OCN 201 Sixth Reading Discussion Questions

Air-Sea Interaction

Trujillo and Thurman - Chapter 6

6.1 What Causes Earth's Seasons?

1. Give the sun's declination (angle between the ecliptic and the equator). (Also see fig. 6.1)

2. Explain why Earth has seasons. (Also see fig. 6.1)

6.2 How Does Uneven Solar Heating Affect Earth?

3. Give the energy source that drives currents in the atmosphere (wind) and ocean.

Distribution of Solar Energy

4. Explain why solar radiation is distributed unequally on Earth. (Also see fig.6.2)

5. Explain why the equator is warm relative to the cold polar regions. (Also see fig. 6.2)

Oceanic Heat Flow

6. Use fig. 6.3 to contrast the equatorial and polar heat budgets (energy input vs. output).

7. Explain why the equator's temperature is not increasing, despite its heat budget (inputs > outputs), and the pole's temperature is not decreasing despite their heat budgets (outputs > inputs).

Composition of the Atmosphere (p. 185)

8. Use fig. 6.4 to give the atmosphere's composition.

Temperature Variation in the Atmosphere

9. Explain why the atmosphere is heated from the bottom.

Density Variation in the Atmosphere

10. Explain why Earth has wind: atmospheric convection. (Also see figs. 6.6, 6.7. 6.8, and 6.11)

Atmospheric Water Vapor Content

11. Explain why warm, humid air is less dense than cold, dry air.

Atmospheric Pressure

12. Explain why cold, dry air sinks in a high pressure region, whereas warm, humid air rises in a low pressure region. (Also see fig. 6.7)

An Example: A Nonspinning Earth (p. 167)

13. Explain why air rises at the equator and sinks at the poles. (Also see fig. 6.8)

6.4 How Does the Coriolis effect Influence Moving Objects?

14. Define Coriolis effect. (Also see figs. 6.9 6.10, 6.11, and p. 520)

15. Give the Coriolis effect's directions in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. (Also see figs. 6.10 and 6.11)

Circulation Cells (p. 170)

16. Use fig. 6.11 to draw the Hadley cell. (i.e. What is it's latitudinal extent? Where does air ascend? Which direction does it go in the upper atmosphere? Where does air descend? Which direction does it go across Earth's surface?)

17. Use fig. 6.11 to draw the Ferrel cell.

18. Use fig. 6.11 to draw the Polar cell.

Pressure

19. Use fig. 6.11 to give the atmospheric pressure at 0^o, 30^o, 60^o, and 90^o. (Also see fig. 6.12)

20. Explain why low pressure regions are relatively wet, whereas high pressure regions are relatively dry. (Also see fig. 6.11 and table 6.2)

Wind Belts

21. Give the names and the latitudinal extent of the three wind belts in each hemisphere. (Also see fig. 6.11 and table 6.2)

Boundaries

22. Define doldrums. (Also see fig. 6.11, table 6.2, and p. 521)

23. Define ITCZ. (Also see fig. 6.11, table 6.2, and p. 524)

24. Define horse latitudes. (Also see fig. 6.11, table 6.2, and p. 525)

25. Define polar front. (Also see fig. 6.11, table 6.2, and p. 529)