Homework 9

This assignment is due on Monday, December 5 at the beginning of the lecture.

 

  1. Why is it not possible to run a high resolution computer model to forecast the weather for the entire globe?

    It is not possible to run a high resolution computer model for the entire globe because the number of calculations would be so great that even the biggest computers in the world would take too long to run the forecast. 
     
  2. One of the seven "primitive equations" is called "Continuity". What does "continuity" mean in this context?

    Continuity is about how patterns of convergence and divergence lead to vertical motions in the atmosphere.
     
  3. One of the seven "primitive equations" is called "Conservation of Water Vapor". What does this mean for the model?

    It means that the model needs to keep track of sources and sinks of water vapor, such as evaporation, condensation, etc.
     
  4. Describe the weather conditions under which you might observe an "superior mirage".

    Superior mirages happen by day when the ground is cold and the air above the ground is relatively warm.
     
  5. Describe the weather of a "type C" climate in summer and winter.

    Type C climates have hot, muggy summers and mild winters.  An example would be the climate of Georgia.
     
  6. Describe the weather of a "type D" climate in summer and winter.

    Type D climates have warm or hot summers and severely cold winters.  An example would be the climate of North Dakota.
     
  7. Describe two ways latitude influences climate.

    Of course, higher latitudes have colder climates overall.  The other way in which latitude influences climate is that the difference in the temperatures between summer and winter are greater at higher latitudes than they are at lower latitudes.
     
  8. Describe how proximity to large bodies of water influences climate.

    A location near a large body of water will have a maritime climate, in which the winters and the summers are comparatively mild.  In contrast, a location far from a large body of water will have a continental climate, with severe winters and summers.

     
  9. Explain how sprinkler systems are used to prevent frost damage in orchards.

    Sprinklers can be used to prevent frost damage by continuously spraying water on the trees of an orchard.  As long as the trees are covered with liquid water, the temperature of the trees and the fruit will not dip below 32 degrees F. 
     
  10. Explain how smudge fires are used to prevent frost damage in orchards.

    Smudge fires create smoke that acts as a greenhouse gas, absorbing longwave radiation emitted by the ground and re-emitting this radiation down to the ground, which keeps the ground relatively warm at night.
     
  11. Explain why scientists think that spreading oil or a soapy foam on the surface of the ocean would weaken hurricanes.  Then, explain why the plan is not feasible.

    Hurricanes are powered by latent heat release within the thunderstorms of the hurricane; this latent heat release comes from water vapor that was evaporated off the surface of the ocean by the strong winds of the hurricane.  Scientists believe that it would be possible to weaken a hurricane by spreading oil or foam over the surface of the ocean, which would reduce the evaporation rate and decrease the amount of latent heat release available to the hurricane.  In practice, this would be impossible for a number of reasons, include the environmental impact of the oil and foam as well as the difficulty of creating a layer of oil or foam on the ocean that would not break up in the huge waves of a hurricane.