Atmospheric&oceanic circulation Flashcards
the structure of atmosphere (gas)
Nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, water vapour, neon, helium, methane, krypton, hydrogen, ozone
Atmospheric structure (layers)
troposhere-ozone layer-stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
What is the upper boundary of troposphere?
Tropopause (8 km-16 km)
What is Coriolis force?
the Coriolis force is an inertial or fictitious force that acts on objects that are in motion within a frame of reference that rotates with respect to an inertial frame. … Deflection of an object due to the Coriolis force is called the Coriolis effect
What is the Coriolis effect?
Because the Earth rotates, circulating air is deflected. Instead of circulating in a straight pattern, the air deflects toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in curved paths.
Why GWP is happening?
Due to unequal heating of the Earth by the sun and the Coriolis force
An area at the equator receives more solar radiation than an equal area at the poles because of:
- The angle of exposure
- The distance the radiation travels through the atmosphere is less at the equator (the atmosphere absorbs part of the energy)
Where there is no Coriolis force?
Equator
What is the Tricellular model?
The Tricellular model is simply a chain showing the connections between 3 distinct cells namely the Hadley Cell, the Ferrel Cell and the Polar Cell
Why do surface winds blow in regular patterns?
Due to unequal heating of the Earth and the Coriolis force
What causes surface currents?
Surface currents are caused by the drag of the wind on the water and the Coriolis force – water is set in motion by winds and affected by Coriolis force
What is Ekman spiral?
The Ekman spiral is a structure of currents or winds near a horizontal boundary in which the flow direction rotates as one moves away from the boundary. The Coriolis force causes a deflection of the water flow to the right (North) or left (South)
Each layer of water is deflected about 45o
What is Ekman transport?
the piling up of water in the centre of the ocean gyres
North Pacific Gyre
North Pacific Gyre consists of California current, Kuroshio, North Pacific current and a north Equatorial current
What does the deflection of currents create?
Currents are deflected by the continents creating gyres
North Atlantic Gyre
North Atlantic current, Canary, North Equatorial, Gulf Stream
