The atmosphere and weather assignment PSC 2000

4 ) If the clouds overhead are moving from north to south, would the upper-level center of low pressure be to the east of west of you?

5) The pressure gradient force causes air to move from higher pressures toward lower pressures (perpendicular to the isobars), yet actual winds rarely blow in this fashion. Explain why they don’t.

Stability Analysis (40 total points; 10 points each):

The following diagrams show an atmospheric profile of temperature observed by a weather balloon. Using the given surface temperature (T) and dewpoint temperature (Td) for each scenario, do the following:

1) Draw a line that represents the temperature of the surface air parcel lifted adiabatically to a height of 10,000 meters. (5 points)

2) Comparing the air parcel’s adiabatic temperature profile from (1) and the given environment’s temperature profile, determine if the atmosphere is either stable, unstable, conditionally unstable, or neutral. (3 points)

3) Using the given surface dewpoint temperature (Td), determine the height at which the surface parcel will become saturated when lifted adiabatically and describe what type of weather this scenario might produce (i.e. clear skies, thunderstorms, shallow clouds). (2 points)

Forces Diagram on weather map (30 total points):

a) The following diagram shows atmospheric height contours at 500-mb where friction isn’t a factor and winds are assumed to be in geostrophic balance. Using these contours, do the following:

1. Mark the center of high pressure with an “H”, and mark the center of low pressure with an “L”. (5 points)

2. At each of the dots, draw three arrows to mark (1) the direction of the pressure gradient force, (2) the Coriolis force, and (3) the actual wind direction. (10 points)

b) The following diagram shows isobars of mean sea level pressure at the surface where friction breaks up geostrophic balance. Using these contours, do the following:

1. Mark the center of high pressure with an “H”, and mark the center of low pressure with an “L”. (5 points)

2. Draw arrows throughout the diagram to indicate how winds flow around the high- and low-pressure centers. (10 points)

Temperature Profile and Types of Precipitation (10 points):

In each of the following four diagrams, draw a line that represents the temperature lapse rate that would be responsible for each of the four scenario.