Meteorology and Oceanography Notes

The Water Cycle

1. Precipitation Any form of water that comes

from the sky and falls to Earth’s surface

Examples: Rain, snow, hail, sleet

2. Infiltration The

_________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

3. Runoff ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

The water that _____________________________________________ infiltrate Earth’s surface is considered runoff.

It is a major agent of ________________________________________________

4. Evaporation The process of liquid water turning into a gas When water in lakes, streams, and oceans warms up it can turn from a liquid to a gas.

5. Transpiration

Water constantly moves among the oceans, the atmosphere, solid Earth, and the biosphere. This never ending circulation of Earth’s water supply is the

Processes involved in the water cycle

1. ____________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________

6. ____________________________________________

The transfer of water from _______________________________

______________________________________________________________

6. Condensation The process of water vapor turning into liquid water This occurs when temperatures get colder

The opposite of ____________________________________________

Earth’s Water Balance Balance in the water cycle means the ____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What does this mean?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Do you think this happens more on a global level or a local level?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Composition of Water What is the difference between seawater and freshwater?

Seawater has a lot of______________________________dissolved in it What happens when we place an egg in seawater and another in freshwater?

Why?

The Composition of Seawater Salinity: __________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________ The solid material in our oceans is salt. If fact, it is sodium

chloride, the same salt that you put on your french fries!

What makes our oceans salty?• The average salinity of sea water is ________________

Oceanography: Ocean Water Sources of Sea Salts

_______________________________________________________________________________ of rocks on the continents Continental rocks dissolve salt, and flow to the sea in runoff

Example: Remember the halite rock that I licked?

Salt from ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ When volcanoes erupt many salts are spewed out with lava.

Processes Affecting Salinity

Processes that_________________________________________________________________ salinity: Precipitation Runoff from land Icebergs melting Sea ice melting

All of these processes__________________water to the ocean and therefore

____________________________________________the salinity or “saltiness” of the water

Processes that_______________________________________salinity: Evaporation Formation of sea ice

These processes___________________________________________the liquid water in the ocean

and therefore_____________________________________the salinity or “saltiness” of the water

Ocean Temperature Variation The temperature of the surface of the ocean varies

__________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________,which is primarily a function of latitude

Temperature Variation with Depth

The________________________________________________is the layer of ocean water between about 300 meters and 1000 meters where there is a

The thermocline is a very important structure because it_____________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

A thermocline is__________________present at high latitudes because the surface temperature is just as cold as the temperature deep below the surface

Ocean Density Variation Density is defined as mass per unit volume. It can be

thought of as a measure_________________________________

____________________________________________________________ An object with high density is __________________

____________________________________________________ Ex: cement

An object with low density is light-weight for its size Ex: A dry sponge

Which do you think would be more likely to occur, a heavy object floating on top of a lighter object or a lighter object floating on top of a heavier object? ________________________________________________

Ocean Density Variation Some parts of the ocean are more dense, or heavier, than other parts of the ocean.

Would the less dense parts of the ocean be found at the surface of the ocean or at the ocean floor?

What would happen if we mixed seawater and freshwater together? (Would they mix evenly or would one layer float on top of the other?)

Factors affecting seawater density

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

An_______________________________________in salinity = an_______________________________________in density adds more salt to the ocean, making it more dense

An______________________________________in temperature = a____________________________________in density As temperature increase the molecules spread out more

Density Variation with Depth

The____________________________________________is the layer of ocean water between about 300

meters and 1000 meters where there is a rapid change of _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The pycnocline separates _______________________________________________________ ocean water

from __________________________________________________________ ocean water

A pycnocline is____________________present at high latitudes because the surface temperature is just as cold as the temperature deep below the surface

Ocean Layering The ocean can be split into 3 separate layers

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Surface Zone Shallow Contains the________________________________________

Where we find ___________________________________________________________________________

Warm due to the ____________________________________________________

Transition Zone Where we find the ________________________________________________________________________________

Deep Zone ____________________________________________________ of the ocean

Sunlight_________________________________________reaches this layer

Temperatures are VERY COLD, __________________________________________________________

Water has a very_____________________________density

Oceanography: Ocean Circulation Surface Circulation

Ocean currents : ___________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________: movements that flow horizontally in the upper part of the ocean’s surface

Develop from _________________________________________________between the ocean and the wind that blows across its surface

Gyres: Huge ___________________________________

__________________________________________________that dominate the surface of the oceans

Although wind is the force that generates surface currents, other factors also influence the movement of ocean waters. The greatest of these is the _________________________________________

Coriolis effect: Deflection of currents away from their original course as a result of Earth’s

rotation. _______________________________in the northern hemisphere, and_________________ in the southern hemisphere

Oceanography: Ocean Currents Ocean Currents and Climate

Ocean currents have an important effect on ___________________________________________________

Ocean currents transfer __________________________from warmer areas to cooler areas on earth.

Example: From the________________________________________________________________________ Gulf Stream

The Gulf Stream brings warm water from the

________________________________________up to the ____________________________________________________

This current allows Great Britain and northwestern Europe to be warmer during the winter than one would expect for how far north it is located

Upwelling: ____________________________________________ of cold

water from ________________ parts of the ocean to

replace warmer ____________________________ water

Also brings ________________________________________ to the surface of the ocean

Deep-Ocean Circulation Density Currents

Vertical currents of ocean water that result from _______________________________________________ among water masses

An _______________________________________________ in seawater density can be caused by a

_____________________________________ in temperature or an _____________________________ in salinity

High Latitudes: Most water involved in deep-ocean density currents begins at ________________________________

at the surface of the ocean When the water becomes dense enough it _____________________________, initiating deep-ocean

density currents

__________________________________________________ A model of ocean circulation that shows how water circulates and travels

throughout the oceans on Earth.

Oceanography: Waves and Tides Waves

Parts of a Wave Trough: _________________________________________________________________________

Crest: ____________________________________________________________________________ Wave Height: vertical distance between the

__________________________________________________

Wavelength: horizontal distance between

__________________________________________________

Wave period: The time it takes one full wave __________________________________________________

Characteristics of a Wave Most ocean waves obtain their energy and motion from the ___________________________________

The height, length, and wave period that are eventually achieved by a wave depend on three factors

1. ___________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________ Fetch is the distance that the wind has traveled across open water

Wave Motion Circular orbital motion allows energy __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ to move forward through the water while the individual water particles that transmit the wave move around in a circle

Breaking Waves Changes occur as a wave moves ___________________________________________

As the waves touch the bottom of the ocean, they ______________________________________________.

The decrease in speed results in a ________________________________________ in wavelength and

an ____________________________________________in wave height

Tides Tides: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The force that produces tides is__________________________________________ Tides result from the gravitational attraction exerted upon Earth by the ____________________

and to a lesser extent, by _____________________________________

Tide Cycle ____________________________________________: the difference in height between successive high

and low tides Spring tides: tides that have the _____________________tidal range due to the alignment of the

______________________________________________________________________system

Neap tides: tides that have the ______________________________________ tidal range, occurring near the times of the first-quarter and third-quarter phases of the moon

Tidal Patterns Three main tidal patterns exist worldwide

1. Diurnal tides- __________ high tide and _________ low tide per day

2. Semidiurnal tides- __________high tides and ___________ low tides per day

3. Mixed tides- high tides and low tides

have______________________________ heights

Meteorology: Atmosphere Characteristics Weather vs. Climate

Weather is what is happening outside ________________________________________________________

Climate is a description of the ______________________________ weather over a ____________________________ period of time

Height and Structure of the Atmosphere Where does the atmosphere end and outer space begin?

The atmosphere thins as you travel ______________________________ from Earth until there are too few gas molecules to detect

Atmospheric Pressure vs. Altitude Atmospheric pressure is the ____________________________________________________ above an object

The higher the elevation, the________________________________ the atmospheric pressure

The lower the elevation, the _________________________________the atmospheric pressure

Temperature vs. Altitude As the altitude increase the temperature _____________________________________________

The atmosphere can be divided vertically into 4 layers based on______________________________________

1. _________________________________________________: 1st layer of the atmosphere; temperature decreases as you move further up into the troposphere

2. Stratosphere: 2nd layer of the atmosphere; temperatures _____________________________________

here because this is where we find Earth’s ______________________________________________________

3. Mesosphere: 3rd layer of the atmosphere; temperature _______________________________________

4. ______________________________________________: 4th layer of the atmosphere; contains only a small fraction of the atmosphere.

Temperatures increase due to oxygen and nitrogen absorbing energy from the ______________________________________________________

Meteorology: Heating the Atmosphere Energy Transfer as Heat

Heat moves in 3 ways1. Conduction: Transfer of heat through

____________________________________2. Convection: Transfer of heat through

______________________________________, or movement, of the substance itself

3. Radiation: Transfer of heat through ______________________________________________

Unlike conduction and convection, radiant energy can travel through

___________________________________ and reach Earth.

The type of heat we get from the sun, ___________________________________________

What Happens to Solar Radiation? Reflection, Scattering, and Absorption

Absorption: __________________ of the solar energy that strikes the top of the atmosphere reaches Earth’s surface and is _______________________________

Reflection: when light _____________________________ an object

Scattering: produces a larger number of weaker rays that travel in ___________________________________ directions

Meteorology: Temperature Controls Why Temperatures Vary

1. Heating of ________________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________

5. Ocean currents

1. Land and Water Land heats and cools

__________________________ than water

As a result, temperatures will vary ____________________________ over land than water

2. Geographic Position Where you are influences the weather

Monthly Temperatures for Vancouver and Winnipeg

3. Altitude The higher the elevation, the

_________________________________the temperatures

4. Cloud Cover Clouds reflect and absorb

radiation

Meteorology: Understanding Air Pressure Measuring Air Pressure

5. Ocean Currents We learned earlier that ________________

is transferred from the equator toward the poles, making northern areas warmer than we would expect for their latitude

A__________________________________________________________ is a device used to measure air pressure When air pressure increases, the mercury in the tube rises. When air pressure decreases, so does the height of the mercury column

Factors affecting wind 3 factors combine to control wind:

Air pressure differences: Wind is created by differences in air pressure, the

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Coriolis effect: Describes how Earth’s rotation affects moving objects. Objects in the

Northern Hemisphere move to the____________________________________________ Objects in the

Southern Hemisphere move to the ______________________________________________

The Coriolis effect causes wind to be bent at a _________________________________ angle

Friction: _______________________________________ air movement, which changes wind direction

Meteorology: Pressure Centers and Winds Highs and Lows

Cyclonic and Anticyclonic Winds Cyclonic winds are associated with______________________________________________systems

Wind pattern has

a_______________________________________________________________motion

Anticyclonic winds are associated

with___________________________________systems

Wind pattern has a________________________ motion

Weather and Air Pressure Rising air is associated with cloud formation

and _____________________________________________

Sinking air is produces clear skies

Do you think you would be more likely to have a storm in an area of high pressure or low pressure?

Global Winds The atmosphere balances heat differences by acting as a ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________. This system moves warm air toward __________latitudes

(the poles) and cool air toward the ___________________________________________

Rotating Earth Model:Because the coriolis bends wind at a 90 degree angle, there are 3 cells that distribute heat across Earth’s surface• ___________________________________

• Ferrel cells

• ___________________________________

Meteorology: Regional Wind Systems Local Winds

Land and Sea Breezes During the day the air above the land heats and rises, creating a local zone of lower air

pressure At night, the land cools more rapidly than the sea, generating an offshore flow called

a__________________________________________________________

Valley and Mountain Breezes A daily wind similar to land and sea breezes occurs in many mountainous regions

Heating during the day generates warm air that ________________________from the valley floor

After sunset, cooling of the air near the mountain slopes can result in cool air moving

__________________________________________________________________________

El Nino and La Nina El Nino

Name given to the periodic ______________________________________of the ocean that occurs in

the central and eastern Pacific every _______________________________________________

La Nina Name given to the periodic ______________________________________________ of the ocean that

occurs in the central and eastern Pacific _______________________________________ El Nino events

La nina is associated with an _________________ in precipitation and hurricane activity

Normal Conditions El Nino Conditions

Meteorology: Air Masses Air Masses and Weather

Air Masses An air mass is an immense body of air that is characterized by _______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________ at any given altitude Movement of Air Masses

As it moves, the characteristics of an air mass change and so does the weather in the area over which the air mass moves

Classifying Air Masses In addition to their overall temperature, air masses are classified according to the surface over

which they form

Continental (c) air masses form over __________________________________

Maritime (m) air masses form over ____________________________________

Weather in North America Much of the weather in North America, especially weather east of the Rocky Mountains, is

influenced by continental polar (cP) and maritime tropical (mT) air masses

Continental Polar Air Masses (cP) Uniformly ___________________________________________________________________________________

Maritime Tropical Air Masses (mT) ____________________________________________________________________ Source of most of the precipitation received in the eastern two-thirds of the United

States

Maritime Polar Air Masses (mP) Begin as ___________________

air masses in Russia

The cold, dry continental polar air changes into relatively mild, humid, unstable maritime polar air during its journey across the North Pacific Ocean

Continental Tropical Air Masses (cT) When this air mass moves out of the tropics is causes extremely hot drought-like

conditions in the Great Plains

Meteorology: Fronts Formation of Fronts

When 2 air masses meet, they form a front, which is a boundary that separates 2 air masses Types of Fronts

1. _________________________________________

2. _________________________________________

3. _________________________________________

4. _________________________________________

1. Warm Fronts A warm front forms when warm air moves into an area formerly covered by cooler air

2. Cold Fronts Forms when cold dense air moves into a region occupied by warmer air

3. Stationary Fronts Occasionally, the flow of air on either side of a front is neither toward the cold air mass or

the warm air mass, but almost parallel to the line of the front. In such cases, the surface position of the front does not move and a

______________________________________________________forms

4. Occluded Fronts When an active cold front overtakes a

warm front, an___________________________________forms

Meteorology: Factors that Affect Climate Factors That Affect Climate

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________

1. Latitude As latitude increases, the average intensity of solar energy decreases

This is because ________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Elevation The higher the elevation, the

__________________________________ the climate

There is also more precipitation at higher elevations, leading to cooler temperatures

3. Topography Topographic features, such as ___________________________________________________, play an

important role in the amount of precipitation that falls over an area

4. Water Bodies Large bodies of water, such as lakes and oceans, have an important effect on the

temperature of an area because the temperature of the water body influences the

temperature of _____________________________________________________________________________

This is why it is cooler near the oceans or other large bodes of water

5. Atmospheric Circulation Global winds are another factor that influences climate because they distribute

__________________________________________________________around Earth

6. Vegetation Can affect both temperature and the precipitation patterns in an area

Vegetation influences how much of the __________________________________________________________ and how quickly this energy is released. This affects temperature