Download Water and Climate

Water and Weather
Spencer
Natural Resources
2012
How Much Water Do You See?
How Much Weather Do You See?
Hydrological Cycle: Terms
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Evaporation:
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–
–
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Phase of change from a liquid to a gas
Water released into the atmosphere from storage
bodies of water (lakes, rivers, etc.)
Influenced by temperature and humidity
Transpiration:
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–
Water released into the atmosphere from plants
Influenced by temperature and humidity
Hydrological Cycle: Terms
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Condensation:
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–
–
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Phase of change from a gas to a liquid
Results in formation of clouds
Influenced by change in temperature
Precipitation:
–
Excessive water vapor accumulation in clouds
causes release of liquid to surface
Hydrological Cycle: Terms
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Infiltration:
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–
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Evapotranspiration:
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Movement of water into soil or rock
Influenced by pore space and slope
Cumulative amount of water release from plants
Sources of Storage:
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Oceans, Groundwater, Glaciers, Lakes, etc.
Condensation
Infiltration
Hydrological Cycle
Sun is the
driving force
behind the
Hydrological
Cycle
Weather
Weather: Air Masses
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cP – Continental Polar
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–
–
–
–
Originates over polar
land masses
Dominates winter
weather in northern
climates
Produces cold, clear
weather in winter
Causes cool periods in
the summer
Cold, dry, stable air
mass

mP – Maritime Polar
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–
–
Originates over polar
marine areas
Contains
considerable moisture
Cool, moist, unstable
air mass
Weather: Air Masses

cT – Continental Tropical
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–
–
–
Originates over
superheated land masses:
SW USA
Produces clear, hot, and
dry summer weather
Permits wide range of
diurnal (daytime
high/nighttime low)
temperatures
Hot, dry, stable air mass

mT – Maritime Tropical
–
–
–
–
–
Originates over bodies of
water in the tropics
Dominates summer
weather of central and
eastern USA
Produces hot, humid,
summer weather
Brings moisture to central
USA
Warm, moist unstable air
mass
Weather: Pressure Cells

High Pressure Cells
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–
–
–
–
–
–
High Air Pressure
Anticyclonic
Clockwise Air Circulation
Sinking Air
Very Few Clouds
Very Little Precipitation
Air Moves Outward from
Cell Center
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Low Pressure Cells
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–
–
–
–
–
–
Low Air Pressure
Cyclonic
Counter-Clockwise Air
Circulation
Rising Air
Many Clouds
Much Precipitation
Air Moves Inward to Cell
Center
Weather: Fronts

Cold Front:
–
–
–

Cold air replaces warm air
Rapid lifting of warm air
Thunderstorm & heavy
rains possible
Warm Front:
–
–
–
Warm air replaces cold air
Slow lifting of warm air
Widespread precipitation
possible
REVIEW
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Describe the Hydrological Cycle
Describe the four air masses
Compare and contrast high and low pressure cells
Compare and contrast warm and cold fronts
What is the biggest influencing factor of the
hydrological and weather cycles?
What air mass influences our summer weather?
What air mass influences our winter weather