climate depends on what?? introduction -climate depends on wha… · objectives : at the end of...

1

Name: _________________________________________ Date: ________________

Climate Depends On What?? Introduction: The state of the atmosphere continually changes over time in response to the uneven distribution of the energy in the atmosphere. The short-term changes in temperature and humidity are fundamental controls of weather, and their long-term averages are called climate. Since climate is averaged weather, we must take a look at the average temperature and average humidity (precipitation) in a particular region. There are large variations in average monthly temperature among cities located at the same latitude. This suggests that factors, besides the angle of insolation and duration of insolation, affect the rate (speed) of heating and cooling of any given location. Climographs which show the average monthly temperature and precipitation of various locations can be used to compare these rates. Objectives: At the end of this activity, you should be able to determine factors that influence climate. Procedure:

1. There are 4 pairs of climate data. Each pair shows a different factor that can influence climate. 2. The cities are plotted on the map on the back page.

Factor 1 - Eureka, California and Lincoln, Nebraska

Factor 2 - Dallas, Texas and Fargo, North Dakota Factor 3 - Los Angeles, California and Savannah, Georgia Factor 4 - Lake Tahoe, California and Reno, Nevada

3. Create a climograph for each city. Use line graphs for temperature and bar graphs for precipitation. Make sure each climograph is titled and labeled correctly. 4. Answer the questions to see if you can determine the primary factor that influences those cities climates. 5. Answer the conclusion.

2

Factor 1: Eureka, California Elevation: 10 feet Latitude: 40o 49’N Longitude 124o 134’W Average Monthly Temperature

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec oF 47.3 48.9 49.2 50.7 53.6 56.3 58.1 58.7 57.4 54.5 51.0 47.9

Average Monthly Precipitation

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

in 5.97 5.51 5.55 2.91 1.62 0.65 0.16 0.38 0.86 2.36 5.78 6.35

Lincoln, Nebraska Elevation: 1184 feet Latitude: 40o 86’N Longitude 96o 75’W Average Monthly Temperature




in 0.67 0.66 2.21 2.90 4.23 3.51 3.54 3.35 2.92 1.94 1.58 0.86

3

Factor 2 Dallas, Texas Elevation: 440 feet Latitude: 32o 51’N Longitude 96o 51’W Average Monthly Temperature




in 1.89 2.31 3.13 3.46 5.30 3.92 2.43 2.17 2.65 4.65 2.61 2.53

Fargo, North Dakota Elevation: 900 feet Latitude: 46o 56’N Longitude 96o 49’W Average Monthly Temperature




in 0.76 0.59 1.17 1.37 2.61 3.51 2.88 2.52 2.18 1.97 1.06 0.57

4

Factor 3 Los Angeles, California Elevation: 100 feet Latitude: 33o 56’N Longitude 118o 24’W Average Monthly Temperature




in 2.98 3.11 2.40 0.63 0.24 0.08 0.03 0.14 0.26 0.36 1.13 1.79

Savannah, Georgia Elevation: 46 feet Latitude: 32o 07’N Longitude 81o 45’W Average Monthly Temperature




in 3.95 2.92 3.64 3.32 3.61 5.49 6.04 7.20 5.08 3.12 2.40 2.81

5

Factor 4 Lake Tahoe, California Elevation: 6291 feet Latitude: 38o 94’N Longitude 119o 99’W Average Monthly Temperature




in 6.02 5.40 4.08 2.13 1.20 0.68 0.25 0.32 0.61 1.81 3.69 5.69

Reno, Nevada Elevation: 4599 feet Latitude: 39o 52’N Longitude 119o 81’W Average Monthly Temperature




in 1.06 1.06 0.86 0.35 0.62 0.47 0.24 0.27 0.45 0.42 0.80 0.88

6

Questions: Even if you did not know these cities were all cities in the United States, how could you tell from the temperature curves that they were all in the Northern Hemisphere? Factor 1 – Eureka vs. Lincoln

1. Both cities are close to being on the same latitude. Describe where each is located.

2. What is the yearly temperature range for Eureka? ______________For Lincoln? ________________

3. Since both cities are located near the same latitude, how does the annual temperature range for a coastal city compare to the annual temperature range for a continental city?

4. Which city experiences the most precipitation during a year? _________________________

5. Since both are located near the same latitude, why is there more precipitation at Eureka than at Lincoln?

Factor 2 – Dallas vs. Fargo

1. Both cities are located on the same longitude. Describe where each is located.

2. Which city is receiving a higher angle of insolation and therefore more intense rays from the Sun? ____________________

3. Why are Dallas’s temperatures hotter than Fargo?

4. What climate factor accounts for the difference in the temperature range?

7

Factor 3 – Los Angeles vs. Savannah


2. Which city has the warmer climate? _____________________

3. Which city is located on the west coast? __________________ 4. Using ESRT page 4, what is the name of the current that affects Los Angeles’ climate?

___________________ Is this current a warm current or a cold current? _________________

5. Which city is located on the East Coast? ___________________ 6. Using ESRT page 4, what is the name of the current that affects Savannah’s climate?

____________________ Is this current a warm current or a cold current? ______________

7. If both cities are located on the same latitude, why does Savannah have a higher average

temperature range than Los Angeles? Factor 4 – Lake Tahoe vs. Reno


2. How much precipitation does Lake Tahoe receive in a year? ____________ Reno? ____________

3. Which city is located on the windward side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains? ____________ 4. Which city is located on the leeward side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains? _____________

5. Explain the process to include the steps to why Lake Tahoe has the cooler, wetter climate.

6. Explain the process to include the steps why Reno has the warmer, drier climate?

8

Conclusion What are 4 factors that affect climate and explain how they affect temperature and/or precipitation.

Climate Factor Affect on Temperature and/or Precipitation

Temp –

Temp –

Precip –

Temp –

Temp –

Precip –

climate depends on what?? introduction -climate depends on wha… · objectives : at the end of...

Documents