SES 123 Global and Regional Energy Lab Worksheet

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Drusilla Atkinson
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1 SES 123 Global and Regional Energy Lab Worksheet In this laboratory exercise, you used the NOAA Reanalysis site to explore global land temperatures, including spatial and temporal variations. Understanding these patterns and variations will help us understand what is happening on Earth, predict what we might expect on other planets, whether in our solar system or in another solar system, and design spacecraft or sensors to study these distant objects. The NOAA Reanalysis Site is at: The detailed, step-by step instructions are on a PDF at the website listed below. Follow these instructions, observe the maps you produce, and complete the sections on this worksheet. If you are provided a series of choices, circle the one that is most correct. Part 1. Mean Global Temperatures We first examine the patterns of global temperature by plotting mean temperature, averaged over seven decades, to observe the overall patterns from region to region. Temperatures are reported in Kelvins, where 0 C (the freezing point of water) is equivalent to 273 K (no degree symbol is used). Room temperature, often quoted as 21 C (70 F), is 294 K ( , since Kelvins and degrees Celsius have the same increment (increasing by one Kelvin is the same as increasing by 1 C ). Your first plot should look like the map shown here. The map displayed here is too small to use for the lab, so be sure to generate your own larger version on the website. 1. In a few words, describe the location of the global zone(s) that has the warmest land temperatures: 2. What area of land has the coldest temperatures? (circle one) Antarctica/ Australia/ Europe/ North America/ South America 3. Which of the following has the widest range in temperatures? Africa/ Australia/Europe/ North America/South America/ 4. What on this map was most surprising to you? 1

2 Part 2. Seasonal Variation in Global Temperatures In this section, you are comparing the patterns of global temperature between two months (January versus July), that represent two seasons (Winter and Summer in the Northern Hemisphere). Complete this part of the worksheet while looking at the large map on your computer. Part 2a. Your January plot should look like the map shown here. The map displayed here is too small to use for the lab, so generate your own larger version on the website. 5. In a few words, describe the location of the regions that have the warmest land temperatures in January: 6. Which hemisphere has the warmest overall temperatures? Southern Hemisphere/ Western Hemisphere 7. Which hemisphere has the coolest overall temperatures? Southern Hemisphere/ Western Hemisphere 8. Which of the following is the hottest region in January? Australia/ Europe/ N. Africa/ N. America/ S. America/ 9. Which part of Africa is warmest in January? Northern Africa/ Southern Africa 10. What is a typical January temperature for central Australia? Less than 260K/ 260 K/ 270 K/ 280 K/ 290 K/ Above 290K 11. What on this map was most surprising to you? Part 2b. Your July plot should look like the map shown here. Use the larger map you generated to answer the following questions. 12. In a few words, describe the location of the regions that have the warmest land temperatures in July: 13. Which hemisphere has the warmest overall temperatures? Southern Hemisphere/ Western Hemisphere/

3 14. Which hemisphere has the coolest overall temperatures? Southern Hemisphere/ Western Hemisphere/ None of these 15. Which of the following is the hottest region in July? Australia/ Europe/ Florida/ N. Africa/ N. America 16. What is a typical July temperature for central Australia? Less than 260K/ 260 K/ 270 K/ 280 K/ 290 K/ Above 290K 17. Which part of Africa is warmest in July? Northern Africa/ Southern Africa 18. What on this map was most surprising to you? Part 2c. Compare the two maps below for January and July (the same two you generated). You can best compare the two maps if you opene two browser windows, one for each plot. January Mean Air Temperatures July Mean Air Temperatures 19. In the space below, produce a bullet list to summarize five important differences you noted between the two maps. 3

Part 3. Variations in Global Temperatures Over Time Part 3. You examined how the patterns of global temperatures varied between three years (1948, 1977, and 2010).

4 Part 3. Variations in Global Temperatures Over Time Part 3. You examined how the patterns of global temperatures varied between three years (1948, 1977, and 2010). Use these maps to answer the questions below What do you observe about changes in global temperature between these three years? Use complete sentences or a bullet list, if you prefer Which region experienced the biggest changes and what were they? 22. What on these series of maps was most surprising to you?

Part 4. Variations North American Temperatures You examined how the patterns of temperatures in North America and how they vary between the same three years (1948, 1977, 2010).

5 Part 4. Variations North American Temperatures You examined how the patterns of temperatures in North America and how they vary between the same three years (1948, 1977, 2010). You used the same data set, but for North America only. Use these maps to answer the questions below What do you observe about changes in North American temperature between these three years? Use complete sentences or a bullet list, if you prefer. 24. Which region experienced the biggest changes and what were they? What on these series of maps was most surprising to you? 5

Part 5. Energy Reaching the Top of the Atmosphere In this part of the lab, we examine variations in incoming insolation (incoming shortwave radiation) CALCULATED to hit the top of the atmosphere.

In your answer, include a discussion of the pattern with respect to the equator. 27. What latitude has the highest amount of insolation at the top of the atmosphere for this month? 28.

6 Part 5. Energy Reaching the Top of the Atmosphere In this part of the lab, we examine variations in incoming insolation (incoming shortwave radiation) CALCULATED to hit the top of the atmosphere. Your first map should look like the map below. 26. What is the main pattern you observe from this map showing the calculated amount of insolation, average over an entire year? In your answer, include a discussion of the pattern with respect to the equator. 27. What latitude has the highest amount of insolation at the top of the atmosphere for this month? 28. What latitude has the highest amount of insolation at the top of the atmosphere Next, you plotted top-of-atmosphere insolation during January in the middle of the winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Your map should look like this. 29. Describe how this pattern differs from that displayed for data over the entire year (the map above). 30. What latitude has the highest amount of insolation at the top of the atmosphere for this month? 31. Compare this map with the mean global temperature for January (Part 2). Describe how the insolation map helps explain the land temperature variations?

Next, you plotted top-of-atmosphere insolation during July, in the middle of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Your map should look like this. 32.

7 Next, you plotted top-of-atmosphere insolation during July, in the middle of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Your map should look like this. 32. Describe how this pattern differs from that displayed for data over the entire year (the first map in this series). 33. What latitude has the highest amount of insolation at the top of the atmosphere for this month? 34. Compare this map with the mean global temperature for July (Part 2). Describe how the insolation map helps explain the land temperature variations? Part 6. Energy Reaching the Surface In the last part of the lab, we examined how much insolation actually reaches Earth s surface. Your map should look like the one below (but use your more detailed map on the computer). 35. Describe how this pattern differs from the yearly average for the top of the atmosphere. (the first map in Part 5). 36. What are some factors that could cause differences between the two maps? 7

Meteorology. Circle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer

Meteorology. Circle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer Chapter 3 Worksheet 1 Meteorology Name: Circle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer 1) If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26 C and the minimum temperature is 14 C, the daily