1. Describe global patterns of atmospheric heating and circulation. What mechanisms produce high precipitation
in the tropics? What mechanisms produce high precipitation at temperate latitudes? What mechanisms produce
low precipitation in the tropics?
2. Use what you know about atmospheric circulation and seasonal changes in the sun’s orientation to earth to
explain the highly seasonal rainfall in the tropical dry forest and tropical savanna biomes.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Global Patterns of Atmospheric Heating and Circulation
The global patterns of atmospheric heating and circulation play a crucial role in determining the distribution of precipitation across different regions of the Earth. These patterns are driven by the uneven distribution of solar radiation on the planet’s surface. The primary mechanisms that influence precipitation patterns are the Hadley Cell circulation in the tropics and mid-latitude weather systems at temperate latitudes.
Tropics
In the tropics, the primary mechanism that produces high precipitation is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The ITCZ is a band of low pressure that encircles the Earth near the equator. It is characterized by the convergence of trade winds from both hemispheres, resulting in upward motion and the formation of thunderstorms. As warm, moist air rises in this region, it cools and condenses, leading to heavy precipitation.
Additionally, the high temperatures in the tropics contribute to increased evaporation rates, which further enhance atmospheric moisture content. The combination of these factors results in high precipitation levels in tropical regions.
On the other hand, the mechanisms that lead to low precipitation in the tropics can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, regions that lie in the rainshadow of mountain ranges experience reduced precipitation due to the blocking effect of mountains on moisture-laden winds. Secondly, areas that are located in the subsidence zones of the Hadley Cell experience sinking air, which inhibits cloud formation and leads to drier conditions.
Temperate Latitudes
At temperate latitudes, high precipitation is primarily caused by mid-latitude weather systems, such as extratropical cyclones and fronts. These systems result from the interaction between cold polar air masses and warm tropical air masses. As these air masses converge, they create a boundary known as a front, which acts as a trigger for precipitation. The cyclonic circulation associated with these systems brings moist air into contact with cooler air, leading to condensation and the formation of precipitation.
The seasonal changes in the sun’s orientation to Earth also play a significant role in influencing precipitation patterns at temperate latitudes. During summer, when the sun is at a higher angle, there is increased heating and evaporation, leading to more convective activity and higher precipitation levels. In contrast, during winter, when the sun is at a lower angle, there is reduced heating and evaporation, resulting in lower precipitation levels.
Seasonal Rainfall in Tropical Dry Forest and Tropical Savanna Biomes
The highly seasonal rainfall in tropical dry forest and tropical savanna biomes can be explained by a combination of factors related to atmospheric circulation and seasonal changes in the sun’s orientation to Earth.
In these biomes, the dominant mechanism responsible for rainfall is the migration of the ITCZ. During the summer months, when the ITCZ shifts toward the poleward side of its normal position, it brings heavy rainfall to these regions. This is because as warm, moist air rises near the equator, it creates a low-pressure area that draws in moisture from the surrounding areas. This results in abundant rainfall during this period.
However, during the winter months, when the ITCZ migrates back toward its normal position near the equator, these regions experience a dry season. This is because the shift of the ITCZ takes away the main source of moist air and rainfall. As a result, these biomes undergo a period of drought and reduced precipitation.
The seasonal changes in the sun’s orientation also contribute to the highly seasonal rainfall in these biomes. During summer, when the sun is at a higher angle, there is increased heating and evaporation, leading to higher moisture content in the atmosphere. This enhances convective activity and increases the likelihood of rainfall. In contrast, during winter, when the sun is at a lower angle, there is reduced heating and evaporation, resulting in decreased moisture availability and lower chances of rainfall.
In conclusion, global patterns of atmospheric heating and circulation determine the distribution of precipitation on Earth. The mechanisms producing high precipitation include the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the tropics and mid-latitude weather systems at temperate latitudes. The ITCZ brings heavy rainfall to tropical regions through convergence of trade winds, while mid-latitude weather systems trigger precipitation through interactions between air masses. The highly seasonal rainfall in tropical dry forest and tropical savanna biomes can be attributed to the migration of the ITCZ and seasonal changes in solar orientation.
