ES 100 Lecture 14: Chapter14
15 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Weather short-lived, local patterns; temperature and precipitation due to circulation of the troposphere. Climate long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation. 18 km over the equator, 8km over the poles. Convection currents distribute heat and moisture within the troposphere. Greenhouse gases - gases in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxides, methane, and other substances that retain heat. Burning fossil fuels releases extra carbon dioxide. Water vapor stores energy as latent heat. Heat and water move from equator to the poles. Releasing latent heat causes air to rise, cool, and lose more water vapor as precipitation. The movement of air from high to low pressure areas creates winds. Winds are affected by the rotation of the earth to the east, so they appear curved this is the coriolis effect. Hurricane force winds at the top of the troposphere. Ocean currents transport heat to high latitudes. Gulf stream carries heat to northern europe.
