Assignment: Climate Controls

Introduction

What makes Seattle so rainy and cool and Phoenix so hot and dry? Climate is the statistical weather of a place, and understanding the factors that control climate allows you to anticipate general weather patterns during the year, as well as aid in identifying anomalous weather events. For example, realtors frequently provide climate information to help their clients choose where to live and assimilate to their new environment.

Climographs

The average weather of a place is graphically depicted on a climograph. A climograph plots the average monthly temperature with the scale on the right as a line graph, and the average monthly precipitation with the scale on the left as a bar graph. Climographs demonstrate more than statistics. Representing climate in this manner reveals seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation and allows estimation of other conditions such as growing seasons.

1. Which location would support a year-round growing season? Which data support your conclusion?

2. Which location's citizens would likely own both heavy winter jackets and bathing suits? Which data support your conclusion?

3. Plot a climograph fir Kailua Kona, III, and a climograph for 1Iilo, III. Both cities are located on the island of Hawaii, approximately 65 miles apart. The x-axis is month; one y-axis is used for temperature, and one y-axis is used for precipitation.

Kailua Kona, I 11, 1999' N, 156°00' W, 29 feet elevation

 Hilo, HI, 19^o42' N, 155^o03' W, 26 feet elevation

4. Calculate the annual temperature for each of the four locations above (annual temperature = (maximum temperature + minimum temperature) / 2). Create a plot showing the relationship between the average annual temperature and latitude on a scattergram, using appropriate labels, units, and scales.

5. What is the relationship between latitude and annual temperature?

6. Is longitude as important as latitude in controlling climate? Why or why not?

7. Considering the climographs, which location is impacted by a cold ocean current? What evidence supports your conclusion?

8. Would the currents in these two coastal locations also impact precipitation? Why or why not?

Answer the following questions using your answers in Figure 9.2.

10. What is the height of the lifting condensation level (LCL)?

11. Above what elevation would you expect snow to form?

12. Describe the climates on the windward and leeward sides of the mountain in terms of moisture and temperature.

13. What representative vegetation would you expect to find in the contrasting climates on each side of the mountain?

14. Which location is on the windward side of Hawaii? What evidence supports your conclusion?

15. What physical feature must be present on the island of Hawaii to cause the difference in precipitation between the two locations?

16. What is the annual temperature range (maximum-minimum), in San Diego? Give your answer in Fahrenheit.

18. Urban lakes, canals, and swimming pools surround Phoenix, so would it still be considered continental? Why or why not?

19. Would these locations be considered maritime or continental? In what ways are the climates of these two Hawaiian cities impacted by topography and land-water distribution (maritime or continental)?

20. Does latitude also contribute to the climates of Kailua Kona and Hilo? Explain the evidence that supports your conclusion.

21. Which location has a rainforest climate?

22. Which location has a Mediterranean climate?

23. Which location has a monsoon climate?

24. Which location has a polar climate?

Attachment:- Assignment-Climate-Controls.pdf