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Santa Monica College *
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05
Subject
Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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9
Uploaded by DoctorMaskGiraffe14
Name: ____Lisa Voynovska____________________
Lab 3: Reading Isoline Maps and Temperature-Air Pressure Patterns
GEOG 5, Instructor: Joy Fritschle
This lab is comprised of 3 parts that will enhance your map reading skills by investigating temperature and air
pressure patterns and available spatial data. In part 1, you will interpret various isoline maps; in part 2, you will
explore a rich online source of geospatial data that can be viewed in ArcGIS Online – the Living Atlas; and in
part 3, you will investigate temperature and air pressure patterns at a location of your choosing.
Part 1: Interpreting Isoline Maps
This part of the lab continues to build on your isoline map-reading skills that were introduced in previous labs
with a focus on maps depicting isotherms (air temperature) and isobars (air pressure).
1.
Match the six sets of contour lines to the corresponding topographic profiles (cross-section view of real
Earth’s surface) on the right. Draw a line to connect the matched sets.
(1.5 pts)
1 - B
2 - E
3 - D
4 - C
5 - F
6 - A
2.
In the map below of Global Average Barometric Pressure in January, where is the highest pressure located
and what is the value?
Where is the lowest pressure located and what is the value?
(1 pt)
Highest pressure location __W 100º, between 40º and 60º _________________ value: ____1034____mb
Lowest pressure location ___W 100º, 60º _________________________ value: ____982_________mb
Global Average Barometric Pressure in January
3.
In the map on the next page of Global Average Barometric Pressure in July, where is the highest pressure
located and what is the value? Where is the lowest pressure located and what is the value?
(1 pt)
Highest pressure location
E 160º, 40º
value: 1026
mb
Lowest pressure location
W 160º, between 80º and 60º
value: 982
mb
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Global Average Barometric Pressure in July
Recall that factors influencing temperature patterns around the world include latitude, land-water contrasts,
ocean currents, wind patterns, and elevation. With those factors in mind, please refer to the maps of isotherms
on the next page and answer the following questions:
4.
In the northern hemisphere, is the temperature difference between the equator and the Arctic region greatest
in the summer or winter?
(0.5 pts)
Winter
5.
Where in the world are the isotherms responding almost solely to latitude regardless of season (in other
words, they run strongly east and west) and why is this the case?
(1 pt)
This phenomenon takes place within the Horse Latitudes, which are situated around 21°N and 21°S. In these
regions, the convergence of the northeast and southwest trade winds generates zones of elevated
atmospheric pressure, leading to limited cloud formation. Consequently, temperature and atmospheric
pressure primarily fluctuate with latitude rather than being strongly influenced by the seasons.
6.
Comparing the two maps, what part of the world exhibits the greatest annual temperature range (difference
between January and July average temperatures). Why does it experience such a huge difference in
temperatures between the summer and winter?
(0.5 pts)
The remote northern latitudes, specifically the high Arctic region, exhibit the widest temperature fluctuations.
This is primarily because these areas experience extremely cold winters and significantly warmer summers,
caused by the polar atmosphere displacing warm air away from the South Pole and pushing cooler air toward
the North Pole during the summer months. As a result, an exceptional temperature contrast between summer
and winter occurs.
7.
Comparing the two maps, what part of the world experiences a small annual temperature range? Why does it
experience such a small difference in temperature throughout the year?
(0.5 pts)
Equatorial regions like the Caribbean Islands and Hawaii undergo minimal temperature fluctuations
throughout the year. This is because of their proximity to the equator, where the Earth's tilt directs a significant
portion of the planet's warmth to be consistently facing the sun year-round, resulting in relatively stable
temperatures.
Global Temperatures around the December Solstice
Global Temperatures around the June Solstice
8.
For the following questions, choose one of the factors influencing temperature (
Latitude
,
Land-Water
contrasts
,
Ocean Currents
,
Wind Patterns
, and
Elevation
) to explain the differences between the
locations.
(2 pts)
Elevation
a.
Why is Seattle Washington (47°N, 122°W) warmer in the winter than Minneapolis Minnesota (45°N,
93°W)?
(hint: for each of these questions, your answer should be one of the following: latitude, land-
water contrast, ocean currents, wind patterns, or elevation; and then an explanation of how that factor
is causing the observed difference in temperature)
Latitude: Seattle is situated north of Minneapolis on the Northern Hemisphere, and as you move to
higher latitudes closer to the equator, temperatures generally become milder.
b.
Why is San Diego California (32°N, 117°W) cooler in the summer than Savannah Georgia (32°N,
81°W)?
San Diego, California experiences cooler summers compared to Savannah, Georgia, primarily because
of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean is cooler than the Atlantic Ocean and imparts
lower temperatures to the western coast of the United States. Since San Diego is close to the Pacific
Ocean, the coastal air remains cooler than in Savannah, which is considerably farther from it.
Furthermore, during the summer, prevailing winds come from the southwest, further cooling the western
coast and resulting in temperatures that are 3-4°C cooler than those in Savannah.
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c.
Why is Lihue, Hawaii (22°N, 159°W) warmer than Kilauea Hawaii (22°N, 159°W)?
(hint: given that
these two locations have the same latitude and longitude, and experience the same wind and ocean
currents, the answer has to be a difference in elevation. Look up the elevation of each location and use
that to explain your answer.)
Lihue, Hawaii, sits at an elevation of 53 feet, while Kilauea, Hawaii, is situated at an elevation of 273
feet. Lihue's lower elevation is a key factor contributing to its higher temperature when compared to
Kilauea. This is because the lower elevation allows Lihue to absorb more solar radiation.
d.
Why is San Diego California (32°N, 117°W) warmer than Seattle Washington (47°N, 122°W)?
San Diego is positioned at a lower latitude and is closer to the equator than Seattle. It falls within a
North American tropical region and receives a greater amount of direct sunlight throughout the year.
Seattle, being at a higher latitude, receives less direct sunlight, resulting in cooler temperatures.
Additionally, San Diego's proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its influence from ocean currents further
contribute to its warming compared to Seattle
Part 2: Exploring the ArcGIS Online Living Atlas
In the first lab, you completed a tutorial on getting to know ArcGIS Online, a cloud-based GIS (geographic
information system) that is relatively user-friendly. We are going to further explore ArcGIS Online in this part
of the lab by exploring the kind of information that can be found in the Living Atlas.
First, log onto our SMC ArcGIS Online organization at:
AGOL
(
https://www.arcgis.com/index.html
). (if you’ve
forgotten your user name and password, please review the info provided in Lab 1; if you have forgotten your
password, you’ll need to set up a new one; if you have forgotten your user name, let me know because I can
look that up for you)
Then in a separate tab, go to this
Living Atlas tutorial
(
https://learn.arcgis.com/en/projects/get-started-with-
arcgis-living-atlas-of-the-world/
). If you scroll down to the Lesson Plan on this webpage, you’ll see this tutorial
has three parts.
Only do the first two parts
(omit the section using ArcGIS Pro).
As you’re working through the tutorial, take some screenshots to prove that you’re completing it. Make sure to
include the upper right-side of the window in your tutorial where it shows your name in ArcGIS Online
.
9.
Insert screenshots below or upload them to Canvas in order to prove that you did the tutorial.
(3 pts)
10. Reflect on what you learned from this tutorial. How can the Living Atlas better help you understand
Physical Geography as a student? What are the kinds of things you can learn from the Living Atlas?
(1 pt)
Part 3: Investigating Temperature-Air Pressure Patterns at a Location of Your Choosing
To do this part of the lab, you will need to choose a location to study. It can be your favorite place, or just a
place you want to learn more about. Once you’ve picked your location, examine the maps of global temperature
and pressure patterns in January and July from part 1 of the lab, and then answer the following questions.
11. What place are you studying and what are is its latitude and longitude coordinates? (remember to write it in
the correct format, e.g., Santa Monica is 34°N, 118°W)
0.5pts)
New York City
located at approximately 40°N, 74°W.
12. Describe the geography of the location you’re studying (for example, is it in the tropics, midlatitudes, or
high latitudes? In the middle of a continent or nearer the coast?).
(0.5pts)
New York City is positioned in the midlatitudes of North America, specifically on the northeastern coast of the
United States. While it is not situated in tropical regions, it enjoys a temperate climate characterized by well-
defined seasons, featuring warm summers and cold winters. The city is situated in close proximity to the coast,
along the eastern seaboard, and is directly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean to its east, which significantly
impacts its climate and weather patterns.
13. Recall the factors influencing temperature patterns around the world are: latitude, land-water contrasts,
ocean currents, wind patterns, and elevation. How would you describe the temperature pattern for this
location in January? In July? What factors do you think are responsible for these temperature patterns?
(2pts)
New York City faces chilly weather in January. As it is located in the northern hemisphere and is some distance
from the equator, this can be attributed to its high latitude. The city's midlatitude location and the reduced
amount of solar energy reaching the area as a result of the Earth's axial tilt away from the sun during this
winter month have a considerable impact on the city's temperatures.
New York City experiences mild weather in July. Again, the city's midlatitude location is important, but in the
summer, when the Northern Hemisphere is inclined toward the sun, the city benefits from more solar energy. As
a result, the temperature becomes warmer and occasionally hot and humid.
14. How would you describe the pressure pattern for this location in January? In July? Why do you think that
pattern exists?
(2pts)
As a result of the polar jet stream's effect and the predominance of cold, dry high-pressure systems, New York
City enjoys higher air pressure in January, which contributes to the city's clear and stable winter weather. In
July, however, atmospheric pressure is lower due to the presence of warm, humid air masses and the polar jet
stream's retreat to the north. These elements help low-pressure systems form, which can bring summer
thunderstorms and precipitation to the area. The pressure pattern in July is further influenced by the location of
the jet stream and sporadic tropical weather systems, creating a dynamic and potentially stormy summer
climate.
15. Go to
The Global Wind Atlas
(direct link: https://globalwindatlas.info/) and enter the location you’re
studying into the search bar at the top so the map zooms into the area you picked. Explore the atlas a bit by
clicking on the different tools and tabs to see what they do. How would you describe the wind at this
location today?
(1pt)
Wind direction is Northeast, wind speed varies between 15.6 and 17.8 mph with gusts up to 33.5 mph.
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