GEOG 141 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Lapse Rate, Pressure Gradient, Solar Irradiance

• School: University of Oregon
• Department: Geography
• Course: GEOG 141
• Professor: Aaron Zettlerman

Document Summary

Map projections: spherical earth as a flat surface, tradeoffs and distortion, shapes are distorted in many maps. Average insolation: ene(cid:396)gy planet (cid:396)ecei(cid:448)es isn"t consistent due to latitudes, more at low, less at high, energy distribution is unequal, planet prefers homeostasis, moves energy from areas of surplus to deficit (equator to poles) Atmosphere: denser at surface of earth, lower as you go further away, the steeper the pressure gradient, the stronger the winds are, high pressure=light winds, pressure gradient + coriolis effect. Atmosphere-ocean interaction: momentum transfer, water transfer, heat transfer, thermohaline (changes in density and temperature) drives currents. Hydrosphere: clouds, precipitation, rain, dry and saturated adiabatic lapse rate, at a very local scale, but reflective of globe. Lifting condensation level, where the cloud is flat, temperature elevation cool enough for condensation: air masses, stationary, planet rotates in and out of them, weather and climate are not the same.