EARTH 222 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Coriolis Force, Westerlies, Thermocline
11 Jun 2016
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Document Summary
The atmosphere: the atmosphere is the volume of gases, water vapor, and airborne particles surrounding the earth, air density is greatly influenced by temperature and water content: Warmer air is less dense than cold air. Humid air is less dense than dry air: air temperature is influenced by changes in pressure: Becomes warmer when it is compressed: warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. Latitudinal variations in solar input: poles: greater area, low angle, tropics: smaller area, vertical angle. There are two main circulation systems: surface circulation: Involves about 10% of the water in the global ocean. Consists of large-scale horizontal-flowing currents largely driven by winds. Surface currents are deflected by the coriolis effect and by continental barriers: deep circulation: Controlled primarily by differences in temperature and salinity of water masses. Surface currents: surface currents closely follow global wind belt pattern. Trade winds at 0-30 blow surface currents to the west.
