4.8

• How does the ocean temperature compare with the land temperature?

• What can you say about marine and continental environments?

Figure 4.9

• How does the ocean temperature compare with the land temperature?

• What can you say about marine and continental environments?

Figure 4.9

II. Air Temperature

D. Lapse Rate

Figure 4.10

Figure 4.11

Figure 4.12

III. Air Pressure and Winds

A. How do differences in air pressure from place to place affect weather conditions?

B. Why does air pressure change?

Figure 4.13

III. Air Pressure and Winds

C. Pressure gradient force:

III. Air Pressure and Winds

Figure 4.14

III. Air Pressure and Winds

Figure 4.14

III. Air Pressure and Winds

F. The Friction Effect

III. Air Pressure and Winds

G. The Coriolis Effect

Figure 4.15

III. Air Pressure and Winds

H. Global Air-Circulation Patterns

Figure 4.16

III. Air Pressure and Winds

Consider the type of climate at the Equator, 30°, 60° and 90°latitude.

Figure 4.16

III. Air Pressure and Winds

iii. Jet Stream

Global Air-Circulation Patterns

Global Air-Circulation Patterns

IV. Ocean Currents

Figure 4.17

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

A. At any given time there is water vapor in the atmosphere

B. Relative Humidity: a percent representing the moisture content of the air

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

C. Precipitation:

Consider a Rising Parcel of Air

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

D.

Figure 4.20

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

E. Types of PrecipitationFigure 4.21

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

Figure 4.22

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

Figure 4.24

Figure 4.25

L

•Describe the clouds and precipitation at the cold front.

•Describe the clouds and precipitation ahead of the warm front.

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

F. Mid-latitude cyclone

formation

Figure 4.26

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

G. Hurricane

Figure 4.27

Supercell

How does a rotating updraft form?

Formation of a Mesocyclone50% of Mesocyclones produce tornadoes

Paul Markowski (STL AMS Meeting, 2008)

V. Moisture in the Atmosphere

H. Tornado

VI. El NinoA. Normal

Condition:

B. El Nino:

VI. El NinoC. Southern

Oscillation: