ESSEA Final Project Part I- CSA

Event-Sphere and Sphere-Sphere Interactions

Event and Atmosphere: Hurricane

E > A
Hurricanes transfer large amounts of energy, heat and moisture from the ocean into the atmosphere.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050110114115.htm
Energy is needed to change water from a liquid to vapor, and as water evaporates it transfers energy from the ocean to the atmosphere.

E > A
Hurricanes produce large variations in atmospheric pressure across the radius of the storm, with the lowest pressure present in the central ‘eye’ of the storm. Hurricane strength is measured in terms of maximum sustained wind speed and the barometric pressure within the eye. Lower barometric pressures result in greater wind speeds because the wind is a result of the air moving from a region of higher pressure to a region of lower pressure. As the pressure gradient increases, so does the wind speed. This phenomena can be compared to siphoning gas from a car tank: as the mouth-sucking end of the hose is lowered, the gas comes out faster. The Coriolis effect then causes the familiar spiral formation as the inward-rushing winds are acted upon by the earth’s rotation. Contrary to popular opinion, the Coriolis effect is not the factor influencing short-term phenomena such as water swirling down a drain. The Coriolis forces act over a large area over a relatively long time.

A > E
Presence of high wind shear in the upper atmosphere prevents hurricanes from forming.
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/hurricane-season/dn11633-wind-shear-may-cancel-climates-effect-on-hurricanes.html

In order for the cycle of evaporation-rising altitude-condensation-release of energy to occur, lateral wind currents at the upper atmosphere must be minimal. This is because wind shear would cause the energy to dissipate and disrupt the flow of winds rushing in to the center of low pressure at the eye of the storm.

A > E
Hurricanes form when energy is released into the atmosphere from the condensation of water vapor in the upper atmosphere. It seems to follow that increased ocean temperatures will promote increased evaporation of water from the ocean into the atmosphere, providing a greater amount of energy that could be used to form or intensify hurricanes.
http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-59/iss-8/p74.html

Event and Hydrosphere: Hurricane

E > H
As hurricanes pass over open warm water, energy is released from the water into the hurricane leaving a region of much cooler water in the storm’s wake. This follows the law of conservation of energy – that energy entering one part of a closed system had as its source another part of the closed system. True, the earth isn’t a closed system, but the regions of water surface/overlying air could be considered as such over a fairly large area.

H > E
Increased ocean temperatures lead to increased rates of surface evaporation, which in turns provides more energy to fuel the hurricane’s development.

Event and Biosphere: Hurricane

E > B
Hurricanes stir up the ocean, resulting in phytoplankton blooms forming in their wake.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2004/0602hurricanebloom.html

As hurricanes stir up the oceans over which they pass, nutrients are brought up from the depths. Phytoplankton which depend on these nutrients can now access them in the zones of light upon which they’re dependent, resulting in increased populations of phytoplankton. The magnitude of these blooms depends on the size, strength, and duration of the hurricanes.

E > B
High wind speeds produce large ocean waves, which in turn can damage the framework of coral reefs. The amount of damage to massive corals is slight, but more delicate coral structures can face 99% damage.
http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/78/m078p201.pdf

E > B
53% of the US population and 55% of the world’s population lives within 50 miles of a coastline. This increase in development and property values means that even if hurricanes do not change in frequency or intensity, we still face horrific costs with each successive hurricane. Low-lying, developing countries such as Bangladesh and India face increased risk of large numbers of human fatalities if there’s an increase in hurricane frequency or intensity.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2811.htm ; http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/nccos/npe/projectdetail.aspx?id=61&fy=2007

E > B

A hurricane can strip coastal forests of branches and leaves, uproot trees with weak root systems, and the resulting leaf litter on the forest floor can choke out the undergrowth. The torrential rainfall can produce mudslides which in turn devastate an area’s ecology. Water left standing can contribute to increased mosquito populations and the accompanying malaria & dengue fever.
http://emissionhq.com/2weeks/hitsPuertoRico.aspx

B > E
In the past, coastal wetlands have served as buffers between hurricanes and populated areas. With the coastal wetlands disappearing at a rate (in Louisiana) of 25 square miles per year, populated areas will see more damage and fatalities from hurricanes even if the intensity and frequency of hurricanes does not increase.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/10/AR2005111000138_pf.html

Event and Lithosphere: Hurricane

E > L
Extreme amounts of rainfall can result in mudslides and substantial erosion of beaches and coastal plains. Rivers can carve new channels due to their increased discharge.
http://emissionhq.com/2weeks/hitsPuertoRico.aspx

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Sphere-Sphere Interactions: Hurricane

Lithosphere<=> Hydrosphere

Rainfall causes increased water flow resulting in increased erosion. In turn, this leads to greater sediment levels in the rivers which is deposited as the velocity of the water decreases downstream. The good news is that this increased sediment load can help buoy up sinking river deltas. For example, the Mississippi’s sediment load has decreased by 25% over the past several decades, and the Mississippi River delta – upon which the city of New Orleans is located – is sinking as a result.

Lithosphere <=> Biosphere

Eroded land and missing topsoil is less likely to support plant life, resulting in more erosion because there are no roots to keep the soil in place.

Lithosphere <=> Atmosphere

Eroded, barren land can give up more dust into the atmosphere, providing more condensation nuclei for water vapor. The mere presence of water vapor at the right temperature and pressure is not enough for condensation to occur; the vapor needs a tiny bit of matter to cling to such as dust or smoke particles or sea salt from ocean spray. Hence, cloud seeding is used to “kick-start” rainfall in some areas. The effect is analogous to “bubbles in a glass of beer.” Sure, a good, fresh beer is nice and frothy because the bubbles are speeding to the surface . . . but try adding some salt! Yes, it ruins the taste, but just watch the froth magnify because the gas that’s dissolved in the liquid now has something to congregate around (nuclei), and the bubbles grow as they rise to the surface because more and more gas microbubbles are attracted to the larger bubble. I’d thought this growth was explained by the decreased pressure within the liquid as the depth below the surface decreased; if you do the math, though (was it Stokes theorem? Sorry, it’s been awhile, don’t remember the details), that factor doesn’t begin to account for the growth of the bubbles.

Hydrosphere <=> Biosphere

Changes in water reservoirs lead to changes in the life in and surrounding them. As water evaporates, the sediment load increases proportionately and fish species preferring clear water die out, leaving traditional bottom-feeders such as catfish, carp and gar.

Hydrosphere <=> Atmosphere

This is probably the most significant sphere-sphere interaction in the hurricane. The warm ocean water provides water vapor to the atmosphere, and its condensation provides energy for further evaporation of water from the ocean surface. This feedback loop, aided by lack of wind shear in the upper atmosphere, provides the impetus for hurricane formation and intensification. H > A > H > A . . .

Biosphere <=> Atmosphere
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