What if the government shutdown forced the closing of the water cycle? A thought experiment Douglas Miller – UNC Asheville .

What if the government shutdown forced the closing of the water cycle?

A thought experimentDouglas Miller – UNC Asheville

http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/images/kgo/cms_exf_2007/news/local/san_francisco/9270008_600x338.jpg

Outline• What is a thought experiment?• Impact of water vapor source

shutdown• Global circulation• Synoptic scale weather• Hurricanes• Tornadoes



What is a thought experiment?

Our thought experimentGovernment shutdown shutdown of water vapor-making processes

Stepped ArtFig. 2-3, p. 30

Our thought experiment

Government shutdown shutdown of water vapor-making processes

Not allowed…liquid vaporice vapor

evaporation (or transpiration)sublimationX


Government shutdown shutdown of water vapor-making processes

XX


Within one week, water vapor would reach a minimum valueno more cloud production no more precipitation

XX



Impact of water vapor source shutdown on global circulation



Xreduced

increased


XX

reduced

increased



Would the global circulation still happen?

Yes, likely weaker



Impact of water vapor source shutdown on synoptic scale weather





Would the synoptic scale weather still happen?

Yes, likely weaker



Impact of water vapor source shutdown on hurricanes


http://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/modules/mods4car/tropcycl/pages/easterlywave.html





Ivan, Sept. 2004

Would hurricanes still happen?

No!!!



Impact of water vapor source shutdown on tornadoes

http://okcstormwatcher.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/tornado-emergency-in-tuscaloosa-alabama/





Would tornadoes still happen?

No!!!

The end of our thought experiment

What if the government shutdown forced the closing of the water cycle? A thought experiment Douglas Miller – UNC Asheville .

Documents

water cycle

synoptic scale weatherwould

global circulationwould

likely weakeroutlinewhat

minimum valueno

cloud production

tornadoeswould tornadoes

heat energy