My Hot Air Challenge

[AV1611VET]

If warm air rises,* then why does the temperature drop the further north you go from the equator?

* Yes, I know, warm air technically doesn't rise -- it's pushed up.

 

[Delphiki]

North and up are not the same thing. I know you can't possibly be that igno-.. . well.. never mind. Maybe you are.

 

[bhsmte]

North and up are not the same thing. I know you can't possibly be that igno-.. . well.. never mind. Maybe you are.

Not only that, but when I saw the words "hot air" in a thread started by AV, my irony meter exploded.

 

[Lost Angel]

If warm air rises,* then why does the temperature drop the further north you go from the equator?

* Yes, I know, warm air technically doesn't rise -- it's pushed up.

Same reason temperatures are on average lower far south of the equator?

You can see snow when you are in Palm Springs, California.

 

[Split Rock]

If warm air rises,* then why does the temperature drop the further north you go from the equator?

* Yes, I know, warm air technically doesn't rise -- it's pushed up.

I don't see what one has to do with the other. The equator is warmer because it is closer to the sun. Hot air rising goes up (you know, toward the "heavens" (plural for you ), not north.

 

[Delphiki]

I don't see what one has to do with the other. The equator is warmer because it is closer to the sun. Hot air rising goes up (you know, toward the "heavens" (plural for you ), not north.

It actually is warmer at the equator because the light it receives is more direct, rather than at varying angles as you get closer to the poles. The variation in the earth's orbit is far greater than it's diameter, and it's actually closer to the sun during the winter (in the northern hemisphere).

 

[Nithavela]

What the.. are you seri.. buh...

 

[RickG]

If warm air rises,* then why does the temperature drop the further north you go from the equator?

* Yes, I know, warm air technically doesn't rise -- it's pushed up.

By that reasoning, then the air at the south pole should be the warmest air.

The air toward the poles is cooler because it receives less solar irradiation.

 

[Loudmouth]

If warm air rises,* then why does the temperature drop the further north you go from the equator?

* Yes, I know, warm air technically doesn't rise -- it's pushed up.

Best laugh I have had today.

 

[Belk]

If warm air rises,* then why does the temperature drop the further north you go from the equator?

* Yes, I know, warm air technically doesn't rise -- it's pushed up.

 

[Vergil10]

If warm air rises,* then why does the temperature drop the further north you go from the equator?

* Yes, I know, warm air technically doesn't rise -- it's pushed up.

is this a serious question?

 

[AV1611VET]

By that reasoning, then the air at the south pole should be the warmest air.

Shouldn't the air at the North Pole be the hottest?

It works that way on the oceans, doesn't it?

The further down you go, the cooler the water gets ... right?

 

[Loudmouth]

Shouldn't the air at the North Pole be the hottest?

It works that way on the oceans, doesn't it?

The further down you go, the cooler the water gets ... right?

Did you forget that up and down are perpendicular to north and south?

If things tend to roll downhill, does this mean everything should be rolling towards the South Pole? Do we have to tilt everything at an angle to keep them from rolling to the South Pole?

 

[AV1611VET]

Did you forget that up and down are perpendicular to north and south?

Only at the equator during the equinoxes (I think).

 

[Mainframes]

Only at the equator during the equinoxes (I think).

Epic face palm

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

Only at the equator during the equinoxes (I think).

Well, I'm beginning to understand why you don't follow the scientific evidence for evolution and the age of the earth.

Up is always . . . . always .. . . . directly opposite the center of the earth, which of course will vary according to where on earth you are. It is what we call "vertical". You can use a plumb line to figure out which direction that is.

North is always . . . always . . . . horizontal. You can use a level with a bubble to tell you what horizontal is. There is then the further question as to which of the possible 360 degrees of horizontal point it is, I leave the determination of that to you. (Hint . . . it depends on how the earth rotates)

No matter where you are on earth, the plumb line and the level with a bubble will give you a right angle. They are, after all, both using the same force of gravity, merely in alternate ways.

 

[RickG]

Shouldn't the air at the North Pole be the hottest?

No. Why would you think that?

It works that way on the oceans, doesn't it?

The further down you go, the cooler the water gets ... right?

Yes, denser fluids displace less dense fluids. However, one must also take into account ocean currents. ENSO would be one of those accounts.

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

If warm air rises,* then why does the temperature drop the further north you go from the equator?

* Yes, I know, warm air technically doesn't rise -- it's pushed up.

OK Here's a BIBLE question for YOU. The church at Jerusalem wrote a letter to the church at Antioch. They sent it by the hand of Barnabas, Paul, and some others.

Acts 15:30
30 So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
NASU

Why does it say the went DOWN to Antioch? You look on a map, it clearly goes up on the page.

 

[RickG]

Only at the equator during the equinoxes (I think).

Think again.

 

[Vergil10]

Only at the equator during the equinoxes (I think).

what? no! who told you that?