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Lecure 4 Notes

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9 views

Lecure 4 Notes

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mpmzqt96qm
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Physical – lecture 4

Global atmospheric circulation and weather systems

Factors determining wind flow


- Pressure gradient force
- Coriolis effect
- Surface friction

South-westerly winds move FROM the south west to the north east

Pressure Gradient force


- Air moves from high to low pressure along the pressure gradient
- Speed of wind is tied directly to the magnitude of the pressure gradient force

Coriolis effect
- Arises due to rotation of the earth on its axis
- Wind is deflected across earths surface, in Northern hemisphere it is deflected right, and left in
southern hemisphere
- Dependent on latitude and wind speed – higher latitudes = Coriolis force decreases. Higher wind
speeds = greater Coriolis force
- Geostrophic wind = balance between pressure gradient force and Coriolis force. Means wind flows
parallel to isobars (lines of equal pressure)

Surface friction
- Reduces Coriolis force so winds may flow across isobars (winds near earths surface)
- Jet stream formation relies on fast winds and surface friction would slow this down

Global pressure and wind patterns (see ppt diagram)


- Equator = semi permanent area of Low pressure (rising air due to heating of earths surface)
- Subtropical regions = belt of high pressure.
- Air flows down the pressure gradient: Northeast trades and Southeast trades are formed
- Where these meet, this is called the inter tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Causes ascent of air
- When the air rises and comes under influence of Coriolis and moves north and cools, so stars to sink
back down, creating area of high pressure. Creates Hadley Cell
- similar processes create the polar and Ferrell cells (westerlies flow north and meet polar easterlies)
- between these cells are Jet Streams

Seasonal heating and circulation


- ITCZ moves with change of maximum zone of heating
- So high and low pressure centres shift according to seasonal progression. NOT fixed
- Eg polar front is at higher latitudes during summer, occupies a smaller area

Winds in the upper atmosphere


- Jet streams form where there are strong temp gradients and therefore strong pressure gradients
- As it flows down the gradient, Coriolis force deflects the winds. creates strong westerly winds in upper
atmosphere
- Meanders in upper westerly circulation are called Rossby waves . Meanders around areas of high
pressure and low pressure. Bending towards the north pole, means warmer air is brought further
north etc.
- Rossby waves pattern is not fixed.
- Area of high pressure = ridge. – anticyclonic spin
- Area of low pressure = trough – cyclonic spin

Upper level convergence and divergence


- Mvt from trough to ridge = divergence (spreads out) – ascending air
- Mvt ridge to trough = convergence (air moves closer to earths surface)
Air masses
- Large volumes of air formed by air sitting over an ocean or land surface for several days, as it takes on
the characteristics of this underlying surface
- Eg equatorial, sub-tropical, polar
- Interaction between these air masses influences weather and climate
- The UK has 5 competing air masses which influence weather day to day. Eg tropical continental in the
summer from north Africa.

Fronts
Cold front
- Cool air rapidly advancing and pushing warmer air ahead of it
- Forces air in front of it vertically, causing cloud development and precipitation and sometimes
thunderstorms
Warm front
- Warm air slowly slides up and over cooler air. Cloud development because of frontal lifting of warm
moist air.
Occluded front
- Advancing cold air behind occluded front and receding cold air behind occluded front. Cloud
development because of frontal lifting of warm moist air, in the middle.

Cyclogenesis – see diagrams on slides


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwo9cuDxmVk
- Warm sector followed by a cold conveyor belt, and in front of this a relatively cold flow of air. Due to
rising air this create an area of low pressure and air flows IN
- Cold air followed by warm air followed buy cool air, pinching the warm air away from the earths
surface
- Mid latitude cyclones = disturbances in jet streams. Regions of low pressure

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