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Atmospheric circulation
Cold air is more dense and sinks, as it sinks it is warmed Warm air rises and can hold more water vapor, as air rises it cools and some water vapor may form rain, snow, or fog
Solar energy heats the ground and the ground heats the air Wind movement of air created when warm air rises and cool air moves in to replace it, circulation patterns are created by the rotation of the earth
Oceanic Circulation patterns Water holds a great deal of heat so ocean currents have a big effect on climate Winds and the rotation of the earth cause the movement of surface ocean currents El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) periodic change in the location of warm and cold water masses in the Pacific
El Nino (warm phase) winds in western pacific push warm water eastward, produces increased rainfall in Southern half of US and South America, drought in Indonesia and Australia La Nina (cold phase) water in eastern pacific is cooler than usual
Topography height above sea level temp decrease by 6 deg C for every 1,000 m rise Mountain ranges rain shadow effect
windward side rainy, warm air rises and cools and created precip (western side) leeward side dry, cold air sinks and gets warmer (eastern side)
Seasonal Changes in Climate Cause for the seasons tilt of the earth on its axis changes the angle at the which the suns rays hit the surface of the earth as it moves around the sun Northern Hemisphere
Summer tilted toward sun, longer and warmer days Winter tilted away from sun, shorter and cooler days
Opposite for SH
1992 Denmark nations agreed to elliminate most CFCc by 1995 US banned all substances harmful to ozone by 2000 CFCs remain in stratosphere for 60-120 yrs
Rising levels
Increase over 20% in the last 50 years Due largely to emissions from burning fossil fuels
Earths Temp more greenhouse gases near surface will increase global temps
Global Warming
An increase in the average temp at the earths surface The rise in average temp correlates in the rise in levels of greenhouse gases Hypothesis the rise in greenhouse gases has caused the rise in average temp
Well supported by thousands of experiments and computer models
Other possibilities natural climatic variability Modeling global warming computer models use equations and current data to predict future changes
Models are not always completely accurate
Human health problems more heat related illnesses, longer allergy seasons, more diseases transmitted by insects like mosquitos
Consequences cont.
Agriculture effected by extreme weather events like droughts, could increase demand for water Effects on plants and animals
alter the range and composition of plant and animal communities Shift in geographical range of animals Some species could be eliminated due to warmer temps
Recent Findings
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chage (IPCC)network of 2,500 of the worlds leading climatologists
TAR Third Assessment Report describes current global climate and makes future estimates for the global climate Findings:
Global temp up .6d C during the 20th century Snow cover and ice extent has decreased Average global sea level has risen Levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases continues to increase