ATOC 184 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Lapse Rate, Hot Air Balloon, Latent Heat
17 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
This figure has two different x y planes. There is one at the surface and there is one at the upper level in the atmosphere. This image is trying to show the relationship between things that are happening at the top of atmosphere and things that are happening at the surface. If you have areas of low pressure at the top of the atmosphere, you will have regions of divergence aloft and convergence aloft which produces low pressure systems and high pressure systems at the surface. The divergence at the top of the atmosphere is responsible for the low pressure system at the surface. The divergence is removing molecules from our column causing the pressure to drop at the surface faster than its leaving the box which causes high pressure at the surface. Divergence aloft: air leaving the box faster than entering the box. The air rising over a low pressure system cools leading to condensation and precipitation.
