METEO 3 Lesson 4 Images

Lesson 4: The Role of Water in Weather

Introduction

series of images from the Spirit Rover (0:10)

Series of images from the Spirit Rover
Text description of the  Series of images from the Spirit Rover (0:10)

This black and white video shows a dust devil moving across the surface of Mars. Moving from left to right across the screen, there is a plume of air and dust rising from the surface, indicating a dust devil moving across the terrain. The landscape is flat and barren with no discernible features other than the subtle elevation decrease from left to right and the horizon in the background. 

Credit: NASA

 

The Hydrologic Cycle

 

 

A Closer Look at Phase Changes

during that hour, 0.13 inches of rain fell in Louisville

Bar graph showing hourly precipitation for Louisville Bowman Field, KY. Most precipitation is minimal except a peak at 16:00.
during that hour, 0.13 inches of rain fell in Louisville
Text description of the during that hour, 0.13 inches of rain fell in Louisville image.

The image is a bar graph displaying hourly precipitation data in inches for Louisville Bowman Field, KY, as reported by the Midwestern Regional Climate Center. The graph covers a time span from June 10th, starting at midnight, and continues in two-hour increments until 18:00 (6 PM EST). The y-axis on the left, labeled "Precipitation (in)," ranges from 0 to 0.15 inches. The x-axis features time, marked in military format, with labels every 2 hours on June 10th until 18:00.

The graph consists of green bars indicating precipitation with most bars representing minimal amounts except for a taller bar at 16:00. This bar, highlighted by a red rectangle, shows a peak in precipitation of 0.13 inches during this hour. The right y-axis, labeled "Relative Humidity (%)," is not displayed with data but is included in the graph design.

At the bottom of the bar graph, a legend distinguishes the green color as representing precipitation.

Credit: Midwest Regional Climate Center

 

Evaporation Rates, Condensation Rates, and Relative Humidity

both stages of our experiment above in which the condensation rate equals the evaporation rate

Diagrams showing changes in condensation and evaporation rates with temperature increase.
Evaporation Rates, Condensation Rates, and Relative Humidity
Text description of the Evaporation Rates, Condensation Rates, and Relative Humidity image.

The image is a comparison between two diagrams showing changes in condensation and evaporation rates concerning temperature. Both diagrams feature a container with a liquid at the bottom, colored in blue, and gaseous particles above it. The left diagram has a small blue downward arrow labeled "Condensation Rate" to the left of the container and a small yellow upward arrow labeled "Evaporation Rate" to the right of the container. The right diagram is similar but has a heater underneath labeled "Temperature Increased". This increase in temperature is indicated by wavy lines and a gray-colored heater below the container. The right container has a large blue downward arrow labeled "Condensation Rate" to the left of the container and a large yellow upward arrow labeled "Evaporation Rate" to the right of the container. The size difference between the arrows in the left and right container shows a faster rate of condensation and evaporation for the right container, due to the increased temperature. 

Credit: David Babb @ Penn State is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 (opens in a new window)

 

Net Condensation: Myth and Reality

don't believe everything you read on the Internet

A black and white portrait of a Aen Lincoln with a caption above and below.
don't believe everything you read on the Internet
Text description of the don't believe everything you read on the Internet image.

The image is a black and white portrait photograph of Abraham Lincoln with a beard and a stern expression, dressed in a suit with a bow tie. The image has a caption in bold white letters at the top and bottom. The top text says "Abraham Lincoln once said" and the bottom text reads "Don't believe everything you see on the internet".

Credit: imgur

 

A Recipe for Making Clouds

liquid water in a container

Two diagrams showing evaporation and condensation rates in containers, one heated.
liquid water in a container
Text description of the liquid water in a container image.

The image is a comparison between two diagrams showing changes in condensation and evaporation rates concerning temperature. Both diagrams feature a container with a liquid at the bottom, colored in blue, and gaseous particles above it. The left diagram has a small blue downward arrow labeled "Condensation Rate" to the left of the container and a small yellow upward arrow labeled "Evaporation Rate" to the right of the container. The right diagram is similar but has a heater underneath labeled "Temperature Increased". This increase in temperature is indicated by wavy lines and a gray-colored heater below the container. The right container has a large blue downward arrow labeled "Condensation Rate" to the left of the container and a large yellow upward arrow labeled "Evaporation Rate" to the right of the container. The size difference between the arrows in the left and right container shows a faster rate of condensation and evaporation for the right container, due to the increased temperature. 

Credit: David Babb @ Penn State is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 (opens in a new window)

on the side of a cup

Shiny metal tumbler on a coaster.
on the side of a cup
Text description of the on the side of a cup image.

The image shows a small metal cup sitting on a coaster with a dark border and a white center with a decorative design in the middle. The coaster and cup are sitting on a brown wooden table. The cup is cylindrical, with a grey reflective exterior that mirrors its surroundings. The sides of the exterior have condensation on the lower half of the cup. The background includes a light grey wall and a piece of a plaid-patterned fabric in muted blue and white colors on the left side of the image.

Credit: David Babb @ Penn State is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 (opens in a new window)

 

Clouds Made from Special Recipes

view from the ground on Penn State's campus

Dense fog creating low visibility with a gradient of gray shades.
view from the ground on Penn State's campus
Text description of the view from the ground on Penn State's campus image.

The image shows a view of Penn State's campus during a period of very dense fog and very low visibility. The fog is thick, obscuring any potential details in the landscape. There are no discernible objects or landmarks visible, creating a smooth and uniform texture across the image. The image is covered in varying shades of gray, with a slight gradient from lighter at the top to darker at the bottom. 

Credit: WeatherSTEM

 

What to Do With Dew Points

Persian Gulf in the Middle East

Map showing the Middle East with a red pin on the Persian Gulf.
Persian Gulf in the Middle East
Text description of the Persian Gulf in the Middle East image.

This image, taken from Google Maps, is zoomed in on the Middle East, with a red location marker in the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf borders Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The map is color-coded with land areas in varying shades of beige and green, while bodies of water such as the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea are depicted in blue. Thin black lines indicate country borders, and various cities are marked with black dots and labeled in black text. In addition, major roadways between large cities are outlined in orange.

Credit: Google Maps

note the general wind flow

Surface analysis weather map of the United States showing pressure systems, fronts, and temperature readings dated August 21, 2017.
note the general wind flow
Text description of the note the general wind flow image.

The image is a detailed surface analysis weather map of the United States dated August 21, 2017. It includes various meteorological elements such as high and low pressure systems, isobars, fronts, and temperature readings. High pressure systems are marked with a blue "H" and and low-pressure systems are marked with a red "L". Isobars, shown as curved maroon colored lines, display atmospheric pressure in millibars. Cold fronts are depicted with blue lines and triangles pointing to the direction of the movement of cold air, while warm fronts are indicated with red lines and semicircles. Several red curved arrows are drawn on the map to demonstrate movement of air across the map. These arrows are drawn to show air coming off the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic into the southeast U.S.. Station plots are scattered throughout the country showing temperature in red, dew point in green, wind speed and direction in blue, and pressure in orange. 

Credit: Weather Prediction Center

 

How to Relate to Relative Humidity

marks the cloud base

A person walks on a snowy mountain slope with clouds and hills in the background. A yellow line labeled &ldquoLCL” marks a point above the clouds.
marks the cloud base
Text description of the marks the cloud base image.

The image depicts a snow-covered mountain slope with a single person walking in the distance. The surface is predominantly white with patches of ice and uneven snow texture, creating a rugged terrain. In the background, a range of rolling green, snowless, hills extends under a vast sky filled with low-hanging clouds. A dotted yellow line is drawn across the sky at the base of the cloud layer and is annotated with the text "LCL" in yellow, indicating the lifting condensation level of the clouds.

Credit: David Babb @ Penn State is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 (opens in a new window)