Week 4.1 microclimates and microclimatology

MICROCLIMATES AND MICROCLIMATOLOGY

Week 4.1 16 August

Week 4.1

Introduction

Update on course assessment

Summary of “present climate” section of course

Microclimates and microclimatology

Introduction

Emma Carson

BSc Chemistry, marine science, geology. Otago University, NZ

Master of Development Practice. JCU

Some work in environmental labs, forestry, natural resource management.

Introduction

My favourite things:

Hiking

Snorkelling

Underwater Hockey

Reading

Chocolate

(good) Beer and wine

EA2404 5404 Assessment Tasks

Task 1: Presentations (20%)

Start this week in tutorials

Please come and support your fellow students

Ask useful questions

Learn from your peers

Task 2: Tutorial participation (10%)

See above!


Task 3: Essay (30 % for EA2404 students, 20 % for EA5404 students)

Due Saturday 17th September (4 weeks)

Essay questions are up on LearnJCU

Eight Questions. Choose ONE question to answer

2000 words

Referencing (your choice, just get it right)


Assessment Task 5: Grant Proposal (10 %)

FOR EA5404 STUDENTS ONLY

Due 10th October

Have a look on LearnJCU under “EA5404”

Assessment will be to fill out the grant proposal worksheet uploaded to LearnJCU

We will talk in person more to the EA5404 students to make sure that you are prepared for this assessment.

So where are we in the course?

Summary So Far: Week 1

Study points:

Climate: An average. Studied by climatologists.

Weather: At a particular time. Studied by meteorologists.

Climate system components: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Crysosphere, Biosphere/lithosphere, Human Interaction.

Climate forcing: Climatic responses to cyclic changes can be delayed. This concept includes feedback systems, where changes and responses can feed off of each other and produce a cycle, or greater change, than expected.


Study points:

The weather map: Interactions between density, pressure and temperature.

Key Terms:

Pressure systems

front

cold front

warm front

stationary front

occluded front

isobars

trough


The Atmosphere

Study Points:

The Atmosphere:

- A gaseous envelope around the earth.

- Formed with the earth around 3.6 Ba, has changed since!

- Is held to Earth by gravity.

- Five layers.

Earth’s Energy: How do these energies effect the atmosphere and atmospheric movement?

- Solar

- Geothermal

- Geochemical


The Atmosphere

Study points:

Atmospheric circulation

The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone

- Hadley Cells

- Monsoon

- Coriolis Effect

Atmospheric movements: Breezes, Rossby Waves, Pressure Systems and atmospheric stability, Humidity, precipitation, wind.

El Nino/La Nina Southern Oscillation


The Oceans

Study Points:

Structure and Properties:

- Heat storage and movement

- Thermocline, Halocline, Pycnocline

- Wave motion

- Ekman Transport

- The five Gyers of Ocean circulation

- Global currents

Thermohauline Circulation

Sub- Antarctic polar current

Mesoscale circulations

- Surface Induced circulations

- orographic/due to mountains

- Thermal induced circulations

- Complex terrain

- Free atmosphere


Geology and Climate change

Why look at Geology when you’re talking about climate?

- The formation of the Earth is very important for the structure and chemistry of the atmosphere and the oceans.

- The inner structure of the Earth has implications for thermal energy that affects the climate

- The movement of Lithospheric plates affects climate processes and cycles

The Lithosphere is particularly important

- The structure and shape of the Lithosphere strongly affects climate (glaciers, mountains, valleys, oceans)

- The mineral/chemical makeup of the lithosphere is important for climate processes (these minerals and chemicals are available to be moved around…i.e volcanic aerosols, CO2)

Where are we now?

We are up to week 4!

We have covered a lot so far, don’t panic.

Most of what we have covered up until now is to help us explain the next few weeks, about Earth’s past climate and predictions of future climate.

This means that we will revisit several of the ideas presented so far.

If there are concepts that are difficult to understand, there are many online videos and tutorials about this subject matter, so you can find media to suit your own learning style.

Please bring questions to tutorials, Kristen and I will do our best to help you understand and find answers!

Week 4: Microclimates and Microclimatology

1. What is a microclimate?- Microclimate inputs

- Defining a microclimate

2. Human Interactions with Microclimates

3. Microclimatology: the study of microclimates- case studies

What is a Microclimate?

Microclimate: Any climatic condition in a relatively small area, within a few metres or less above and below the Earth’s surface and within canopies of vegetation.

Key Words: Surface, atmospheric layer, surface effects, spatially defined


The term usually deals with the atmospheric layer from just below the earth’s surface, to the height where the effects of surface features cannot be distinguished from the local climate.

Microclimates are spatially defined and can span a spatial scale.

Scale can range from Millimetres to Kilometres

Image source: http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F1-4020-

3266-8_137

http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/1-4020-3266-8_137


This image shows heaps of possible microclimates

that we could define and study, some examples

are circled in red.

Examples:

• The forest canopy

• The ground leaf litter layer

• The surface of the pond

Microclimate Inputs

Microclimates arise in response to the external forces of energy, precipitation and wind, and the magnitude of these forces establishes the boundaries and character of the microclimates found.

Forces/inputs that affect microclimates include: solar energy, radiation heat, winds, synoptic systems (mesoclimates) and precipitation (rain or snow).

Some of these inputs are cyclical. E.g. Solar energy is diurnal and seasonal.

Some inputs are quasiperiodic (random) in character. E.g. seasonal movement of storm systems.

Defining/Locating a Microclimate

Microclimates are located within a geography by latitude, altitude, continentality and location in relation to mesoscale flows and cycles (global wind circulations and ocean circulations).

Defining/Locating a Microclimate

Latitude

Tropics (equatorial)

Sub-Tropics

Temperate Zones

Cold Temperate Zones

Antarctic Zone

Arctic Zone

http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v2/n4/fig_tab/nclimate1430_F2.html


On a smaller spatial scale, microclimates are integrated by radiative, aerodynamic, thermal and moisture attributes.


Radiative —Surface albedo, surface emissivity, surface temperature, geometric positioning of the surface and the

surrounding environment that will influence radiant energy receipt and loss

Aerodynamic —Surface roughness length, zero plane displacement, presence of elements upwind that obstruct or channel

wind flow

Thermal —Thermal conductivity, heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, thermal admittance

Moisture —The surface character (vegetation, soil, etc.) that impacts plant transpiration and/or surface evaporation; the

moisture status of the substrate and its availability for evaporation and/or transpiration


Image source: http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F1-4020-3266-8_137



• Water currents

(aerodynamics)

• Thermo-conductivity

• Thermal difusion

• Wind flow obstruction

• Radiation retention

• Solar radiation

• Moisture

• Plant transpiration

• Moisture

• Heat radiation (from

decomposition)

Human interactions with Microclimate

Throughout history, humans have been affected by the microclimates within which we build our houses, sleep, bathe, travel and find and grow our food.

Humans have also manipulated our surroundings, and altered microclimates across many spatial scales.

Microclimatology: The study of Microclimates

Whereas microclimatology is a subdivision of climatology based primarily on spatial scale attributes, microclimates themselves are often subdivided to consider specific surfaces or habitats.

Examples:

• Microclimatology of plant and animal habitats

• agricultural microclimatology

• forest microclimatology

• urban microclimatology

• landscape design

• air quality

• the microclimatology of natural heritage??

• Crypto-microclimatology (the microclimatology

of small spaces)

Urban Microclimatology

Source: http://www.nikken-ri.com/en/projects/08.html

http://www.nikken-ri.com/en/projects/08.html

Microclimatology: The study of Microclimates

Shinji Yamamura, Ph.D: Study showing the heat island effect in an area of Tokyo, and proposes

changes in land use aimed at creating heat corridors to minimise the effect.

Microclimatology of plant and animal habitats

Source: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11258-015-0545-x

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11258-015-0545-x


Aim was to determine the degree to which vegetation structure and microclimate influence fire spread.


Just, Homann and Hoffman found that microclimates between their two study areas (Savannah and Wetland) were different. The differences included different levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and significant microclimate differences relative to time of day.

The PAR difference caused the fuel vegetation in the savannah area was much drier (and more flammable) than the vegetation in the wetland area.


Animals have certain external temperature ranges at which they can live. The microclimates

where species live reflect these biological restrictions.

Crypto-microclimatology (the microclimatology of small spaces)

Caves have their own microclimates. Deeper parts of

the cave can be freezing and icy, openings of a cave

can be breezy and warm.

Urban Mircroclimatology/Crypto-microclimatology?

Graphs show the variation of CO2 levels within a boardroom in order to study the tiredness of

meeting attendees.

The microclimatology of natural heritage

Excavation of the Sphinx of Giza has created a wind vortex along each flank of the monument.

This human created microclimate is detrimental to the excavators, as sand is now blown into the

excavation pits.

Summary

We are in Week 4: The last week discussing “current climate”….or the basics of climate.

Essays due 17th September, a month away.

Summary

Microclimate: a spatially defined area with its own climateEffected by several inputs: radiation and heat, humidity and precipitation, airflow.

Microclimatology: The study of microclimates.

Why are microclimates important in the study of climate change?They are often habitats for animals

Microclimates affect, and are affected by, where people live and build

References

http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F1-4020-3266-8_137

http://www.britannica.com/science/microclimate

http://www.buncombemastergardener.org/microclimates-creating/

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11258-015-0545-x

http://www.slideshare.net/hennaqam/factors-that-affect-climate


http://www.britannica.com/science/microclimate

http://www.buncombemastergardener.org/microclimates-creating/

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11258-015-0545-x

http://www.slideshare.net/hennaqam/factors-that-affect-climate

Week 4.1 microclimates and microclimatology

Science

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