Climate & Introduction to
Earth System Science
Peter Lynch
Meteorology & Climate Centre
School of Mathematical Sciences
University College Dublin
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate
Chapter 03
Temperature
The average kinetic energy of the air molecules
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate
Diurnal Temperature Cycle
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate
Meteorology & Climate
MAPH 10050
Peter Lynch
Meteorology & Climate Centre
School of Mathematical Sciences
University College Dublin
Introduction to Meteorology &
Climate
Napoleon’s march on Moscow, and his retreat
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate
Air Temperature Data
 Daily mean temperature is determined by two
methods,
 (a) average of 24 hourly measurements
 (b) the average of the maximum and minimum
temperatures for the day.
 Daily temperature range is the difference
between the max and min temperatures.
 Monthly mean temperature is obtained from
the average of the daily mean for the month
 Annual mean temperature is the average of
the monthly means
 Annual temperature range is the difference
between the coldest monthly mean and the
warmest monthly mean
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate
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Controls on Temperature Latitudinal Effect

 Latitude
 Surface type
 Elevation and aspect
 Differential heating of land and water.
 Ocean currents.
 Cloud cover and albedo

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

Incoming Solar Energy (TOA) Surface Characteristics

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

Effect of Altitude Effect of Aspect

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Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

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 Effect of Aspect Differential Heating of
Land and Water
 As water is heated, convection distributes the heat
through a large mass.

 In contrast, heat does not penetrate deeply into

soil or rock - heat can only be transferred by
conduction.

 Net result: a relatively thick layer of water is

heated to moderate temperatures, while only a
thin layer of land is heated to much higher
temperatures.

 Specific heat is almost three times greater

for water than for land
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Land versus Water Effect of Ocean Currents

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Effect of clouds on the daytime energy budget at the surface

Effect of Cloud Cover

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 DAILY TEMPERATURE CYCLE
 Before sunrise, the temperature is controlled by
net long-wave radiation from the surface ----
the ground cools.

 As sun comes up, solar radiation is absorbed

and the temperature of the ground increases.

 In general the incoming solar energy is more

than the net outgoing thermal energy, so the
grounds heats up.

 Ground continues to heat up until the amount of

incoming solar energy equals the amount of
outgoing thermal energy.

 This occurs typically at about three in the

afternoon.
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate Fig. 3-16, p. 67
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

CONTROLS OF TEMPERATURE RANGE

 Latitude - determines the intensity of the sun, and
the length of the day.

 Surface type - land and water contrast, bare soil

versus vegetation.

 Elevation and aspect .

Long-term Temperature Variations
 Relationship to large bodies of water.

 Ocean currents.

 Cloud cover - reduces the diurnal temperature

range.

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

Interannual Temperature Variations

 Average or normal temperatures

 Anomalies

 Volcanoes

 El Niño / La Niña

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 Picture from Space Shuttle 3 weeks after the
Volcanoes eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

Temperature in Spokane and Boise after the

eruption of Mount St. Helens

Adiabatic Cooling and Warming

Effects of Moisture

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Introduction to Meteorology & Climate Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

Fig. 3-17, p. 72 Fig. 2.7

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Adiabatic Cooling and Warming Adiabatic Cooling and Warming
 Usually the air contains water vapour.
 A rising parcel of air always expands
 As the parcel rises an altitude will be
 As the parcel expands it will cool reached when the water vapour
condenses.
 Adiabatic process - no heat energy is
 But this releases latent heat of
gained or lost by the parcel
condensation to the air
parcel.
 The rate of cooling with altitude due to
this process is called the dry adiabatic • Thereafter, the temperaure of the parcel
lapse rate
will not fall as much as for dry air.

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate  Moist adiabatic lapse rate.

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

Lapse Rates and Stability

 Lapse rate is the rate at which the real
atmosphere falls off with altitude – the
environmental lapse rate
 An average value is 6.5 ºC per
kilometer
 This should be compared with the
adiabatic lapse rate of 10 ºC.
 If the environmental lapse rate is less
than 10 ºC, then the atmosphere is
absolutely stable
Fig. 3-18, p. 73
 If greater than 10 ºC, it is absolutely
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate unstable
Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS
(A) Mid-afternoon
Diurnal  When the temperature profile increases
Temperature with altitude, this is known as a
Variation
temperature inversion.
(B) Evening
and  Two main types – subsidence inversion
and radiation inversion (nocturnal
Nocturnal (C) Sunrise inversion).

Temperat
ure
 Very important during pollution events –
inversion (D) Mid-morning
trap pollutants close to the surface.

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 Temperature Inversions

Effect of a
temperature
inversion

Introduction to Meteorolog y &

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate Climate

Wind Chill Factor

 The wind chill factor describes the

increased loss of heat by the
movement of air.

 It cannot be measured directly, so it

is calculated.

 Wind chill equivalent temperature.

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate

NEXT LECTURE
Reading Exercise
Short movie from
Study Ackerman and Knox Weatherbytes
DVD:
Chapter 3 “Weather Fronts”

Answer Review Questions Class discussion on

“Weather Fronts
Preview Chapter 4 and the Weather in Ireland”
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End of Chapter 3

Introduction to Meteorology & Climate