Assignment 5: (100 points)
PART 1: Pressure fields and Coriolis
- Draw vectors for geostrophic flow (15 points)
The following diagram shows height contours at 250 mb. Using these contours, do the following:
- Using an “H” or “L”, indicate where centers of high- and low-pressure are located.
- 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:
- Using an “H” or “L”, indicate where centers of high- and low-pressure are located.
- 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:
- 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:
- Access https://earth.nullschool.net/ and be familiarized with all the possibilities using this tool.
- Find a cyclone (doesn’t matter what hemisphere, what continent (you can escape from obvious).
- 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.
- From each level, identify the wind speed on the center and the strongest value around the center.
- 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.
Within this original document, please turn in:
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