Mountain climate Mountain Geography term A 2007 Major

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Mountain climate Mountain Geography, term A, 2007

Mountain climate Mountain Geography, term A, 2007

Major climatic controls • • ALTITUDE LATITUDE CONTINENTALITY TOPOGRAPHY

Major climatic controls • • ALTITUDE LATITUDE CONTINENTALITY TOPOGRAPHY

Climate factors/elements • • • Pressure, oxygen, water vapour Temperature Precipitation Winds Radiation clouds

Climate factors/elements • • • Pressure, oxygen, water vapour Temperature Precipitation Winds Radiation clouds

3. CONTINENTALITY

3. CONTINENTALITY

4. TOPOGRAPHY • Barrier effects – DAMMING – DEFLECTION – BLOCKING • Depends on

4. TOPOGRAPHY • Barrier effects – DAMMING – DEFLECTION – BLOCKING • Depends on topography (mtn. range vs. isolated peak)

Pressure

Pressure

Temperature • a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in that

Temperature • a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in that substance. • how fast the air molecules are moving.

Effect of altitude on temperature

Effect of altitude on temperature

Wind • Wind results from a horizontal difference in air pressure • sun heats

Wind • Wind results from a horizontal difference in air pressure • sun heats different parts of the Earth differently, causing pressure differences • Sun is the driving force for most winds.

Wind direction Winds are directed towards low pressure, which results in: Lifting of air

Wind direction Winds are directed towards low pressure, which results in: Lifting of air "Bad" Weather Winds are directed away from high pressure, which results in: Sinking of air "Good" Weather

Types of winds • Large-scale – Standing waves – roters • Regional scale –

Types of winds • Large-scale – Standing waves – roters • Regional scale – Chinook winds; – Monsoon winds • Small scale: – Slope winds – Mountain/Valley winds – Glacier wind

Large-scale standing waves

Large-scale standing waves

Rotor clouds

Rotor clouds

Lenticular clouds

Lenticular clouds

Orographic precipitation • occurs where mountains and hills force moist air to rise

Orographic precipitation • occurs where mountains and hills force moist air to rise

Chinook winds Warm, dry winds coming off the leeward side of the mountains Explain

Chinook winds Warm, dry winds coming off the leeward side of the mountains Explain why they occur Also called Foehn (Germany); Mistral (French Alps) Santa Ana (California)

Monsoon winds warmer • regional scale wind systems • created by the temperature contrasts

Monsoon winds warmer • regional scale wind systems • created by the temperature contrasts between land ocean • Land heats up/cools faster than oceans

Direction of the monsoon

Direction of the monsoon

Valley breeze (Anabatic) - upslope Daytime warmer LOW P Temperature inversion colder HIGH P

Valley breeze (Anabatic) - upslope Daytime warmer LOW P Temperature inversion colder HIGH P

Mountain breeze - Katabatic (downslope) Night time colder HIGH P warmer LOW P

Mountain breeze - Katabatic (downslope) Night time colder HIGH P warmer LOW P

Mountain/Valley breeze OUT IN Mountain breathes OUT

Mountain/Valley breeze OUT IN Mountain breathes OUT

Glacier winds

Glacier winds

Cloud Formation In order to make a cloud we need: • Moisture • Nuclei

Cloud Formation In order to make a cloud we need: • Moisture • Nuclei on which to condense (cloud condensation nuclei, or ice nuclei) • A method of cooling the air to saturation

What about if the air temperature is below 0°C? • It is possible for

What about if the air temperature is below 0°C? • It is possible for liquid water to remain liquid below temperatures of 0°C if there are no Ice Nuclei (IN). • Liquid water below 0°C is called "supercooled" or "subcooled" water.

Types of clouds

Types of clouds

Need: Plenty of moisture. A mass of warm unstable air. A source of energy

Need: Plenty of moisture. A mass of warm unstable air. A source of energy to lift the warm, moist air mass rapidly upward.

Cumulo-nimbus clouds

Cumulo-nimbus clouds

Home exercise (X-credit): • • Watch for clouds over the Boulder area Take a

Home exercise (X-credit): • • Watch for clouds over the Boulder area Take a picture, identify the clouds Write about how the clouds was formed Submit to Abby

Composition of Solar Radiation

Composition of Solar Radiation