LAB ASSIGNMENT 6
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University Of Arizona *
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1306
Subject
Geography
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by AmbassadorGorillaMaster510
Exercise 23 Problems—Part I
1.
Cuiabá, Brazil:
a. Köppen climate type: Letter code: Aw
Descriptive name: Tropical Savanna (with dry winter)
b.
Dominant climate controls for this location: The inter-tropical Convergence Zone plays a significant role that impacts the climate in this region.
2.
Kashi (Kashgar), China:
a.
Köppen climate type: Letter code: BWk
Descriptive name: Cold desert climate
b.
Dominant climate controls for this location: Due to its location in the middle of the continent, it experiences a rain shadow effect, contributing to its arid conditions. 3.
New Orleans, Louisiana:
a. Köppen climate type: Letter code: Cfa
Descriptive name: Humid subtropical climate
b. Dominant climate controls for this location: The westerlies and midlatitude cyclones in the winter contributes to the humid subtropical climate of New Orleans.
4.
Palau (Belau):
a. Köppen climate type: Letter code: Af
Descriptive name: Tropical rainforest climate
b. Dominant climate controls for this location: Palau is influenced by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone which contributes to its tropical rainforest climate.
5.
Irkutsk, Siberia:
a. Köppen climate type: Letter code: Dwb
Descriptive name: Monsoon-influenced warm-summer humid continental climate
b. Dominant climate controls for this location:
Irkutsk’s climate is influenced by monsoons and elevation that contribute to its continental climate with distinct seasons.
6.
Dublin, Ireland:
a.
Köppen climate type: Letter code: Cfb
Descriptive name: Temperate oceanic climate b.
Dominant climate controls for this location: The North Atlantic Oceanic current influences Dublin’s temperate oceanic climate. Exercise 23 Problems—Part II
1.
Köppen climate type: Letter code: DWc
Descriptive name: Monsoon-influenced Subarctic climate.
2.
Köppen climate type: Letter code: ET
Descriptive name: Tundra Climate.
3.
Köppen climate type: Letter code: Csb
Descriptive name: Mediterranean cool summer climate.
4.
Köppen climate type: Letter code: Am
Descriptive name: Tropical Monsoon climate.
5.
Köppen climate type: Letter code: Dfb
Descriptive name: Warm summer continental climate.
6.
Köppen climate type: Letter code: Bsh
Descriptive name: Hot semi-arid climate.
Exercise 23 Problems—Part IV
1.
Why are Aw (tropical savanna) climates found in bands north and south of the Af (tropical wet) climates?
Tropical Savanna climates are found north and south of Tropical Wet climates because they represent transitional zones with distinctive dry seasons, over time becoming more arid as you travel further away from the equator. 2.
Why do the Af climates extend farther toward the poles along the east coast than along the west coast?
The Af climates tend to extend farther toward the poles along the east coast because of the influence of the ocean currents which bring moderate temperatures and moisture as opposed to the west coast. 3.
What explains the distribution of BW (desert) climates centered at about to 25° North and
30° South along the west coast?
Desert climates are centered along west coasts because of the subtropical high-pressure systems which establish descending air masses and suppress rail fall in these regions.
4.
On the hypothetical continent, why does the BW climate extend farther inland in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere?
The BW climate extends farther inland in the Northern Hemisphere due to the continent tending to heat up more in the interior, leading to lower humidity and less rainfall compared to the coastal areas. 5.
What explains the distribution of BS (steppe) climates?
The distribution of BS climates is influenced by variables such as rain shadows, prevailing wind patterns, and their proximity to deserts creating semi-arid conditions in various parts of the world.
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6.
What explains the narrow coastal band of Cs (Mediterranean) climates at about North and
South along the west coast?
Cs climates exist along west coasts at around 25°N and S due to the influence of ocean currents which help moderate temperatures and provide a source of moisture. 7.
Why do the Cfb (marine west coast) climates, just poleward of the dry summer Cs climates, receive rain all year?
This is due to the influence of moisture maritime air masses that bring precipitation throughout the year. However, their climates have dry summers due to their position in the rain shadow of coastal mountains and prevailing winds that block moisture. 8.
Why do Cfa (humid subtropical) climates along the east coast receive rain all year, but at the same latitude along the west coast, the Cs climates have dry summers?
Climates along the East Coast receive rain all year due to the influence of moisture in the air from the nearby ocean. On the West Coast, these climates have dry summers because they are often affected by rain shadow effects and dry prevailing winds. 9.
Why is the Dfb (humid continental) climate in a band just north of the band of Dfa climate?
The position of the Dfb climate just north of the band of Dfa climate is due to the increasing influence of colder temperatures as you continue to move northward. The Dfb climate experiences longer and colder winters compared to the Dfa climate due to its high
latitude. 10. Why is the high latitude interior of the continent dominated by Dfc and Dfd (subarctic) climates?
The high-latitude interior of the continent is dominated by Dfc and Dfd climates due to the colder temperatures corresponding with these latitudes. The interior location reduces the influence of the ocean, resulting in colder and more extreme temperatures. 11. Why are no D or E climates shown in the Southern Hemisphere?
There are no D or E climates in the Southern Hemisphere, which could be due to several factors which include oceanic influences, landmass distribution, and prevailing wind patterns. The southern Hemisphere has more of an oceanic area which generally leads to milder more stable climates. Exercise 24 Problems—Part I
1.
Was there any time in the last 800,000 years when the concentration of carbon dioxide was higher than it is today? No. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has not been higher than it is today. 2.
Was there any time in the last 800,000 years when the temperature in the Antarctic was higher than it is today? If so, when?
Yes. There have been periods in the last 800,000 years when the temperature in the Antarctic was higher than today and that was because of what is to be known as the interglacial periods. 3.
Were there times over the last 800,000 years when the temperature in the Antarctic was lower than today? If so, how much colder?
Yes, there have been times over the last 800,000 years when the temperature in the Antarctic was lower than today and that was known as the glacial period, where Antarctica was most likely several C° colder than present time. 4.
Using the period of peak of temperature associated with an interglacial period for reference, what was the approximate time interval between major periods of glaciation over the last 450,000 years?
The period between major glaciation and interglacial periods was varied but evidence approximates that it occurred roughly every 100,000 years. 5.
What appears to happen more abruptly, the onset of a glacial period or the onset of an interglacial period? Why do you say this?
The onset of a glacial period tends to happen more in comparison to the onset of an interglacial period because the transition from an interglacial to a glacial period often took up to 100,000 years by way of ice sheets slowly expanding and allowing for temperatures to decrease. 6.
What is the general correlation between the concentration of and temperature in the Antarctic over the last 800,000 years, as shown in Figure 24-5?
The correlation is due to the role of CO2 as a greenhouse gas. Higher CO2 concentrations
trap more heat in the atmosphere, contributing to warming. During glacial periods, CO2 concentrations were generally lower, and temperatures were colder. During interglacial periods CO2 concentrations increased, and temperatures warmed. 7.
Research suggests that over the last few hundreds of thousands of years, changes in atmospheric concentration sometimes lagged behind a temperature increase by perhaps 1000 years—indicating that “feedback” loops associated with a warmer climate might lead to an increase in the atmosphere rather than the other way around.
a.
Are any such “lags” visible in Figure 24-5?
There don’t appear to be any “lags” in this figure, the variations of CO2 and temperature occur simultaneously.
b.
Looking at Figures 24-1 and 24-2, does the recent increase in global temperature exhibit such a lag?
A “lag” wouldn’t appear to be present as the evidence shows that the variations in
atmospheric CO2 concentration are occasionally trailing as temperature increases.
Exercise 24 Problems—Part II
1.
What is the approximate variation in CO2 concentration each year? 6 ppm
2.
Notice that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere reaches its highest point at the same time each year.
a.
During which time of year does CO2 reach its highest point?
From March
to April the concentration of CO2 reaches its highest point. b.
What explains the timing of the annual fluctuation in CO2? (Hint: Think about the process of photosynthesis and plant respiration and the locations of large forests on Earth.)
The explanation for the timing of annual fluctuation is during the winter and spring seasons when plants undergo
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less photosynthesis and more respiratory activity and thus absorb less CO2
from the atmosphere resulting in higher concentrations of CO2.
3.
If the current trend continues, estimate when the seasonally adjusted atmospheric CO2 levels will reach 430 ppm. If the current trend continues, the CO2 concentration will reach 430 ppm by 2030. Exercise 24 Problems—Part III
1. Generally, what has happened to the average annual temperature in these three cities over the last century? Over the last century, the average annual temperature has increased.
2. Using the straight best-fit line as an indicator, estimate the approximate observed temperature change over the last century in each city; indicate if the temperature has increased (+) or decreased (−). (Note: these answers are based on simplistic assumptions.)
Tucson: + °F Bozeman: + °F Nome: + °F
3. a. Looking at the annual temperature value dots (not the 5-year moving average), what is the warmest year shown on the chart for each of the cities?
Tucson: 1993 Bozeman: 1932 Nome: 2016
b. What is the coldest year shown on the chart for each of the cities?
Tucson: 1912 Bozeman: 1916 Nome: 1920
4. a. Using the 5-year moving average lines for reference, in which of the cities does the average annual temperature fluctuate the most from one year to the next or from one decade to the next? In Nome, the temperature fluctuates the most from one year to the next in comparison to the other two cities. b. Do all of the major warm and cold periods in Nome correspond to warm and cold periods in the other two cities? No. Nome has relatively much more fluctuation during the cold and warm periods in comparison to the other two cities. 5. Although greenhouse gas concentration has increased steadily over the last century (see Figure
24-1), based on your answers for questions 3 and 4, is the increased greenhouse effect likely to be the only factor influencing temperature change in these cities? Why? No. Increased greenhouse effect is not likely to be the only factor influencing temperature change. Other factors like climate patterns, volcanic eruptions, and urbanization could have also played a role.
6. a. Looking at the annual temperature value dots and the 5-year moving averages, do you see any evidence of temperature changes following an 11-year sunspot cycle? Yes, there are various temperature changes following an 11-year sunspot cycle. b. If not, why might the influence of the sunspot cycle not be evident on these charts?
The effect of the sunspot cycle is not very evident in the graph of the cities of Bozeman and Tucson because other temperature-controlled factors may have masked this effect.
7. a. Look at the temperatures from 1990 to 1992. Describe any possible effect of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo on the temperature record of these cities. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 likely caused a temporary cooling effect in the temperature record of these cities. b. Based on your observations in question 7a, how important were volcanic eruptions in the overall temperature patterns of these cities over the last century? Volcanic Eruptions are important in influencing temperature patterns but their impact may be temporary compared to other long-term factors. 8.
a. What cyclical factor helps explain the cool period in Nome between about 1945 and 1975? The cooling period in Nome between 1945 and 1975 could be explained by the negative phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. b. What cyclical factor helps explain the warm period between about 1975 and 2005?
The warming period between 1975 and 2005 could be influenced by a positive phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. 9. Tucson’s population grew from about 7500 in the year 1900 to about 554,00 by 2020 (with about 1,000,000 in the surrounding county), and so a portion of the observed temperature increase here may be due to the urban heat island effect. Using your answer in question 2 as a starting point, use the EPA’s upper-end estimate of the UHI effect (5.4°F) to calculate the approximate amount of temperature increase that probably cannot be explained by urbanization. (Note: This answer is based on simplistic assumptions.)
.4 °F
10. Using the best-fit line for reference, what generally happened to annual precipitation in these cities over the last century?
Tucson: Stable amount of precipitation. Bozeman: Slight variability but increasing.
11. a. Which city exhibits the greatest precipitation variability? Bozeman
b. Why? This could be due to the influence of the regional climate patterns. 12. Using the 5-year moving average lines for reference, did all of the major wet and dry periods of the last century occur at the same time in Bozeman and Tucson?
Major wet and dry periods did not occur at the same time in Tucson and Bozeman as regional climate factors played a role. 13. a. Which city shows a greater increase in precipitation during the 1982–83 El Niño event?
Bozeman shows a greater increase in precipitation during the El Niño Event. b. Why might this be the case?
This may be due to the specific atmospheric conditions and interactions that occurred in the region during the El Niño event.
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