Abstract The writer explains the causes and effects of the El Nino, which has an ocean warming effect, and the La Nina, which creates unusually cold ocean temperatures. The paper describes how the winds, the ocean surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation affect the natural climatic conditions in the Pacific region. The writer explains the impact these effects have on weather and climate in the United States. The paper examines the effect that climatic changes have on the economy. In conclusion, the paper states that the effects of the El Nino and La Nina create significant changes to the weather patterns, which are naturally created and affected, by changes in sea temperatures.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Causes
Ocean Surface Temperature and Atmospheric Circulations
- During Normal Conditions
- Conditions During El Ni"o
- Conditions During La Ni"a
Effects of El Nino and La Nina
Impact on Weather and Climatic Changes
Impact on Economy
Ecological Impact
Conclusion
Bibliography
References
From the Paper "Under "normal" conditions, the tropical trade winds blow from east to west, collecting warm water in the western Pacific. In the eastern Pacific, the trade winds pull up cold, deep, nutrient-rich waters down the equator from the Ecuadorian coast to the central Pacific. The warmth of the western Pacific results in a predominantly vigorous hydrologic cycle there with towering cumulus clouds and tropical storms that "radiate" atmospheric waves and disturbances across vast area of the globe. Heat and moisture lofted into the upper atmosphere by the clouds and storms are dispersed by high-altitude winds across vast regions of the globe.
During an El Ni?o, this situation is interrupted and the trade winds weaken, thus reducing the upwelling of cool waters in the eastern Pacific and permits the pool of warm water in the west to drift eastward toward South America. As the central and eastern Pacific warms, atmospheric pressure gradients along the equator decline, and the trade winds lessen even more."
Abstract This paper explains that the physical environment of a nation helps facilitate human opportunities; the United States' geography has proven a source of economic and historical strength, as well as scientific curiosity. The author points out that the original colonies were mostly temperate in climate; but today, it is difficult to characterize the United States climate, as it is tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the Great Plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the Southwest. The paper relates that the United States is far less regionalized than it used to be because of the simultaneous mobility and immigration shifts. Currently, geographers divide America into fourteen distinct regions, called Megalopolis, the American Manufacturing Core,; the Bypassed East; Appalachia and the Ozarks; the Deep South; the Southern Coastlands; the Agricultural Core; the Great Plains and Prairies; the Empty Interior; the Southwest Border Area; California; the North Pacific Coast; the Northlands; and Hawaii.
From the Paper "The United States is not all urban, even today. It is still one of the breadbaskets of the world in the Midwest and Southern Florida's long growing season and mild winters enable it to be a leader in the production of oranges, lemons, and sugarcane. New York's proximity to harbors brought many immigrants to the land in that region as well as the ability to import new goods and export American goods to other lands. Georgia's verdant and tropical climate made it a place of vacation destinations, and earlier in the nation's history, even a place where the slave trade found a home, because of its ease of growing crops."
Abstract This paper discusses the relationship between forest fires and weather. The paper argues that forest fires result in higher temperatures, higher temperatures in turn result in higher evaporation rates and higher evaporation rates result in more precipitation. It argues that due to this chain of events, we can see the relationship between forest fires and the weather.
From the Paper "Forest Fires and Weather The connections between weather conditions and forest fires are quite well known. For example, in Weatherwise Malcolm Geast says, The high temperatures combined with low rainfall amounts to exacerbate an already -bad forest fire situation across most of the west (Geast 71). What Geast is saying is that weather conditions are an important precondition for forest fires. Fire fires don't occur when it is cold and wet, they happen when it is hot and dry. Not only are weather conditions a precondition for forest fires but they also trigger them in many cases."
Abstract The book and the two articles chosen for review were selected as they represent critical "bookends" in the field of Canadian urban geography during the formative period in which immigration transformed physical and social landscapes of Canada's cities. As this review demonstrates, while Donald Kerr's and Jacob Spelt's "The Changing Face of Toronto: A Study in Urban Geography" explores the geography of Toronto as both a "natural" and a human construct, articles by Carlos Teixeira and Gilles Lavigne on how Portuguese immigration has shaped residential neighbourhoods in Montreal and Toronto focus on the human element in the shaping of space.
Abstract This paper discusses the two major waves of economic geography, that is the epistemological wave and the hermeneutic of cultural wave. It also discusses incorporating artisanal production in theory forming in geography and why this is so important to research in geography.
From the Paper "Artisanal Production and Geography The relationship between art and science has always been a contentious one. In many causes art and artisanal production have been ignored by disciplines wishing to be more scientific. This situation is discussed by Trevor J. Barnes in Retheorizing Economic Geography. Barnes argues that there have been two major waves of economic geography. These are the epistemological and the hermeneutic or cultural wave. The epistemological wave was characterized by a strong reliance on science (Barnes 546). For this reason the social, cultural and artistic were usually not dealt with in economic geography during the first wave."
Abstract The focus of this paper is Carl Sauer's view of what constitutes the proper philosophy or perspective on education in geography, and also the main components it ought to have. The paper will also discuss the fact that Sauer was writing about fifty years ago and some of what he recommended (and experienced in his own education), has changed; some has remained the same.
Abstract This paper explores various issues in political geography: the world systems theory and the Vietnam War, the centripetal and centrifugal forces in Pakistan, Argentina's core areas, the Antarctic Treaty System, and Bamako, Mali.
Abstract This paper analyzes the city of Detroit, using Census Data from 2002. The writer notes that the social geography of Detroit shows a city that has experienced major shifts in employment and a city that was long tied to one major industry, an industry which has either moved elsewhere or that does not offer the same stability it once did. The writer points out that such changes have affected the way the city has developed physically and the balance between urban and suburban regions.
From the Paper "The social geography of Detroit shows a city that has experienced major shifts in employment and a city that was long tied to one major industry, an industry which has either moved elsewhere or that does not offer the same stability it once did. Such changes have affected the way the city has developed physically and the balance between urban and suburban regions. Theorists note that what is often called the Heartland shows a "nested hierarchy" of levels from metropolis to village, and the different transportation systems bind these levels together. The presence of the Great Lakes provides a gateway to overseas regions."
Abstract This paper is a book report on the book "Sacred Geography of the Ancient Greeks" by Jean Richer. The paper notes the way that the author examines astrological symbolism as found in art architecture and landscapes and presents what he finds in terms of the astrological theory accepted by the ancients and then in terms of the way they represented these ideas in their art and architecture. The paper discusses the many photographs and maps of the ancient world that the author makes use of.
From the Paper "Jean Richer is an academic with a firm grasp of aspects of the ancient world. He has written numerous books aspects of ancient art and the society that produced that art. In the book Sacred Geography of the Ancient Greeks, Richer examines astrological symbolism as found in art, architecture, and landscapes, presenting what he finds in terms of the astrological theory accepted by the ancients and then in terms of the way they represented these ideas in their art and architecture. He provides a detailed examination of the topic, many photographs of the works of art he discusses, maps of the ancient world showing alignments with various celestial and astrological features, and tables and charts that help the reader picture some of the relationships discussed. The book offers an interesting discussion of the topic in a well-written narrative."
Abstract The paper discusses the importance of teaching geography to students - a subject which provides the tools for students to read a map, understand international news reports, follow economic trends and weather reports. The paper shows that without this knowledge, Americans would have little understanding of the world beyond their borders and remain isolationist in nature.
From the Paper "Geography helps us understand why some countries are important to us even when we are not the best of friends. For example: China is the largest country in the Far East. We are not that friendly with them, but we tolerate each other. If we didn't have a mutually helpful trade agreement, relations might be even more strained. The Chinese understand this and even have a saying for it. "W"nh"a sh? m"i yu guj"e de," which means, "Culture has no national borders." According to a paper written by Clarissa Smith, "In the age of mass media and instant communication, this must be more true than ever, even in a highly controlled society.? "
Abstract This paper presents a discussion of the basic geography, history and economy of Turkey and Greece. The political conflicts that started between the two communities when the Turkish Cypriots rejected the Greek Cypriots' desire for ENOSIS for Union with Greece is discussed as well as the results of Cyprus' de facto partition due to the Turkish invasion.
From the Paper "Cyprus' de facto partition due to the Turkish invasion resulted in a lot of suffering; almost a third of each ethnic community's population had to leave their homes and devastation ensued in the economy of Cyprus. Intensive intervention and economic planning by the government on both sides brought about an improvement in the standard of living of the people. Political systems based on the European structure were formulated by both the communities, with political views which were conventional in nature represented by the parties from left to the right. The Greek Cypriots had two parties which were present from before 1970 and new ones were formed after 1974. However, the progress of the Turkish Cypriots to parliamentary democracy was not as smooth; they had to build a new state first. The "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus" was proclaimed in the year 1975. Through a unilateral form of declaring independence in the year 1983 the TRNC was created by the Turkish Cypriots; however, till the early 1990s it was recognized as a nation only by Turkey. ("Country Studies: Developments Since 1974", n. d.)"
Abstract This paper is mostly about seasonal weather effects on humans. It discusses the correlation between long dark winters and suicide rates, seasonal affective disorder, the lowering of immunity from infections in cold weather and the spread of disease in hot weather. Also mentioned are the effects on animals of El Nino and how weather changes bring certain predators and prey closer together.
From the paper;
"Weather is the No. 1 talked about topic among people. Just for small talk and conversation's sake, the state of the weather is always brought up. Weather has a deeper effect on animals than determining what to wear for the day or providing a topic of conversation. During the winter, people claim to have cabin fever. When spring arrives, they catch spring fever. While these two terms have taken on meaning as figures of speech, there is scientific research showing that weather effects humans and animals on a physiological and psychological level. Weather changes alter mood, behavior, and general well being. In certain climates, people tend to be healthier than others."
Tags: El, Nino, disease, depression, seasons, temperature
Abstract The paper discusses the monsoon, one of the most intense climate phenomena in the world. Global weather patterns rely on monsoon rains and weather conditions, and individuals within the monsoon climate areas rely heavily on the monsoon rains for agricultural production and water supplies. Variations in these monsoon climates can produce deadly results, including drought, flood, and a lack of food supplies. By understanding the basics behind the monsoon climate, and its weather patterns, it is possible to comprehend the global effects of this climate pattern. The paper provides information on a variety of different media sources regarding the monsoon climate, its causes, effects on other regional weather patterns, and effects on global production through an
annotated bibliography. Additionally, the resources provide information regarding the prediction of those monsoon variations in an effort to assist residents in predicting proper growth seasons.
From the Paper "This chapter focuses on the major influences over the weather and climate of tropic regions, including the conditions that create the monsoon season in summer, as well as monsoon depressions, north-east monsoon flows, south-west monsoon flows, and the seasonal conditions which cause the monsoon climate. This is of particular interest, in that the authors carefully and meticulously examine each season in Asia in relation to its effect on the creation of a monsoon climate. This chapter's focus is on the monsoon climate in detail, so its usefulness in examining this weather pattern cannot be exagerated. Further, the information is recent, providing the latest information available about the monsoon weather climate."
Abstract The paper focuses on the impact of weather on insurance rates and policies and on the construction of buildings and homes. The paper looks at the effect of weather on agricultural vs. urban regions and discusses how insurance companies have adopted risk assessment and management strategies for insuring meteorological hazards. The paper then discusses the development of building code guidelines and how the weather impacts housing and the structures of electrical power generating stations. The paper concludes that it is very easy to see, using Canada as an example, how weather impacts many areas of day-to-day functioning.
From the Paper "The weather is an often over looked feature of our environment in terms of its deeply seeded impacts on our day-to-day lives. While most individuals are aware of the fact that the weather dictates what they might wear during the day, which coat or jacket to choose, and what activities they may be able to participate in, the broader impacts of weather are not as often a topic of concern. Everyone is aware of the impact of natural disasters related to weather, as these events can often wreck havoc with individual areas of the country or world for an extended period of time. Recent examples within Canada include the hurricanes that occurred in the fall of 2003. Although hurricanes are very uncommon in Canada, due to its northern location, the tail ends of a tropical storm hit parts of southern Ontario causing power outages and structural damage to a variety of buildings."
Abstract This paper contrasts the weather on Mars and Venus with the weather on Earth. The paper first reveals that Mars is a desert planet of extremes that can be exceedingly cold and enormously windy, while Venus is a planet covered in clouds and extremely hot. The paper then relates that, while both planets have several weather-related events that are quite similar to Earth, there are major differences, as well. The paper believes that eventually, scientists may discover a way for humans to survive, or at least visit, these remarkable planets that are "right next door."
From the Paper "Mars weather resembles the Earth's weather in many respects. Clouds form on the planet on occasion, and they are usually made up of ice crystals or carbon dioxide. The ice crystals come from Mars polar ice caps, but since Mars is a desert, it seems that these ice crystals rarely fall back to the planet in the form of rain. Storms are also quite common on Mars, and there have even been sightings and photographs of cyclones and other major storm disturbances on the planet, just as we have here on Earth."
