WC_Weather and Climate Module Overview

Oceanography module overview (1).png

It's hot as all get out. (Yes, you gotta say it in a southern accent, y'all.)

The summer heat in Georgia can be brutal. We're diving into the ever-changing world of weather and the long-term climate patterns. Ever wonder why some days are sunny and others have you grabbing an umbrella? Or why are Georgia's summers hot and sticky but winters mild?

Well, you're about to find out in this module! 

We can predict seasonal changes and weather patterns by understanding Earth's rotation, tilt, and orbit. The concept of heat capacity reveals why oceans regulate our climate, helping us foresee long-term trends and events like El Niño. The Coriolis effect, crucial for predicting wind patterns and storm paths and studying atmospheric circulation cells, gives us insights into wind and current movements. All these elements combined allow us to comprehend the daily whims of weather and anticipate severe weather events and long-term climate shifts, making this knowledge invaluable for everything from daily weather forecasts to preparing for climate-driven changes. 

  1. How does the tilt of the Earth, along with the input of solar energy and the different heat capacities of land and oceans, influence the various weather patterns and climate zones we experience across the globe?
  2. In what ways does the Coriolis Effect alter the patterns of winds and ocean currents, and how does this contribute to the overall climate system of the Earth?
  3. How can we analyze and interpret climatic data to develop comprehensive models of global atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and what role do deep water currents play in these circulatory systems?
  4. How can we explain the causes of significant weather phenomena like El Niño, hurricanes, and monsoons, and what strategies can be implemented to mitigate their impacts on human communities and populations?

  1. Atmospheric Circulation: The large-scale movement of air in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to different weather patterns and climate zones. 
  2. Climate: The average weather conditions in a particular area over a long period. 
  3. Climate Change: The increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases. 
  4. Coriolis Effect: The apparent deflection of moving objects when viewed in a rotating frame of reference, affecting global wind and ocean current patterns. 
  5. Deep Water Currents: Slow-moving currents in the deep ocean, essential for global thermohaline circulation. 
  6. Earth's Tilt: The angle at which the Earth's axis is inclined in relation to its orbit around the sun. 
  7. Eccentricity: The degree to which an orbit deviates from a perfect circle; Earth's orbit has a slight eccentricity. 
  8. El Niño: A climate pattern that occurs when a vast area of the Pacific Ocean warms, affecting global weather patterns. 
  9. Ferrel Cell: A mid-latitude atmospheric circulation cell theorized to exist to balance the Hadley and Polar Cells. 
  10. Global Weather Patterns: The typical weather conditions observed in different parts of the world are influenced by various climatic factors. 
  11. Greenhouse Gases: Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide and methane. 
  12. Hadley Cell: A tropical atmospheric circulation cell with air rising at the equator and sinking at medium latitudes, typically about 30° north and south. 
  13. Heat Capacity: The quantity of heat required to change the temperature of a substance, significant in understanding how land and water bodies absorb and retain heat. 
  14. Hurricanes: Severe tropical cyclones with high winds and heavy rains originating over warm tropical waters. 
  15. Jet Streams: Fast-flowing, narrow air currents are found in the atmosphere, influencing weather patterns. 
  16. La Niña: A climate pattern characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, opposite of El Niño. 
  17. Monsoons: Seasonal prevailing winds that bring significant rainfall, especially in South and Southeast Asia. 
  18. Oceanic Circulation: The large-scale movement of ocean water, crucial for distributing heat and nutrients around the globe. 
  19. Polar Cell: An atmospheric circulation cell situated at each pole, with air rising, diverging, and traveling towards the lower latitudes. 
  20. Solar Energy: Radiant energy emitted by the sun, crucial for driving Earth's climate and weather systems. 
  21. Thermohaline Circulation: A part of the large-scale ocean circulation driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes. 
  22. Weather: The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, with respect to variables like temperature, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation. 

In this module, we will study the following topics:

  • Lesson 1: Introduction to Weather & Climate 
  • Lesson 2: Review of Earth Science 
  • Lesson 3: Oceanic & Atmospheric Circulation 
  • Lesson 4: Coriolis Effect 
  • Lesson 5: Global Weather Patterns 
  • Lesson 6: Severe Weather & Humans 

 

 

UP NEXT:  Introduction to Weather and Climate  

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