Climatic Interactions

Ms. Clark

Vocabulary

– Hurricane gulf stream– Humidity atmosphere– Psychrometer– prevailing winds cyclone– air mass jet stream– convection current gyres– air pressure upwelling– deep water currents surface currents

Vocabulary• Hurricane- a storm with a violent wind and particular

tropical cyclone in the Caribbean. • Humidity- a quantity representing the amount of

water vapor in the atmosphere. • Cyclone- an area of closed circular forward motion

rotating in the same direction of the Earth. • Psychrometer- two similar thermometers with one

being wet and one being dry. • Prevailing winds- • Air mass- a large body of air having characteristics of

temperature, moisture, and pressure that are approximately uniformed horizontally.

• Air mass-a body of air covering a relative wide area exhibiting uniform properties through a horizontal section.

• Convection Current-Convection current- the movement of a fluid called by differences in temperature that transfer

• Air Pressure- a force exerted by air whether compressed or unconfined or any surface in contact with it.

• Deep Water Currents- circles the Earth driven by density differences in water.

• Gulf Stream- a warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico along the East Coast.

• Atmosphere- a layer of gases that surround a material body of sufficient mass. (the envelope of gases surrounding the Earth or another planet)

• Cyclones- winds rotating inwards to an area of low atmospheric pressure with counterclockwise (Northern Hemisphere) or clockwise (Southern Hemisphere)

• Jet Stream- the velocity winds that move from east to west, high above the Earth.

• Gyres- a spiral of oceanic surface current driven primarily by the global wind system constrained by the continents surrounding the three basins. (pacific,atlantic, indian)

• Upwelling- an upward flow of cold heavy deep sea water lading with nutrients as warm surface water is drawn away by offshore currents.

• Surface Currents- water movements which extend to depths of 3-10 ft.

Earth Lab

• Why do our oceans have different temperatures?

How do the temperatures differ?

How do you think the difference in temperatures will effect ocean temperatures?

• How do you think the temperature differences in the ocean will affect the temperature of the air masses above them?

Bellringer 1.8

• What is the object? • What is its purpose?• How does it work?

Bellringer 1.9

• Which way does a cyclone rotate? Explain.

Bellringer 1.10

• What is the MAIN cause of global convection currents?

• A) uneven heating of the Earth by the Sun• B)the greenhouse effect• C) deforestation• D) the increase in the number of cities

Hurricanes

What is a hurricane?

• Hurricanes are tropical cyclones.

• They form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and eastern Pacific Ocean.

• Their winds spiral outward in a counterclockwise, circulation pattern.

What conditions must exist for a hurricane to form?

• Low to medium winds blowing in the same direction

• 5–30 degrees north of the equator in the ocean• Ocean surface temperature of greater than 80 F

that extends down to about 150 feet deep (50 m)

• Lower atmosphere must be moist

How do hurricanes form?

• The air mass above the tropical waters takes on the temperature and humidity of the water beneath it.

• Incoming winds force the air upward.• The warm, moist air rises, forming water vapor and

clouds. • Above the storm, the winds flow outward.• Outside winds blow inward, and the cycle repeats.

How do hurricanes move?

• Hurricanes turn to the right, away from the equator, because of the Coriolis Effect caused by Earth’s rotation.

• You will learn about this phenomenon later in the lesson.

Where does the energy for a hurricane originate?

• The Sun heats the oceans.

• Warm air rises, and as it cools, it releases energy, fueling the hurricane.

Why don’t hurricanes form in higher latitudes?

• The temperature of the oceans is not warm enough.

• The distance is too far from the equator.

Hurricane Katrina

HW: 1.11Reflective Question

How do oceans play a role in the development of weather systems including hurricanes?

Humidity

• The relative measure of the amount of water vapor in the air

• Psychrometer• Water vapor affects the density of the air.• Cold air is heavier than warm air.

Air Masses

What is an air mass?

• A body of air that has the same temperature and humidity throughout.

How do air masses form?

• If a large body of air sits over an area of land or water for a long period of time, it will take on the characteristics of the land or water beneath it.

• Temperature• Humidity

Location, Location, Location…

• Air masses over the equator will have high temperatures.

• Air masses over polar regions will have low temperatures.

• Air masses over water (maritime) will have high humidity (moisture content).

• Air masses over land (continental) will have low humidity (moisture content).

Where do air masses form?

• Air masses tend to form in areas with little wind.

• Remember, they sit over an area for a long period of time without moving.

Labeling Air Masses

• Air masses that form over water are called maritime.

• Air masses that form over land are called continental.

Classification of Air Masses

• mT – maritime tropical• cT – continental tropical• mP – maritime polar• cP – continental polar• cA – continental arctic

Location of Air Masses

Characteristics of Air Masses

• mT – warm, moist air• cT – warm, dry air• mP – cold, moist air• cP – cold, dry air• cA – super cold, dry air

H.W 1.28 Reflective Questions

How do air masses move?

Convection!

Convection

• Warm air rises, and cold air moves in to replace it.

• A circulation pattern is formed.• Causes air and water currents to form

Density!

• Warm air rises.• Cool air sinks.

HW: 1.13Reflection Question

How do different air masses form?

How does convection work?