News

• http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2009/10/21/hurricane_weakens_as_it_nears_resorts/

• http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2009/10/21/8_nations_resist_binding_limits_on_emissions/

Climate

Image courtesy of United States Federal Government

Hot Air Rises

Air can hold less water at

higher altitudes1. Hot air rises over land due to heating by the sun. 2. The rising air leaves less air in one spot, low pressure forms. 3. Generally, from 3,000 to 5,000 feet, the air cools, high pressure develops.

4. Meanwhile, over the cooler water, air sinks, leaving less air aloft. 5. More air piles up at the surface of the water, high pressure forms. 6. Air moves from high pressure to low pressure. 7. The sea breeze generally forms during the afternoon. This creates a mini cold front that helps lift air upward to create thunderstorms.

Hadley Cells

Image courtesy of NASA

Coriolis Force

• Result of earth spinning

• In Northern Hemisphere, Coriolis Force deflects moving objects to the RIGHT

• Force is proportional to velocity

• Force is a function of latitude (zero at equator)

Winds

Trade Winds

Westerlies

Image courtesy of NASA

SeaBreezes and Monsoons

• Land heats up faster than ocean

• Air moves from high to low pressure

• Cold air holds less water vapor

• Diurnal—Sea Breeze

• Seasonal--Monsoon

Rain Shadow Effect

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Biomes

Image courtesy of United States Department of Agriculture

Climate

Image courtesy of United States Federal Government

Global Conveyor Belt

Upwelling

Image courtesy of NOAA

El Nino

Normal pattern El Nino Conditions

Image courtesy of United States Federal Government

El Nino Conditions

Greenhouse Effect

Image courtesy of U.S. Department of the Interior