Temperature, Pressure, Density

and Vertical Motion

Adapted from Scott Dennings presentation
for CSU CMMAP course Summer 2007
By Jim Barnaby Summer 2008

Temperature, Pressure, Density

and Vertical Motion
Temperature, Pressure and Density
Buoyancy and Static Stability (aka
vertical motion)

Present Atmospheric Composition

Present day atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, water

vapor, carbon dioxide, argon and trace gases

What is Air Temperature?

Temperature is a measure of the kinetic (motion)
energy of air molecules
Sotemperature is a measure of air molecule speed

The sensation of warmth is created by air molecules

striking and bouncing off your skin surface
The warmer it is, the faster molecules move in a random
fashion and the more collisions with your skin per unit time

Pressure
Pressure is defined as a
force applied per unit area
Molecules bumping into an object also create a
force on that object, or on one another
Air pressure results from the weight of the
entire overlying column of air!
At sea level 14.7 psi
At Fort Collins ~ 12.1 psi
On Longs Peak ~ 8.6 psi

Air Pressure
Air Pressure (atmospheric pressure) is
the force of air pressing down on earths
surface. Air pressure equals weight of
air directly above that point.

Air pressure depends on the density of

the air. Denser air exerts more air
pressure than less dense air does.

Density
Density is mass divided by volume
Density is a measure of how closely
packed molecules are within a substance
(how condensed or crowded they are)
ex. Styrofoam vs. steel

Density (mass/volume)
Same number of
molecules and mass
Sample 1 takes up
more space
Sample 2 takes up
less space
Sample 2 is more
dense than sample 1

Sample 1

Sample 2

Pressure and Density

Gravity holds most
of the air close to
the ground
The weight of the
overlying air is the
pressure at any
point

Density is the Key to Buoyancy!

Changes in density drive vertical motion

in the atmosphere and ocean.
Lower density air rises when it is
surrounded by denser air.
-Think of a hollow plastic ball submerged under
water. What happens when you release it?

Air Density
Density of the air (air pressure) is
affected by three factors.
Temperature
Water vapor
Elevation

Air Density is Affected by:

Temperature density of a fluid (gas or liquid)
decreases when the fluid is heated. Less dense air
exerts less air pressure.
Areas with high
temperatures usually have lower air pressures than
areas with lower temperatures.
Water vapor At a given pressure, moist air is less
dense than dry air. A water molecule has less mass
than either a nitrogen or oxygen molecule.
Therefore, air with a large amount of water vapor
exerts less air pressure than drier air.
Elevation as elevation increases, air becomes thinner
or less dense. Therefore, air pressure decreases
with increasing elevation.

Why is stability important?

Vertical motions in the atmosphere are a critical part of
energy transport and strongly influence the hydrologic cycle
Without vertical motion, there would be no precipitation, no
mixing of pollutants away from ground level - weather as we
know it would simply not exist!
There are two types of vertical motion:

forced motion such as forcing air up over a hill, over colder air, or from
horizontal convergence
buoyant motion in which the air rises because it is less dense than its
surroundings - stability is especially important here

Vertical Motion and Temperature

Rising air expands,
using energy to
push outward
against its
environment,
adiabatically
cooling the air
A parcel of air may
be forced to rise or
sink, and change
temperature
relative to
environmental air

High Pressure Creates Fair

Weather
Air pressure may become high when large
air masses come together in the upper
atmosphere. These air masses press
down on layers of air below.
This
pressure usually prevents warm, moist
air from rising into the upper
atmosphere. As a result, clouds do not
form; therefore, high pressure usually
means fair weather.

Low Pressure Creates Poor Weather

Air pressure may become low when large
air masses move apart in the upper
atmosphere. This reduces pressure on
the layers of warm air below. As a
result, the warm air rises. If the warm
air is moist, clouds will form in the upper
atmosphere, therefore, low pressure
may lead to cloudy, rainy weather.