Hurricanes are massive engines which convert heat to kinetic energy.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 41: Hurricanes 2: Maturity to Dissipation
A large fully-formed hurricane can span nearly a thousand miles across, though not many reach this size.
A large fully-formed hurricane can span nearly a thousand miles across, though not many reach this size.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 40 – Hurricanes 1: Formation and Development
A hurricane, known elsewhere around the world as a cyclone or typhoon, is a very large (>300 miles in diameter) rotating storm system with a low-pressure center and circling bands of high wind and rain.
A hurricane, known elsewhere around the world as a cyclone or typhoon, is a very large (>300 miles in diameter) rotating storm system with a low-pressure center and circling bands of high wind and rain.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 39 – The Coriolis Effect
The more poleward you travel from the equator, the stronger the Coriolis effect becomes.
The more poleward you travel from the equator, the stronger the Coriolis effect becomes.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 38 – Global Wind Circulation Cells
The basic convective air cycle is for incoming solar radiation to warm the planet (earth and sea), creating a low-pressure, high-temperature zone of rising air.
The basic convective air cycle is for incoming solar radiation to warm the planet (earth and sea), creating a low-pressure, high-temperature zone of rising air.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 37 – Global Wind Circulation 2: Sea Breezes and Monsoons
The daily cycle is the sea breeze/Land breeze.
The daily cycle is the sea breeze/Land breeze.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 36 – Global Wind Circulation 1: Basic Dynamics
He wind circulation of the planet, and therefore the weather, acts to distribute heat from the tropics to the poles.
He wind circulation of the planet, and therefore the weather, acts to distribute heat from the tropics to the poles.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 35 – Air and Water Masses
Air masses, or air parcels, and water masses are large volumes or air or water which move as a coherent body, changing shape but still maintaining observable boundaries.
Air masses, or air parcels, and water masses are large volumes or air or water which move as a coherent body, changing shape but still maintaining observable boundaries.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 34 – Thunderstorms
A thunderstorm is an intense disturbance in the atmosphere, where a strong upward current of warm, moist air produces a stack of clouds called "cumulonimbus" which can reach into the stratosphere, to a height of 20 km (12 mi, 63,300 ft).
A thunderstorm is an intense disturbance in the atmosphere, where a strong upward current of warm, moist air produces a stack of clouds called “cumulonimbus” which can reach into the stratosphere, to a height of 20 km (12 mi, 63,300 ft).
365 Days of Climate Awareness 33 – The Ideal Gas Law
The ideal gas law is an equation of state variables--fundamental measurable aspects--of a hypothetical, “ideal” gas.
The ideal gas law is an equation of state variables–fundamental measurable aspects–of a hypothetical, “ideal” gas.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 32 – The Structure of the Atmosphere
We divide the atmosphere into five layers.
We divide the atmosphere into five layers.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 31 – Water Vapor and Clouds
Water which has evaporated and exists in the air as a gaseous component is water vapor.
Water which has evaporated and exists in the air as a gaseous component is water vapor.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 30 – Basics of Water
Water is a molecule made of three atoms: two hydrogens and one oxygen, arranged in a roughly mickey mouse ears-type pattern, the larger oxygen (O) Atom being the head, and the two smaller hydrogen (H) Atoms being the ears.
Water is a molecule made of three atoms: two hydrogens and one oxygen, arranged in a roughly mickey mouse ears-type pattern, the larger oxygen (O) Atom being the head, and the two smaller hydrogen (H) Atoms being the ears.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 29 – Phases of Matter
There are four phases of matter, and we’re concerned with the first three: Solids, liquids, gases; And plasma.
There are four phases of matter, and we’re concerned with the first three: Solids, liquids, gases; And plasma.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 28 – Extinction Events 2: Major Examples
In 1982 two paleontologists--scientists of ancient life--created a list of five major extinction events of global extent, to which I’ve added a sixth, #1 on the list.
In 1982 two paleontologists–scientists of ancient life–created a list of five major extinction events of global extent, to which I’ve added a sixth, #1 on the list.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 27 – Extinction Events 1: General Background
An extinction event is a rapid (In geological terms), widespread loss of species, or biodiversity around the planet.
An extinction event is a rapid (In geological terms), widespread loss of species, or biodiversity around the planet.