Satellites, Weather and Climate Summer Institute - 2015

Linking SWAC with other sciences

http://www-das.uwyo.edu/~geerts/cwx/notes/chap01/tropo.html

Slope of Tropopause between equatorial and polar region – why ?

Involves the lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), biosphere (living things), and atmosphere (air) – hence all the sciences!

Tropopause temperature and Height --Polar versus Equatorial regions real time--

http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html

Northern Hudson Bay - Canada Panama Canal Zone – Central America

Tropopause slope and warming Arctic (melting ice caps)

-- Evidence linking Arctic amplification to extreme weather in mid-latitudes (Mar 2012) Jennifer A. Francis and Stephen J. Vavrus (GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 39, L06801, doi:10.1029/2012GL051000, 2012)

Francis noted a weakening of the zonal component (west-east) of Jet since mid 1990’s as well as an increase in the upper level ridge (Diagram to right) over western US and mid Atlantic Basin)

Recall Slope of tropopause and impact on character of Jetstream: less slope more meandering of jet and slower moving surface weather features…cold air moves further south

Francis_Vavrus_2012GL051000_pub.pdf

Global Connections of Weather and Climate

Jet Stream as of Jun 27 2015 El Nino Jet Stream Pattern

Consider how global warming impacts the water cycle which impacts Ocean Salinity as a feedback Mechanism

Change in Global Ocean Salinity 2004-13

http://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/shifting-ocean-surface-saltiness-2004-2013

• If global warming via the water cycle makes rainy areas even wetter (and dry areas drier), this could increase changes in salinity.

Why is this important…

• It could result in certain ocean areas becoming ‘fresher’ while others become ‘saltier’.

• For example, parts of the Southern Ocean and the northern North Atlantic got fresher between 2004-2013.

• Meanwhile the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the subtropics of the Pacific and Atlantic—already among the saltiest — became saltier.

• Students could measure density differences between fresh and salt water … and consider what happens to movement of ocean water due to these density differences.

Deep ocean current is a thermohaline current – driven by density differences due to temperature and salinity (surface currents are wind driven)

Example… normally in polar region, sea ice forms leaving salt behind which makes the water saltier and more dense. This water sinks and is replaced by fresher water…but the cycle continues setting up a current.

What happens to the deep thermohaline current if we no longer have sea ice in the polar regions ? Is there an impact on global climate ?

What Drives the Deep Ocean Conveyor Belt

NASA site includes : Images (such as Image of the Day) Environmental News Items Global Maps (animated) such as SST,

SSTA, Drought, Precipitation Fact Sheets (El Nino, Sea Ice, Carbon and

Water Cycles, etc Teacher/Educator resource section to

guide in the development of: scientific inquiry leading to understanding diversity and adaptations of various populations and ecosystems and their interdependence.

Students develop understanding of properties of and structure of the Earth system and the Earth in the solar system.

http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=86016

At the NASA site…compare Global Precipitation to SST and SSTA

http://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/view.php?d1=TRMM_3B43M&d2=AMSRE_SSTAn_M http://ggweather.com/enso/oni.htm

El Niño La Niña

Weak Mod Strong Very Strong Weak Mod Strong

1952-53 1951-52 1957-58 1982-83 1950-51 1955-56 1973-741953-54 1963-64 1965-66 1997-98 1954-55 1970-71 1975-761958-59 1968-69 1972-73 1956-57 1998-99 1988-891969-70 1986-87 1987-88 1964-65 2007-08 1999-001976-77 1991-92 1971-72 2010-111977-78 1994-95 1974-75 2004-05 2002-03 1983-84 2006-07 2009-10 1984-85 2014-15 1995-96 2000-01 2005-06 2008-09 2011-12

Good resources to study Greenhouse gases

• http://www.ciese.org/materials/k12/science/environmental-science/

• http://www.airnow.gov/

• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/

• http://www.enviroflash.info/?_ga=1.244664582.2020356964.1433967738

• What chemicals are normally in the atmosphere vs those added by human activities?

• How do these chemicals react with each other?• Are all greenhouse gases equally important?• How do Global emissions of CO2 compare with

USA emissions? • Investigate which conditions are related to

poor air quality: wind, temperature, moisture or visibility

• Are certain patterns associated with poor air quality

• Do your measurements correlate with the EPA Air Quality Index (AQI)?

Compare the Carbon and Water Cycles and the rolls they play in the life of the planet

https://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/the-carbon-cycle-gcse-11064260

http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/ocean-earth-system/ocean-water-cycle/

Chemistry, Math and Meteorology – Acid Rain

National Park Service

http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/edu/Lessons/docs/educationResources.pdf

• Measure rainfall: inches vs mm• Compare ph of rainfall samples

from various storms• To explain differing ph values,

check variables such as: wind trajectory, convective vs stratiform precipitation, season, time of day, etc• Chart or graph the ph vs rainfall

amounts or wind trajectory• Type of Industry located upstream

from you area?

Actual data can help students relate mathematical graphs to clouds and thunderstorms formation

http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html

• Note the relationship between Pressure and Height ? What happens as one goes up in the atmosphere? Graph pressure vs height.

• Note relationships between Temperature and height compared with a Standard or Average Atmosphere

• 74455 DVN Davenport Observations at 12Z 17 Jun 2015-• PRES HGHT TEMP DWPT RELH MIXR DRCT SKNT THTA THTE

THTV• hPa m C C % g/kg deg knot K K K • -----------------------------------------------------------------------------• 1000.0 143 • 990.0 229 13.4 12.6 95 9.34 100 9 287.4 313.6 289.0• 985.0 272 12.4 11.3 93 8.60 104 10 286.8 310.9 288.3• 965.0 444 11.4 9.7 89 7.88 123 12 287.5 309.7 288.8• 946.2 610 14.5 13.4 93 10.34 140 14 292.2 321.8 294.1• 941.0 657 15.4 14.5 94 11.15 153 13 293.6 325.6 295.6• 925.0 803 16.4 15.7 96 12.27 195 9 296.1 331.6 298.2• 920.0 849 17.0 16.3 96 12.83 212 10 297.1 334.5 299.4• 913.1 914 17.0 16.3 96 12.93 235 11 297.8 335.5

300.1• 898.0 1057 17.0 16.3 96 13.15 235 8 299.2 337.8 301.6• 881.1 1219 16.2 15.5 96 12.76 235 4 300.1 337.6 302.4• 850.0 1525 14.8 14.1 96 12.04 260 7 301.6 337.4 303.8

Explanation of plotted pressure report - mb

-- This was discussed in Mark’s presentation on decoding weather maps

-- The pressure (upper right number) is in a shortened form of millibars.

-- Either the initial ‘10’ or ‘9’ is omitted

-- In general if the plotted number starts with a zero, then a 10 as been omitted. In this case, the actual pressure is 1005.6 mb

-- Generally, if the plotted first number is a 9 or an 8….then you need to add a 9 as the first digit: thus 856 plotted would actually be 985.6 mb.

-- Also, in this case the wind direction is FROM the northwest. Thus a cold front may have passed this station

Station plotting model and surface weather map analysis

When analyzing…good place to start is with previous chart. Then mentally idealize the general air flow trajectory and where you think the front is.

Then draw in isobars (remembering either a 10 or a 9).

Note extension of Bermuda High across southern US with Heat and Humidity.

Narrow ribbon of 67-74 deg dewpoints ahead of Cold Front from western Ohio west to Nebraska.

Bubble High over Chicago due to rain cooled air

Analysis Solution

-- When analyzing…good to use previous chart as starting point. Locate general trajectory of air and possible fronts mentally then draw isobars.

-- Extension of Bermuda High across southern US with temps around 100 and dew points 65-70…very unstable

-- Cold front provides the trigger of primary lifting mechanism

Note narrow band of 67-74 deg dew points fust ahead of derecho providing the fuel

Satellite and Radar imagery around 1040 PM Jun 29 (0240 UTC Jun 30)

Metric System

Weather Observations and Forecasts

Canadian Weather Observation• Observation: Toronto Pearson Int'l Airport

• Date/Time : 1:00 PM EDT Saturday 27 June 2015

• Weather: Light Rain

• Visibility: 10 km

• Temperature: 14.8°C Dewpoint: 13.0°C Humidity: 89%

• Wind: ENE 20 km/h

• Pressure: 101.5 kPa falling

United States Weather Observation• Greater Buffalo International Airport (KBUF)

• Last update 27 Jun 12:54 pm EDT

• Weather: Rain Fog/Mist

• Visibility: 5.00 mi

• Temperature: 63°F/17°C Dewpoint: 60°F (16°C) Humidity: 90%

• Wind Speed: E 12 mph

• Barometer: 29.92 in (1013.2 mb)

Canadian Forecasts and Metric System

Millimeter vs inches … km/h wind• Issued: 11:00 AM EDT Saturday 27 June 2015• Date• Detailed Forecast• Today Cloudy. Rain beginning near

noon. Amount 10 to 15 mm. Wind northeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming east 40 gusting to 60 early this afternoon. High 18. UV index 3 or moderate.

• Tonight Rain. Amount 10 to 20 mm. Wind east 30 km/h gusting to 50. Low 13.

• Sun, 28 Jun Rain. Amount 5 to 10 mm. Wind northeast 20 km/h. High 16.

Metres vs feetMarine Forecast Western Lake Ontario Issued 10:30 AM EDT SAT 27 June 2015Synopsis…At 10:30 a.m. EDT today low 1004 mb located over northwestern Ohio. By 10:30 a.m. EDT Sunday low 1000 mb located over western New York State.WindsToday Tonight and Sunday Gale warning in effect. Wind east 20 knots increasing to northeast 30 this afternoon and to northeast 35 early this evening. Wind diminishing to northeast 30 near midnight and to northeast 20 Sunday morning. Wind diminishing to north 10 Sunday afternoon.WavesToday Tonight and Sunday Waves one metre building to one and one half metres this afternoon and to 2 to 3 early this evening. Waves subsiding to one and one half metres near noon Sunday and to one half metre or less Sunday evening.

Temperature is a measure of how fast an objects particles are moving.

Comparison of 0C to 0FCelsius to Fahrenheit: (°C × 9/5) + 32 = °FFahrenheit to Celsius: (°F − 32) x 5/9 = °C Use 1.8 instead of 9/5 C x 2 + 30 = ~F

°C °F Description100 212 Water boils40 104 Hot Bath

37 98.6

Body temperature

30 86 Beach weather

21 70 Room temperature

10 50 Cool Day

0 32 Freezing point of water

−18 0 Very Cold Day

−40 −40Extremely Cold

Day (and the same

number!)

Have a great summer