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| The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation |
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| The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation Applied to Meteorology |
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| The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation Applied to Chemistry |
Showing posts with label meteorology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meteorology. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Clausius-Clapeyron Equation
The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation shows the relationship between temperature and saturation vapor pressure, which determines when water substance changes phase. It allows the calculation of the vapor pressure at another temperature. The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation works because the vaporization curves of most liquids have similar shapes. The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation is dP/dT=L/T(delta times v), where dP/dT is the slope of tangent to the coexistence curve at any point, L is the latent heat, T is the temperature, and delta times v is is the volume change of the phase transition (see below). The equation has different forms depending on what it is applied to (see below). The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation is named after Rudolf Clausius (1822-1888) and Benoit Paul Emile Clapeyron (1799-1864).
Parameterize
Parameterize (v.): to express in terms of parameters; to rewrite as a template into which parameters can be inserted.
To parameterize, according to Robert G. Fovell, is "to make things up." Parameterize comes from the Greek words para,"around," and metron, "to measure." Thus, to parameterize is to measure around. In meteorology, parameterization occurs when something is too small to fit into a forecasting model, so data has to be made up for it. Parameterization is measuring around that small something.
To parameterize, according to Robert G. Fovell, is "to make things up." Parameterize comes from the Greek words para,"around," and metron, "to measure." Thus, to parameterize is to measure around. In meteorology, parameterization occurs when something is too small to fit into a forecasting model, so data has to be made up for it. Parameterization is measuring around that small something.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monsoon
Monsoon (n.): a periodic wind especially in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia; the season of the southwest monsoon in India and adjacent areas that is characterized by very heavy rainfall; rainfall that is associated with the monsoon.
Monsoons are generally thought of as Asia's version of the hurricane. Technically, however, they are a seasonal reversal of the wind, especially in Asia. In fact, "monsoon" is Arabic for "season." Before I cover why this seasonal reversal occurs, I need to tell you a few things about the wind.
The main driving force of the wind is the pressure gradient force, or PGF. This is the pressure area over a distance. Wind wants to blow towards low pressure, but is sometimes prevented by doing that by the Coriolis force and other forces. In this case, the Coriolis force does not hinder the wind that much.
During the winter, the air over Asia is cooler. That means not very much rising, which in turn means high pressure. Thus, the wind blows away from the continent, toward the Indian Ocean and low pressure. However, in summer the air rises more. This lowers the pressure over Asia, making the wind switch from blowing towards the ocean to blowing towards the land. That seasonal switching is the monsoon.
The other definition of a monsoon, very heavy rainfall, is caused by this seasonal switching. The ocean as well as the land is a lot warmer in the summer. This means that more water will evaporate, making the air more humid. This humid air is carried inland and rises, which creates clouds. These clouds form what we generally think of as the monsoon.
Monsoons are generally thought of as Asia's version of the hurricane. Technically, however, they are a seasonal reversal of the wind, especially in Asia. In fact, "monsoon" is Arabic for "season." Before I cover why this seasonal reversal occurs, I need to tell you a few things about the wind.
The main driving force of the wind is the pressure gradient force, or PGF. This is the pressure area over a distance. Wind wants to blow towards low pressure, but is sometimes prevented by doing that by the Coriolis force and other forces. In this case, the Coriolis force does not hinder the wind that much.
During the winter, the air over Asia is cooler. That means not very much rising, which in turn means high pressure. Thus, the wind blows away from the continent, toward the Indian Ocean and low pressure. However, in summer the air rises more. This lowers the pressure over Asia, making the wind switch from blowing towards the ocean to blowing towards the land. That seasonal switching is the monsoon.
The other definition of a monsoon, very heavy rainfall, is caused by this seasonal switching. The ocean as well as the land is a lot warmer in the summer. This means that more water will evaporate, making the air more humid. This humid air is carried inland and rises, which creates clouds. These clouds form what we generally think of as the monsoon.
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