Atmospheric Phenomena and Their Environmental Impacts

Posted on Jan 7, 2025 in Geology

Atmospheric Conditions and Their Effects

1

According to the information needed to relate the drawings:

  • A-2 An anticyclonic subsidence situation can cause temperature inversions, which impedes the mixing of air masses.
  • B-2 Strong winds due to the closeness of the isobars help quickly disperse the smoke coming out of the chimney.
  • C-1 A situation of low pressure produces an increase in the vertical movement of air, so it encourages the mixing height.
2

Definitions:

  • Immission Value: Concentration of a pollutant in the air.
  • Emission Value: Amount of a contaminant substance after a source station.
  • Guideline Value: Concentration of a pollutant that can have consequences in the medium or long term for the health of people or the state of ecosystems.
  • Limit Value: Concentrations that cannot be exceeded during a determined period of time.

El Niño’s Impact on Climate

Section 4.1

  • On the South American west coast, very hot and rainy weather (which is usually one of the driest areas of the planet) causes large floods.
  • Temporary decline in marine fish catches. Similar features can be produced on the Mexican and Californian coasts.
  • The people of Australia and Indonesia suffered major losses in agriculture with major droughts and large-scale fires.

Section 4.2

The appearance of El Niño stimulates plant growth in temperate and polar zones, whereas in the tropics it can cause a decrease in vegetation due to drought and fires. The land loses greenery, and this is related to an increase in atmospheric CO2, the gas that is most able to develop the greenhouse effect. From the year of the emergence of the phenomenon, the trend is reversed, causing great increases in vegetation, which determines the decrease or stops the increase of this gas in the atmosphere. It seems that this can help slow the greenhouse effect.

Weather Patterns and Their Consequences

Section 46.1

A deep low pressure (depression) south of the British Isles, with pressures of 966 mb at its vortex, affects the entire Iberian Peninsula, causing a widespread drop in temperatures and strong northwest winds that can cause temporary storms in the Atlantic and the Cantabrian Sea. Also noted is the passage of a cold front that has affected Catalonia a few hours ago, originating storms and/or showers, more or less intense.

Section 46.2

The newspaper article reports a situation of strong winds affecting a large part of Spain (twelve regions) and time in the Atlantic (Galicia). The storm displayed in the map area, as explained in the previous question, can cause meteorological phenomena expressed in the article from El País, as has the isobars together, implying strong winds from the northwest. This article discussed some risks caused by these conditions, such as the detachment of objects caused by strong winds.

Section 46.3

The main factors that cause abundant rainfall in autumn in the Mediterranean area are:

  • The Mediterranean Sea itself, especially when warm in late summer and autumn.
  • The relief (mountains) around the Mediterranean.
  • Winds from the east.
  • A drop in altitude cold.

Section 46.4

Droughts in Catalonia are determined by an anticyclonic domain. Anticyclones that are usually part of the high-pressure belt of 30° N. When close to or above the Iberian Peninsula, passing the bar fronts and depressions from the Atlantic and preventing the formation of low pressure in the Mediterranean, if this situation remains for a long period of time, it causes a marked lack of rainfall and drought risk. Droughts are impossible to avoid, but a distribution and proper use of water resources can minimize their effects:

  1. Saving measures such as modifying the general habits of the population regarding the consumption of water, applying a pricing policy that favors the reduction of consumption and penalizes waste.
  2. Specific saving measures to achieve rational use of water in various sectors (agricultural, industrial, and domestic) and the use of treated water, low-energy facilities, rethinking the type of crops, and irrigation system modifications.
  3. Technical saving measures such as improving infrastructure, building dams, and diversions.