Climate and Climate Change: Assignment 5

Assignment 5: (100 points)

PART 1: Pressure fields and Coriolis

1. Draw vectors for geostrophic flow (15 points)

The following diagram shows height contours at 250 mb. Using these contours, do the following:

1. Using an “H” or “L”, indicate where centers of high- and low-pressure are located.
2. Assuming geostrophic balance, draw three (3) arrows on each of the provided dots to represent a) the pressure gradient force, b) the Coriolis force, and c) the actual wind direction.

• Draw vectors for surface flow (15 points)

The following diagram shows isobars of sea level pressure. Using these contours, do the following:

1. Using an “H” or “L”, indicate where centers of high- and low-pressure are located.
2. Throughout the map, draw arrows the represent how wind at the surface flows around regions of high- and low-pressure. Make sure to account for the role that friction plays on winds near the surface.

• The Coriolis Force (40 points)

Using the excel file you downloaded from canvas, do the following:

1. In the two outlined cells in the first row, program the constant values for Earth’s rotation                            (Ω = 7.27 * 10^-5 s^-1) and a v-wind velocity of 100 m/s.

• Using the provided column of latitude, calculate the sine of the latitude in column B. To do this, program the equation SIN(PI()/180*latitude)

• Using your results in column B for the sine(latitude) and the two constants listed above, calculate the Coriolis Force for all latitudes using the equation 2*Ω*sin(latitude)*velocity. Create a plot of the Coriolis force (y-axis) for all latitudes (x-axis).

• Write your answer down for the Coriolis acceleration at the few specific latitudes below.
  
  
• Which latitudes (tropics, subtropics, mid latitudes, polar regions) have the largest Coriolis force?

PART 2: Storm Hunters (30 points)

Using the Earth Null School as a tool, identify a cyclone (low center area) following the steps:

1. Access https://earth.nullschool.net/ and be familiarized with all the possibilities using this tool.
2. Find a cyclone (doesn’t matter what hemisphere, what continent (you can escape from obvious).
3. Once identified it, print your screen, and create a composite with the cyclone in different levels (from surface till 10 hPa). It probably will disappear in the levels. Don’t worry.
4. From each level, identify the wind speed on the center and the strongest value around the center.
5. From the cyclone that you found: It was far from coast? Nearby? What country it was approaching? What kind of impact it can bring to the coastal areas? Explain it.

Assignment 5: What to turn in

Within this original document, please turn in: