Please answer all parts and label which number the question is for. 7. (8pts) Dr
ID: 804325 • Letter: P
Question
Please answer all parts and label which number the question is for.
7. (8pts) Draw a diagram illustrating the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum important in weather and climate. Discuss the significance of each region of the spectrum to weather and climate conditions and to the study of the atmosphere
8. (8pts) Explain how the following atmospheric moisture variables differ. Do not just give definitions of each, but show how each measures atmospheric moisture in a different way.
a. relative humidity & specific humidity
b. dew point temperature & dew point depression
9. (7pts) In an unstable atmosphere,
a. Discuss how a parcel of air moves vertically if given an initial push upward.
b. Explain why this motion occurs with respect to the density and temperature of a parcel in comparison to its surrounding environment.
c. Assuming the parcel can change its temperature with height at either the dry or saturated adiabatic lapse rate, describe how the parcel’s lapse rate compares to the environmental lapse rate in an unstable atmosphere.
10. (8pts) Explain what causes the Coriolis Effect and list the different factors which influence this phenomenon. What is the influence of the Coriolis Effect in each hemisphere? The “Coriolis Effect” and “centrifugal force” are not true forces, but considered to be “apparent forces.” Explain why.
11. (7pts) Discuss why the average winter temperature for Denver, Colorado is much lower than the average winter temperature for Adak, Alaska (in the Aleutian Islands), even though Adak is much further north than Denver.
12. (8pts) Define pressure gradient, and explain how the force that is generated by this contributes to the formation of wind. Define friction, and explain its role in the formation of wind (a) at the surface and (b) in the upper levels of the atmosphere.
Explanation / Answer
8. a The specific humidity measures the weight of water vapour per unit of weight of a given air mass. The specific humidity does not depend upon temperature and pressure and only depends upon quantity of water vapour. It is relatively constant property of air. Relative humidity measures the relative amount of water vapour an air can hold at a particular temperature. It is expressed in percentage.
b. Dew point temperature is that temperature the air need to be cooled to reach saturation given the pressure and the water vapour concentration is constant. It tells us about the amount of moisture present in the air. Higher the dew point temperature higher will be the humidity or the moisture content of air at a particular temperature. Whereas dew point depression is the difference of air temperature and the dew point temperature. It indicates about how close the air is to reach the saturation. Smaller values indicate that air is more moist and close to saturation.
9. a In an unstable if a parcel is moved vertically it will tend to move upwards in the direction of displacement event when the external force is removed till the moving air parcel is reached in equilibrium with the surrounding air.
b. The motion of the air parcel takes place till its density and temperature has reached equilibrium with respect to the surrounding air. Since every object in the universe tends to be in equlibrium or minimum energy configuration so the air tends to be in equilibrium with its surroundings.
c. If the air parcel is not saturated then its environmental lapse rate will be greater than the dry adiabatic rate of air parcel i.e 10 degree celsius/km. But if the air is saturated then its environmental lapse rate is greater than moist adiabatic lapse rate which ranges from 0.5-0.9 degree celsius depends on the moisture content of the air parcel.
10. Coriolis effect is the apparent motion of the objects which moves in a straight line with respect to the earth. The strength of coriolis force depends upon the rotational velocity of earth which is different at different latitude. With the decrease in the speed of rotation of earth and increase in the latitude , there is also increase in coriolis effect. Also the faster the object is moving greater will be its deflection and hence greater will be coriolis force.The coriolis effect is mainly due to rotation of earth. As the earth spins counter clock wise on its axis any object flying or flowing will be deflected with respect to it. Due to the coriolis effect the objects in the northern hemisphere will deflect to the right and whereas in southern hemisphere it wil deflect towards left.
The coriolis effect is apparent not true because the moving object is not deflected actually but appears to be deflected as the earth is slowly rotating beneath the object.
11. Since the Adak is situated at lower alttude. The higher the altitude colder will be the temperature of air. Also Adak is situated neaby the ocean. Since water moderates the climate. It takes more time to cool the water in comparison to the land. This is the reason that the average winter temperature is much lower than the Adak.
12. Pressure gradient is the force resulting due to change in pressure across as surface. This pressure gradient is responsible for the formation of winds. If there is no pressure gradient there will be no net force and the system will be in equilibrium. The wind moves from higher pressure to lower pressure so to maintain the equilbrium in the atmosphere.
Friction is the resistance of a moving object with respect to another object.
a. The earth surface exerts frictional force on the moving winds. It tends to slow down the speed of the moving winds and also changes the wind direction. For eg. the speed of wind is faster in the smooth ocean surface whereas it is slow at terrains and at higher elevation.
b. The effect of friction is less at the upper level winds. So the velocity of upper level winds is faster than the surface level winds
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