Unit 7 Assignment - Heat Transferin the Atmosphere

Unit7Assignment 

Environmental Science Assignment Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere (Environmental Science)

INTRODUCTION TO HEAT TRANSPORT IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM

The graph shows the estimated annual amount of heat that is transported from the equator toward the poles at different latitudes on Earth. The graph shows three curves- the amount of heat transported by the ocean, the amount of heat transported by the atmosphere, and the total amount of heat transported by the ocean and atmosphere combined. Using this data and what you know about atmosphere and ocean circulation, try to answer the questions below.

The amount of heat energy transported is given in Petawatts (PW). One Petawatt = 1,000,000,000,000,000 watts, so this is a LOT of energy! To put this in context, the monthly electric use of an “average” home in PA was 831 kilowatt hours in 2006.

1) Notice how the total amount of heat transport changes as you move from the equator to the poles.

a) At what latitude in the northern hemisphere is the maximum amount of heat (total) being transported by the climate system, and which direction is it moving?

b) At what latitude in the southern hemisphere is the maximum amount of heat (total) being transported by the climate system, and which direction is it moving?

2) Look at what happens between 20º N and 40º N.

a) How does the amount of heat that is transported by the ocean change and by how much (in Petawatts)?

b) How does the amount of heat that is transported by the atmosphere change and by how much?

c) How does the total amount of heat that is transported change and by how much?

3) Remember, when the value increases, it means that heat is being absorbed by that part of the system, and when the value decreases, heat is being lost by that part of the system. Based on your answers to question three, answer these questions:

a) Overall, is heat moving into the ocean or out of the ocean between 20º N and 40º N? Where do you think this heat is coming from or going to?

b) Overall, is heat moving into the atmosphere or out of the atmosphere between 20º N and 40º N? Where do you think this heat is coming from or going to?

Question 3, cont.

c) Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released by a substance during a change in its physical state (phase) that occurs without changing its temperature. Based on this and what you know about evaporation, attempt to explain what is going on between 20º N and 40º N.

4) Note how the total amount of heat transport in the ocean and atmosphere decreases north of 40º latitude in the northern hemisphere. What happened to this heat (i.e. where did this heat go?)

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