Oceans and the Global Environment: Lec 2 taking physics and chemistry outdoors. the flowing, waving ocean

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Oceans and the Global Environment: Lec 2 taking physics and chemistry outdoors. the flowing, waving ocean"

Transcription

1 Oceans and the Global Environment: Lec 2 taking physics and chemistry outdoors the flowing, waving ocean Peter Rhines 1 Eric Lindahl 2 Bob Koon 2, Julie Wright 3

2 The ocean circulation is largely driven from the top the sea surface. There the atmosphere exerts both forces (from winds and pressure variations) and thermal forcing (heating, cooling, evaporation, precipitation, freezing, melting of ice). These two primary mechanisms interact strongly. About the only other external agent is the tidal forcing by moon and sun, and some very weak heating from below, from the warmth of the solid Earth.

3 winds the colors represent low (blue) pressure and high (red) pressure centers. The lows are storms generated over the oceans.

4 Snapshot of wind stress in the northern Atlantic. The right panel shows the analysis from the grid of meterological observations, while the left panel shows a more accurate picture from the satellite scatterometer radar instrument known as QuikScat.. This is an intense low- pressure storm developing south of Greenland

5 the average winds blowing on the sea surface, over a year, look like this Josey et al. J. Physical Oceanography 2002

6 And.. the result is this circulation of the upper few hundred meters of the oceans, more or less in the direction of the winds: gyres that look like the wind yet are concentrated on the western sides of the oceans in currents like the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio ( Black Current ) off Japan. This is the pressure field (simply related to the average height of the sea surface, by the hydrostatic pressure rule). Think of these as flow lines, with the currents forming clockwise gyres in the northern subtropics, and anti-clockwise gyres at high northern latitude. The sense reverses in the southern hemisphere, since the Earth s rotation takes the opposite sense down-under. Because the flow between to adjacent flow lines involves the same volume of fluid flow, the speed of the currents is greater where the lines bunch together. The Gulf Stream and Kuroshio are boundary currents, very rapid (~ 2 to 4 knots nautical miles per hour) as a result

7 the Southern Ocean connects the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, o and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current circles round Antarctica in response to the very strong westerly ( eastward ) winds

8 Since 1992 it has been possible to see this circulation from space, using radar altimeters on the Topex/Poseidon and JASON satellites of NASA and the European Space Agency. This a view of the global distribution of sea surface height. The gyres of circulation are not so clear because this instrument shows only the time-varying part of the pressure field. NASA is working to determine the background mean circulation missing here, using a remarkable technology of the GRACE satellite mission. What you do see are thousands of swirling eddies which propagate ate slowly westward and sometimes originate in the intensest currents the Gulf Stream, Kuroshio,, and Antarctic Circumpolar Current figure from Dudley Chelton, Oregon State Univ.

9 The layers of ocean are not horizontal: so they must be moving. The forces acting on them are few: gravity and the stress of the wind overhead. Pressure variations within the ocean act to redistribute these external forces (like people elbowing one another in a crowd). So, how would you expect the pressure and velocity of the ocean to be related? atmosphere ocean? lower pressure higher pressure

10 The peculiar laws of Newtonian physics, when applied to a rotating planet, say that a body tends to move perpendicular to the force exerted on it.not exactly but t largely so. Here we have a ring of air (or water) centered on the North Pole. A northward force f moves it toward the Pole. The angular momentum, H, of the ring is conserved: the product of distance from the rotation axis, and total east-west velocity. Total velocity means the sum of the wind speed relative to the Earth, call it u, plus the Earth s eastward velocity, Ωr. So H = ru + Ωr 2 does not change, as r changes: as r decreases, u increases, corresponding to an acceleration of the eastward winds. This can be called the figure-skater effect. The Earth spins at a rate Ω meaning that the length of the day is 2π/Ω. So Ω = 2 π/24 hours or 7.27 x 10-5 sec -1 Ω is called the angular velocity

11 upwelling

12 As a result of this Earth-rotation rotation effect, the very surface of the ocean (say, the top 25 meters) flows perpendicular to the winds blowing on it. i This is called the Ekman flow. Along the US west coast, in winter the winds blow to the north, causing flow into the coast, and downwelling at the coast. In summer, the winds largely come from the northwest, blowing the top of the ocean offshore, and sucking up deep, cold waters from below.

13 Thus the picture we had of the ocean circulation applies below this t Ekman layer in the top 25m of ocean. That thin layer is moving at right angles to the wind s force (purple arrows). This horizontal flow at the very top of the ocean forces vertical flow up from the deep at high latitude, and down into the deep in subtropical latitudes

14 This image from the SeaWiFS satellite of NASA shows the primary productivity of the world s oceans and land surface in late summer of The satellite looks at the color of the ocean surface using u several spectral bands and turns this into an estimate of chlorophyll plant life invovling phytoplankton. The greens and then reds are high chlorophyll and a the blues are low ocean deserts. Notice how closely the blue regions correspond to downwelling regions forced by the winds, and the regions of growth occur where the water upwells to the surface, bring nutrients up into the sunlight. The Ekman flow is horizontal yet it forces these vertical currents where it is divergent or convergent. The Equator is visible: think about the reason for upwelling g there where the winds are dominantly westward. El Niňo events in the Pacific occur when these westward (that is easterly ) winds die down, and the upwelling fails. Notice also the upwelling driven biology along the coasts and a in shallow seas. Animations of these images show the seasons passing, with the region of plankton growth sweeping poleward in springtime. The desert regions of Earth s land surface also are strongly y related to vertical velocity yet for very different reasons; try to imagine where the atmosphere is rising and hence moisture rains out, and where it is sinking, and clouds and rain disappear. Visit NASA at oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/

15 The Greenland waters reaching out over the Labrador Sea also carry strong primary productivity with them as seen in SeaWIFS ocean color (May 2004). We have been working in this region with robotic Seagliders, and have identified the physical circulation that enables the dominant plankton bloom of spring, seen here from the SeaWiFS satellite (again, yellow to red is high biological activity, blues are low activity).

16 2005 days

17 It is not just plankton, but the entire food chain lights up in upwelling zones. At sea in the Labrador Sea the first thing you notice (other than the severe weather) w is the bird life. They are there because there is food. And large animals are there e too.

ATS150: Global Climate Change. Oceans and Climate. Icebergs. Scott Denning CSU 1

ATS150: Global Climate Change. Oceans and Climate. Icebergs. Scott Denning CSU 1 The Oceans Wind-Driven Gyre Circulations Icebergs Scott Denning CSU 1 Surface Balance of Forces friction coriolis wind stress resultant current Wind stress accelerates surface water Friction couples surface

More information

IX. Upper Ocean Circulation

IX. Upper Ocean Circulation IX. Upper Ocean Circulation World Ocean Covers 71% of Earth s surface Contains 97% of surface water Arctic Ocean NH: 61% ocean, 39% land Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Southern Ocean Indian Ocean SH: 81%

More information

Ocean Currents that Redistribute Heat Globally

Ocean Currents that Redistribute Heat Globally Ocean Currents that Redistribute Heat Globally Ocean Circulation Ocean Currents Fig. CO7 OCEAN CURRENTS Surface ocean currents are similar to wind patterns: 1. Driven by Coriolis forces 2. Driven by winds

More information

Ocean Circulation, Food Webs and Climate What does the wind have to do with feeding fish (and feeding us)?

Ocean Circulation, Food Webs and Climate What does the wind have to do with feeding fish (and feeding us)? Ocean Circulation, Food Webs and Climate What does the wind have to do with feeding fish (and feeding us)? El Niño: Tropical Oceans and Global Climate Reading: 9.10-9.13, 9.15 Graphic: Upwelling off Cape

More information

Section 6. The Surface Circulation of the Ocean. What Do You See? Think About It. Investigate. Learning Outcomes

Section 6. The Surface Circulation of the Ocean. What Do You See? Think About It. Investigate. Learning Outcomes Chapter 5 Winds, Oceans, Weather, and Climate Section 6 The Surface Circulation of the Ocean What Do You See? Learning Outcomes In this section, you will Understand the general paths of surface ocean currents.

More information

Lesson: Ocean Circulation

Lesson: Ocean Circulation Lesson: Ocean Circulation By Keith Meldahl Corresponding to Chapter 9: Ocean Circulation As this figure shows, there is a connection between the prevailing easterly and westerly winds (discussed in Chapter

More information

Ocean Circulation. Si Hui Lee and Frances Wen. You can access ME at

Ocean Circulation. Si Hui Lee and Frances Wen. You can access ME at Ocean Circulation Si Hui Lee and Frances Wen You can access ME at http://tinyurl.com/oceancirculation Earth - the blue planet - 71% area covered by the oceans - 3/4 of ocean area between 3000-6000m deep

More information

EARTH, PLANETARY, & SPACE SCIENCES 15 INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY. LABORATORY SESSION #6 Fall Ocean Circulation

EARTH, PLANETARY, & SPACE SCIENCES 15 INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY. LABORATORY SESSION #6 Fall Ocean Circulation EARTH, PLANETARY, & SPACE SCIENCES 15 INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY LABORATORY SESSION #6 Fall 2017 Ocean Circulation The focus of the Lab this week is circulation of the ocean and atmosphere. Here, you

More information

Ocean Currents Unit (4 pts)

Ocean Currents Unit (4 pts) Name: Section: Ocean Currents Unit (Topic 9A-1) page 1 Ocean Currents Unit (4 pts) Ocean Currents An ocean current is like a river in the ocean: water is flowing traveling from place to place. Historically,

More information

Sailing the Seas: Wind Driven Ocean Circulation Ocean Gyres

Sailing the Seas: Wind Driven Ocean Circulation Ocean Gyres Sailing the Seas: Wind Driven Ocean Circulation Ocean Gyres Ocean Currents What Happens at the Coast? Readings: Ch 9: 9.2-9.6, 9.8-9.13 Graphic: America's Cup sailboat race off Newport, Rhode Island. J.

More information

CHAPTER 7 Ocean Circulation

CHAPTER 7 Ocean Circulation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 CHAPTER 7 Ocean Circulation Words Ocean currents Moving seawater Surface ocean currents Transfer heat from warmer to cooler areas Similar to pattern of major wind belts

More information

OCN 201 Surface Circulation

OCN 201 Surface Circulation OCN 201 Surface Circulation Excess heat in equatorial regions requires redistribution toward the poles 1 In the Northern hemisphere, Coriolis force deflects movement to the right In the Southern hemisphere,

More information

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 Test Monday, about half-way through grading. No D2L Assessment this week, watch for one next week

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 Test Monday, about half-way through grading. No D2L Assessment this week, watch for one next week Wednesday, September 27, 2017 Test Monday, about half-way through grading No D2L Assessment this week, watch for one next week Homework 3 Climate Variability (due Monday, October 9) Quick comment on Coriolis

More information

Introduction to Oceanography OCE 1001

Introduction to Oceanography OCE 1001 Introduction to Oceanography OCE 1001 Lecture Notes Chantale Bégin & Jessica Fry Version 2.1 10. Ocean Circulation (Trujillo, Chapter 7) Major ocean currents are stable and predictable; they have been

More information

Agronomy 406 World Climates

Agronomy 406 World Climates Agronomy 406 World Climates January 30, 2018 Monsoons. Ocean properties and circulation. Review for today: Online textbook: 1.3.1 (Sea water) Composition and properties. For Thursday: Rahmstorf, S.: The

More information

The Surface Currents OCEA 101

The Surface Currents OCEA 101 The Surface Currents OCEA 101 Why should you care? - the surface ocean circulation controls the major ocean biomes - variations in ocean circulation control the supply of nutrients for marine organisms

More information

10% water in the world is tied up in the surface ocean currents. (above the pycnocline) Primary source is wind: Westerlies, Trades, Polar Easterlies

10% water in the world is tied up in the surface ocean currents. (above the pycnocline) Primary source is wind: Westerlies, Trades, Polar Easterlies Oceanography Chapter 9 10% water in the world is tied up in the surface ocean currents. (above the pycnocline) Primary source is wind: Westerlies, Trades, Polar Easterlies Coriolis deflects winds (and

More information

Lecture 13 El Niño/La Niña Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction. Idealized 3-Cell Model of Wind Patterns on a Rotating Earth. Previous Lecture!

Lecture 13 El Niño/La Niña Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction. Idealized 3-Cell Model of Wind Patterns on a Rotating Earth. Previous Lecture! Lecture 13 El Niño/La Niña Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction Previous Lecture! Global Winds General Circulation of winds at the surface and aloft Polar Jet Stream Subtropical Jet Stream Monsoons 1 2 Radiation

More information

Chapter 9: Circulation of the Ocean

Chapter 9: Circulation of the Ocean Chapter 9: Circulation of the Ocean Tropical gardens on Britain s Scilly Isles. Only 48 kilometers (30 miles) off the coast of Cornwall at 50 N, these scenic islands lie in the path of the warm waters

More information

SIO 210 Final examination Wednesday, December 11, PM Sumner auditorium Name:

SIO 210 Final examination Wednesday, December 11, PM Sumner auditorium Name: SIO 210 Final examination Wednesday, December 11, 2013 2-5 PM Sumner auditorium Name: Turn off all phones, ipods, etc. and put them away. This is a closed book exam. You may use one page of notes, both

More information

Zonal (East-West) Currents. Wind-Driven Ocean Currents. Zonal (East-West) Currents. Meridional (N-S) Currents

Zonal (East-West) Currents. Wind-Driven Ocean Currents. Zonal (East-West) Currents. Meridional (N-S) Currents Wind-Driven Ocean Currents Similarities between winds & surface currents Zonal (East-West) Currents Trade winds push currents westward north & south of the equator Equatorial currents. Up to 100 cm/sec.

More information

Quiz name: Oceanography - Land and Sea Interaction - Quiz #2

Quiz name: Oceanography - Land and Sea Interaction - Quiz #2 Name: Quiz name: Oceanography - Land and Sea Interaction - Quiz #2 ate: 1. What is the direction of spin for gyres in the northern hemisphere? clockwise counter clockwise northern oscillation southern

More information

The General Circulation and El Niño. Dr. Christopher M. Godfrey University of North Carolina at Asheville

The General Circulation and El Niño. Dr. Christopher M. Godfrey University of North Carolina at Asheville The General Circulation and El Niño Dr. Christopher M. Godfrey University of North Carolina at Asheville Global Circulation Model Air flow broken up into 3 cells Easterlies in the tropics (trade winds)

More information

Ocean Currents Lecture Notes

Ocean Currents Lecture Notes Ocean Currents Lecture Notes (Topic 9A) page 1 Ocean Currents Lecture Notes Surface Currents Ocean Currents (What is an ocean current? How is a current different from a wave?) The water in an travels from

More information

Wind Driven Circulation Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean

Wind Driven Circulation Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean Wind Driven Circulation Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean Lecture 18 MAR 350 Spring 2017 Reading: Knauss Chapter 7 ECCO2 model animation ecco2_sst_flow (2).mp4 Mean surface height and currents DPO Fig. 11.1

More information

Midterm Exam III November 25, 2:10

Midterm Exam III November 25, 2:10 Midterm Exam III November 25, 2:10 25, 2:10 3:25 pm, HW714 Chapters 7 (7.12 7.17), 8 and 9 (through section 9.15, included) 60 multiple choice questions this exam constitutes 22% (only) of your total (overall)

More information

Chapter 6: Atmospheric Pressure, Wind, and Global Circulation

Chapter 6: Atmospheric Pressure, Wind, and Global Circulation Discovering Physical Geography Third Edition by Alan Arbogast Chapter 6: Atmospheric Pressure, Wind, and Global Circulation Factors That Influence Air Pressure Air Pressure is the measured weight of air

More information

(20 points) 1. ENSO is a coupled climate phenomenon in the tropical Pacific that has both regional and global impacts.

(20 points) 1. ENSO is a coupled climate phenomenon in the tropical Pacific that has both regional and global impacts. SIO 210 Problem Set 4 Answer key December 1, 2014 Due Dec. 12, 2014 (20 points) 1. ENSO is a coupled climate phenomenon in the tropical Pacific that has both regional and global impacts. (2 points) a)

More information

Role of the oceans in the climate system

Role of the oceans in the climate system Role of the oceans in the climate system heat exchange and transport hydrological cycle and air-sea exchange of moisture wind, currents, and upwelling gas exchange and carbon cycle Heat transport Two Primary

More information

170 points. 38 points In your textbook, read about modern oceanography. For each item write the word that meets the description.

170 points. 38 points In your textbook, read about modern oceanography. For each item write the word that meets the description. Ch 15 Earth s Oceans SECTION 15.1 An Overview of Oceans 38 points In your textbook, read about modern oceanography. For each item write the word that meets the description. (5 points) 1. German research

More information

Lecture 15 General Circulation of the Atmosphere and Ocean

Lecture 15 General Circulation of the Atmosphere and Ocean Lecture 15 General Circulation of the Atmosphere and Ocean Non-rotating model of atmospheric general circulation Hadley (1735) Cell is induced by uneven distribution of solar heating. Conceptual models

More information

3/22/11. General Circulation of the Atmosphere. General Circulation of the Atmosphere

3/22/11. General Circulation of the Atmosphere. General Circulation of the Atmosphere Chapter 10 General refers to the average air flow, actual winds will vary considerably. Average conditions help identify driving forces. The basic cause of the general circulation is unequal heating of

More information

Currents & Gyres Notes

Currents & Gyres Notes Currents & Gyres Notes Current A river of water flowing in the ocean. 2 Types of Currents Surface Currents wind-driven currents that occur in the top 100m or less Deep Currents density-driven currents

More information

SIO 210 Problem Set 3 November 4, 2011 Due Nov. 14, 2011

SIO 210 Problem Set 3 November 4, 2011 Due Nov. 14, 2011 SIO 210 Problem Set 3 November 4, 2011 Due Nov. 14, 2011 1. At 20 N, both the ocean and the atmosphere carry approximately 2 PW of heat poleward, for a total of about 4 PW (see figure). If (at this latitude)

More information

OCN-201 Chemistry and Physics section

OCN-201 Chemistry and Physics section Name: Class: _ Date: _ OCN-201 Chemistry and Physics section True/False Indicate whether the statement is true or false. 1. Because of the dissolved salt in seawater its freezing point is lower than that

More information

OCN 201, Chemistry & Physics Section

OCN 201, Chemistry & Physics Section , A 1-April-2015 Name: Answer the True/False and Multiple Choice questions on the scantron sheet. Answer the remaining questions on this exam handout. Turn in both the scantron and exam at the end of class.

More information

Lecture 24. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Part 1

Lecture 24. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Part 1 Lecture 24 El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Part 1 The most dominant phenomenon in the interannual variation of the tropical oceanatmosphere system is the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) over the

More information

Air Pressure and Wind

Air Pressure and Wind Air Pressure and Wind 19.1 Understanding Air Pressure Air Pressure Defined Air pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air. Air pressure is exerted in all directions down, up, and sideways. The

More information

Section 1. Global Wind Patterns and Weather. What Do You See? Think About It. Investigate. Learning Outcomes

Section 1. Global Wind Patterns and Weather. What Do You See? Think About It. Investigate. Learning Outcomes Chapter 5 Winds, Oceans, Weather, and Climate Section 1 Global Wind Patterns and Weather What Do You See? Learning Outcomes In this section, you will Determine the effects of Earth s rotation and the uneven

More information

Introduction to Physical Oceanography STUDENT NOTES Date: 1. What do you know about solar radiation at different parts of the world?

Introduction to Physical Oceanography STUDENT NOTES Date: 1. What do you know about solar radiation at different parts of the world? Introduction to Physical Oceanography STUDENT NOTES Date: 1 Warm up What do you know about solar radiation at different parts of the world? What affect does the tilt of the Earth have on the northern and

More information

Global Winds AOSC 200 Tim Canty

Global Winds AOSC 200 Tim Canty Global Winds AOSC 200 Tim Canty Class Web Site: http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~tcanty/aosc200 Topics for today: Global Wind Patterns Deserts Jet Stream Monsoons Ocean transport Ocean cycles Lecture 16 Oct 24

More information

Ocean Layers. Based on sunlight penetration: Based on water density: Sunlight (photosynthesis is possible) Twilight Midnight

Ocean Layers. Based on sunlight penetration: Based on water density: Sunlight (photosynthesis is possible) Twilight Midnight PART 3 Ocean Layers Based on sunlight penetration: Sunlight (photosynthesis is possible) Twilight Midnight Based on water density: Mixed layer Pycnocline (rapid change of themperature/salinity) Deep ocean

More information

Lecture 13. Global Wind Patterns and the Oceans EOM

Lecture 13. Global Wind Patterns and the Oceans EOM Lecture 13. Global Wind Patterns and the Oceans EOM Global Wind Patterns and the Oceans Drag from wind exerts a force called wind stress on the ocean surface in the direction of the wind. The currents

More information

Lornshill Academy. Geography Department Higher Revision Physical Environments - Atmosphere

Lornshill Academy. Geography Department Higher Revision Physical Environments - Atmosphere Lornshill Academy Geography Department Higher Revision Physical Environments - Atmosphere Physical Environments Atmosphere Global heat budget The earth s energy comes from solar radiation, this incoming

More information

Lecture 13 March 24, 2010, Wednesday. Atmospheric Pressure & Wind: Part 4

Lecture 13 March 24, 2010, Wednesday. Atmospheric Pressure & Wind: Part 4 Lecture 13 March 24, 2010, Wednesday Atmospheric Pressure & Wind: Part 4 Synoptic scale winds Mesoscale winds Microscale winds Air-sea interactions The largest synoptic scale wind. Monsoon: Arabic for

More information

The Ocean is a Geophysical Fluid Like the Atmosphere. The Physical Ocean. Yet Not Like the Atmosphere. ATS 760 Global Carbon Cycle The Physical Ocean

The Ocean is a Geophysical Fluid Like the Atmosphere. The Physical Ocean. Yet Not Like the Atmosphere. ATS 760 Global Carbon Cycle The Physical Ocean The Physical Ocean The Ocean is a Geophysical Fluid Like the Atmosphere Three real forces: Gravity Pressure gradients Friction Two apparent forces: Coriolis and Centrifugal Geostrophic & Hydrostatic balances

More information

Winds and Ocean Circulations

Winds and Ocean Circulations Winds and Ocean Circulations AT 351 Lab 5 February 20, 2008 Sea Surface Temperatures 1 Temperature Structure of the Ocean Ocean Currents 2 What causes ocean circulation? The direction of most ocean currents

More information

Chapter. Air Pressure and Wind

Chapter. Air Pressure and Wind Chapter Air Pressure and Wind 19.1 Understanding Air Pressure Air Pressure Defined Air pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air. 19.1 Understanding Air Pressure Air Pressure Defined Air pressure

More information

AT350 EXAM #2 November 18, 2003

AT350 EXAM #2 November 18, 2003 AT350 EXAM #2 November 18, 2003 Name and ID: Enter your name and student ID number on the answer sheet and on this exam. Record your answers to the 50 questions by using a No. 2 pencil to completely fill

More information

Chapter 22, Section 1 - Ocean Currents. Section Objectives

Chapter 22, Section 1 - Ocean Currents. Section Objectives Chapter 22, Section 1 - Ocean Currents Section Objectives Intro Surface Currents Factors Affecting Ocean Currents Global Wind Belts (you should draw and label a diagram of the global wind belts) The Coriolis

More information

Monday, October 2, Watch for new assessment (Week 4/5 review) TA s have your tests, please see key (at course website)

Monday, October 2, Watch for new assessment (Week 4/5 review) TA s have your tests, please see key (at course website) Monday, October 2, 2017 Watch for new assessment (Week 4/5 review) TA s have your tests, please see key (at course website) Homework 3 Due date Wednesday, Oct 11 (8 pm) Be ready to watch another important

More information

The Setting - Climatology of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Link to Video of Maui Waves

The Setting - Climatology of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Link to Video of Maui Waves The Setting - Climatology of the Hawaiian Archipelago Link to Video of Maui Waves What caused this week s weather? What caused this weekend s weather? Today s Objective: Provide overview and description

More information

Assessment Schedule 2016 Earth and Space Science: Demonstrate understanding of processes in the ocean system (91413)

Assessment Schedule 2016 Earth and Space Science: Demonstrate understanding of processes in the ocean system (91413) NCEA Level 3 Earth & Space Science (91413) 2016 page 1 of 6 Assessment Schedule 2016 Earth and Space Science: Demonstrate processes in the ocean system (91413) Evidence Statement Q Evidence with with Excellence

More information

ATOMOSPERIC PRESSURE, WIND & CIRCULATION

ATOMOSPERIC PRESSURE, WIND & CIRCULATION ATOMOSPERIC PRESSURE, WIND & CIRCULATION A. INTRODUCTION Important because: pressure patterns drive wind patterns which in turn drive oceanic circulation patterns o atmospheric & oceanic circulation: major

More information

Atmospheric Circulation. Recall Vertical Circulation

Atmospheric Circulation. Recall Vertical Circulation Today s topics: Atmospheric circulation: generation of wind patterns on a rotating Earth Seasonal patterns of climate: Monsoons and Sea Breezes Tropical Cyclones: Hurricanes and typhoons Atmospheric Circulation

More information

Directed Reading. Section: Ocean Currents. a(n). FACTORS THAT AFFECT SURFACE CURRENTS

Directed Reading. Section: Ocean Currents. a(n). FACTORS THAT AFFECT SURFACE CURRENTS Skills Worksheet Directed Reading Section: Ocean Currents 1. A horizontal movement of water in a well-defined pattern is called a(n). 2. What are two ways that oceanographers identify ocean currents? 3.

More information

El Niño Unit (2.5 pts)

El Niño Unit (2.5 pts) T. James Noyes, El Camino College El Niño Unit (Topic 9B) page 1 Name: Section: El Niño Unit (2.5 pts) El Niño is a warm ocean current that flows along the Equator and towards the west coast of South America

More information

Upwelling. LO: interpret effects of upwelling on production of marine ecosystems. John K. Horne University of Washington

Upwelling. LO: interpret effects of upwelling on production of marine ecosystems. John K. Horne University of Washington Upwelling LO: interpret effects of upwelling on production of marine ecosystems John K. Horne University of Washington Effects of Upwelling - Upwelling enhances biological productivity, which feeds fisheries.

More information

For Class Today How does ocean water circulate? Ocean currents, surface currents, gyres, currents & climate, upwelling, deep ocean circulation

For Class Today How does ocean water circulate? Ocean currents, surface currents, gyres, currents & climate, upwelling, deep ocean circulation For Class Today Modified Cornell Notes on section 16.1 (pg. 448-453) **Follow the guide in your ISN and previous notes for help** Heading: How does ocean water circulate? Left hand side categories: Ocean

More information

18.1 Understanding Air Pressure 18.1 Understanding Air Pressure Air Pressure Defined Measuring Air Pressure Air pressure barometer

18.1 Understanding Air Pressure 18.1 Understanding Air Pressure Air Pressure Defined Measuring Air Pressure Air pressure barometer 18.1 Understanding Air Pressure 18.1 Understanding Air Pressure Air Pressure Defined Air pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air. Air pressure is exerted in all directions down, up, and sideways.

More information

McKnight's Physical Geography 11e

McKnight's Physical Geography 11e Chapter 2 Lecture McKnight's Physical Geography 11e Lectures Chapter 5 Atmospheric Pressure and Wind Michael Commons Ohio Northern University Atmospheric Pressure and Wind The Nature of Atmospheric Pressure

More information

OCEANOGRAPHY 101. Map, and temperature, salinity & density profiles of the water column at X, near mouth of the Columbia River.

OCEANOGRAPHY 101. Map, and temperature, salinity & density profiles of the water column at X, near mouth of the Columbia River. OCEANOGRAPHY 101 EXAM 2 WINTER 00 NAME STUDENT NUMBER 1 Map, and temperature, salinity & density profiles of the water column at X, near mouth of the Columbia River. P a c i f i c O c e a n X WA Columbia

More information

OCN201 Spring14 1. Name: Class: Date: True/False Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

OCN201 Spring14 1. Name: Class: Date: True/False Indicate whether the statement is true or false. Name: Class: _ Date: _ OCN201 Spring14 1 True/False Indicate whether the statement is true or false. 1. Short residence time elements are uniformly distributed in the oceans 2. Thermohaline circulation

More information

9/25/2014. Scales of Atmospheric Motion. Scales of Atmospheric Motion. Chapter 7: Circulation of the Atmosphere

9/25/2014. Scales of Atmospheric Motion. Scales of Atmospheric Motion. Chapter 7: Circulation of the Atmosphere Chapter 7: Circulation of the Atmosphere The Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology, 12 th Lutgens Tarbuck Lectures by: Heather Gallacher, Cleveland State University Scales of Atmospheric Motion Small-

More information

OCEANOGRAPHY STUDY GUIDE

OCEANOGRAPHY STUDY GUIDE OCEANOGRAPHY STUDY GUIDE Chapter 2 Section 1 1. Most abundant salt in ocean. Sodium chloride; NaCl 2. Amount of Earth covered by Water 71% 3. Four oceans: What are they? Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian

More information

Atmospheric Circulation

Atmospheric Circulation Atmospheric Circulation Why do we say Earth's temperature is moderate? It may not look like it, but various processes work to moderate Earth's temperature across the latitudes. Atmospheric circulation

More information

Week 6-7: Wind-driven ocean circulation. Tally s book, chapter 7

Week 6-7: Wind-driven ocean circulation. Tally s book, chapter 7 Week 6-7: Wind-driven ocean circulation Tally s book, chapter 7 Recap so far Our goal (since week 3) has been to understand large-scale ocean circulation and its underlying physics, and to learn how to

More information

Ocean Currents Shortcut method by to learn faster

Ocean Currents Shortcut method by to learn faster Ocean Currents Shortcut method by to learn faster In our geography notes on the hydrosphere, we have seen the major movements of the ocean water. They are waves, tides and ocean currents. Having covered

More information

Ocean Currents Shortcut method by to learn faster

Ocean Currents Shortcut method by to learn faster Ocean Currents Shortcut method by to learn faster In our geography notes on the hydrosphere, we have seen the major movements of the ocean water. They are waves, tides and ocean currents. Having covered

More information

What is Wind? Winds are caused by differences in air pressure. This is horizontal movement of air of high pressure to low pressure. Unequal heating of

What is Wind? Winds are caused by differences in air pressure. This is horizontal movement of air of high pressure to low pressure. Unequal heating of What is Wind? Winds are caused by differences in air pressure. This is horizontal movement of air of high pressure to low pressure. Unequal heating of the atmosphere. Measuring Wind Wind direction is determined

More information

Duckies have been found in Hawaii, Alaska, S. America, Scotland, Washington state and Australia as of 2012.

Duckies have been found in Hawaii, Alaska, S. America, Scotland, Washington state and Australia as of 2012. Duckies have been found in Hawaii, Alaska, S. America, Scotland, Washington state and Australia as of 2012. We learned that it takes 3 years to complete one circuit of the North Pacific Gyre flow in the

More information

Meteorology I Pre test for the Second Examination

Meteorology I Pre test for the Second Examination Meteorology I Pre test for the Second Examination MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A primary reason why land areas warm up more rapidly than water areas is that a) on land, all solar energy is absorbed in a shallow

More information

The atmospheric circulation system

The atmospheric circulation system The atmospheric circulation system Key questions Why does the air move? Are the movements of the winds random across the surface of the Earth, or do they follow regular patterns? What implications do these

More information

SURFACE CURRENTS AND TIDES

SURFACE CURRENTS AND TIDES NAME SURFACE CURRENTS AND TIDES I. Origin of surface currents Surface currents arise due to the interaction of the prevailing wis a the ocean surface. Hence the surface wi pattern (Figure 1) plays a key

More information

THE ATMOSPHERE. WEATHER and CLIMATE. The Atmosphere 10/12/2018 R E M I N D E R S. PART II: People and their. weather. climate?

THE ATMOSPHERE. WEATHER and CLIMATE. The Atmosphere 10/12/2018 R E M I N D E R S. PART II: People and their. weather. climate? R E M I N D E R S Two required essays are due by Oct. 30, 2018. (A third may be used for extra credit in place of a Think Geographically essay.) ESSAY TOPICS (choose any two): Contributions of a noted

More information

Climate & Earth System Science. Introduction to Meteorology & Climate. Chapter 07. Lecture 14. Global Scale Winds. Simple Introductory Examples:

Climate & Earth System Science. Introduction to Meteorology & Climate. Chapter 07. Lecture 14. Global Scale Winds. Simple Introductory Examples: Climate & Earth System Science Introduction to Meteorology & Climate MAPH 10050 Peter Lynch Peter Lynch Meteorology & Climate Centre School of Mathematical Sciences University College Dublin Meteorology

More information

Prevailing Winds. The Coriolis Effect

Prevailing Winds. The Coriolis Effect Prevailing Winds 1. Wind: a movement of air in the atmosphere. Bill Nye wind (2 minutes) 2. Local or regional wind: occur in fairly small areas. 3. Prevailing winds: Major wind pattern that affect large

More information

6.1 Introduction to Weather Weather air mass Weather factors Temperature Pressure What is wind? Wind Convection in the atmosphere Thermals thermal

6.1 Introduction to Weather Weather air mass Weather factors Temperature Pressure What is wind? Wind Convection in the atmosphere Thermals thermal 6.1 Introduction to Weather Weather is a term that describes the condition of the atmosphere in terms of temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, and water. The major energy source for weather events is

More information

SIO20 - Midterm Examination 2 v1 Winter Section A. Circle the letter corresponding to the best answer. (1 point each)

SIO20 - Midterm Examination 2 v1 Winter Section A. Circle the letter corresponding to the best answer. (1 point each) NAME: Section A. Circle the letter corresponding to the best answer. (1 point each) 1. Rainbows result from: a. refraction and reflection of sunlight by water droplets b. reflection of sunlight by oceans

More information

Oceanography 10, T. James Noyes, El Camino College 09A-1. Ocean Currents

Oceanography 10, T. James Noyes, El Camino College 09A-1. Ocean Currents Oceanography 10, T. James Noyes, El Camino College 09A-1 INTRODUCTION TO OCEAN CURRENTS Ocean Currents What is an ocean current? Why do we care about ocean currents? An ocean current is like a river in

More information

Lecture 5.1 Surface Ocean Circulation. Image from Daily Mail Newspaper, UK

Lecture 5.1 Surface Ocean Circulation. Image from Daily Mail Newspaper, UK Lecture 5.1 Surface Ocean Circulation Image from Daily Mail Newspaper, UK Announcements Midterm is Thursday, consists of 25 multiple choice, 3 pages short answer questions No Scantron needed Calculators,

More information

Lecture Outlines PowerPoint. Chapter 18 Earth Science 11e Tarbuck/Lutgens

Lecture Outlines PowerPoint. Chapter 18 Earth Science 11e Tarbuck/Lutgens Lecture Outlines PowerPoint Chapter 18 Earth Science 11e Tarbuck/Lutgens 2006 Pearson Prentice Hall This work is protected by United States copyright laws and is provided solely for the use of instructors

More information

Lesson: Atmospheric Dynamics

Lesson: Atmospheric Dynamics Lesson: Atmospheric Dynamics By Keith Meldahl Corresponding to Chapter 8: Atmospheric Circulation Our atmosphere moves (circulates) because of uneven solar heating of the earth s surface, combined with

More information

El Niño Lecture Notes

El Niño Lecture Notes El Niño Lecture Notes There is a huge link between the atmosphere & ocean. The oceans influence the atmosphere to affect climate, but the atmosphere also influences the ocean, which can also affect climate.

More information

Chapter 10: Global Wind Systems

Chapter 10: Global Wind Systems Chapter 10: Global Wind Systems Three-cell model of atmospheric circulation Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) Typical surface wind patterns Upper-level pressure and winds Climatological sea-level pressure

More information

The Air-Sea Interaction. Masanori Konda Kyoto University

The Air-Sea Interaction. Masanori Konda Kyoto University 2 The Air-Sea Interaction Masanori Konda Kyoto University 2.1 Feedback between Ocean and Atmosphere Heat and momentum exchange between the ocean and atmosphere Atmospheric circulation Condensation heat

More information

Wind and Air Pressure

Wind and Air Pressure Wind and Air Pressure When air moves above the surface of the Earth, it is called wind. Wind is caused by differences in air pressure. When a difference in pressure exists, the air will move from areas

More information

Review for the second quarter. Mechanisms for cloud formation

Review for the second quarter. Mechanisms for cloud formation Review for the second quarter Mechanisms for cloud formation 1 Rising air expands and cools; Sinking air compresses and warms. (18) (24) Dry adiabatic lapse rate (10 o C/km): the rate of temperature decrease

More information

Ocean Motion. Ocean Currents. Before You Read. Read to Learn

Ocean Motion. Ocean Currents. Before You Read. Read to Learn chapter 18 3 Ocean Motion section 2 Ocean Currents What You ll Learn the Coriolis effect what influences surface currents the temperature of coastal waters about density currents Before You Read Imagine

More information

9.3. Storing Thermal Energy. Transferring Thermal Energy

9.3. Storing Thermal Energy. Transferring Thermal Energy 9.3 If you have been to a beach on a hot summer day, you have likely cooled off by going for a dip in the water. The water, which is cooler than you are, removes thermal energy from your body, making you

More information

Atmosphere & Weather. Earth Science

Atmosphere & Weather. Earth Science Atmosphere & Weather Earth Science Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere Earth s energy is provided by the SUN! Energy is important to us because it 1. Drives winds and ocean currents. 2. Allows plants to

More information

Summary of Lecture 10, 04 March 2008 Introduce the Hadley circulation and examine global weather patterns. Discuss jet stream dynamics jet streams

Summary of Lecture 10, 04 March 2008 Introduce the Hadley circulation and examine global weather patterns. Discuss jet stream dynamics jet streams Summary of Lecture 10, 04 March 2008 Introduce the Hadley circulation and examine global weather patterns. Discuss jet stream dynamics jet streams arise because the Coriolis force prevents Hadley-type

More information

Chapter 7: Circulation And The Atmosphere

Chapter 7: Circulation And The Atmosphere Chapter 7: Circulation And The Atmosphere Highly integrated wind system Main Circulation Currents: series of deep rivers of air encircling the planet Various perturbations or vortices (hurricanes, tornados,

More information

Name Class Date. Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below. Each term may be used only once. Some terms may not be used.

Name Class Date. Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below. Each term may be used only once. Some terms may not be used. Assessment Chapter Test B The Movement of Ocean Water USING KEY TERMS Use the terms from the following list to complete the sentences below. Each term may be used only once. Some terms may not be used.

More information

Small- and large-scale circulation

Small- and large-scale circulation The Earth System - Atmosphere II Small- and large-scale circulation Atmospheric Circulation 1. Global atmospheric circulation can be thought of as a series of deep rivers that encircle the planet. 2. Imbedded

More information

Figure 8.8. Figure Oceanography 10 Ocean Circulation. Gulf Stream flows at 55 million cubic meters/sec, 500 times the flow of the Amazon River

Figure 8.8. Figure Oceanography 10 Ocean Circulation. Gulf Stream flows at 55 million cubic meters/sec, 500 times the flow of the Amazon River Oceanography 10 Ocean Circulation PART 1: Introduction General types of Ocean Currents Solar Energy and the Seasons PART 2: Measuring Ocean Currents and Structure PART 3: General Surface Currents and their

More information

ESS15 Lecture 12. Review, tropical oceans & El Nino, and the thermohaline ocean circulation. Please see new reading material on website.

ESS15 Lecture 12. Review, tropical oceans & El Nino, and the thermohaline ocean circulation. Please see new reading material on website. ESS15 Lecture 12 Review, tropical oceans & El Nino, and the thermohaline ocean circulation. Please see new reading material on website. Review. I-clicker exercise: In this graph of Earth s energy imbalances

More information

Atmospheric Circulation. Density of Air. Density of Air: H 2 O and Pressure effects

Atmospheric Circulation. Density of Air. Density of Air: H 2 O and Pressure effects Today s topics: Atmospheric circulation: generation of wind patterns on a rotating Earth Seasonal patterns of climate: Monsoons and Sea Breezes Tropical Cyclones: Hurricanes and typhoons Atmospheric Circulation

More information

Finish Characteristics of Climate

Finish Characteristics of Climate Bell Ringer Finish Characteristics of Climate Wind Coriolis Effect Newton s second law: a body in motion will continue in motion (unchanged) unless acted upon by an outside force. Liquid (water) and gas

More information

Atmospheric & Ocean Circulation-

Atmospheric & Ocean Circulation- Atmospheric & Ocean Circulation- Overview: Atmosphere & Climate Atmospheric layers Heating at different latitudes Atmospheric convection cells (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar) Coriolis Force Generation of winds

More information