Abstract
Watching the winds in northwest Iowa during more than 30 summers has led me to two conclusions about the local atmosphere at ground level: there is a net northward transport of heat and water taking place throughout the summer; warm humid winds from the south continually alternate with cool dry winds from the north. The proposed northward heat transfer is consistent with the constraint, placed on the motions of the oceans and the atmosphere, of the earth’s heat balance due to the increased absorption of solar radiation at low latitudes compared to that at high latitudes. At mid-latitudes in the interior of continents, like North America, it is the job of the atmosphere alone to constantly help satisfy the global heat balance. Although qualitative in nature, the predicted northward heat flux is strongly based on frequent observations over lengthy time intervals.
Highlights
The following discussion is based on more than 30 summers spent at one particular place in northwest Iowa
Watching the winds in northwest Iowa during more than 30 summers has led me to two conclusions about the local atmosphere at ground level: there is a net northward transport of heat and water taking place throughout the summer; warm humid winds from the south continually alternate with cool dry winds from the north
The proposed northward heat transfer is consistent with the constraint, placed on the motions of the oceans and the atmosphere, of the earth’s heat balance due to the increased absorption of solar radiation at low latitudes compared to that at high latitudes
Summary
The following discussion is based on more than 30 summers spent at one particular place in northwest Iowa. In a different year a couple of days were so hot that cows died in their pastures. These extremes are rare, but blowing hot and cold and back again is expected all summer long in this part of the country. Over the 30-year period leading up to the present time, the wind direction and some notion of strength are made visible by the town wind mill against the background of roads, which are oriented on an east/west and north/south grid. No comments on the atmosphere are offered for the winter season in northwest Iowa because my personal experience is very limited at this time of year. Some similarities to the summer heat balance at least, which are discussed below, are conjectured to be very likely going on in winter
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