GEOG1010 Lab 4 ReportTemplate

Student name: Student #: Assignment: Course: GEOG 1010 (Fall 2023) Instructor: Elyn Humphreys Due Date: - - LAB 4 - - CLIMATE DATA AND CLIMATIC CHANGE (*Remember* these questions are paraphrased versions of those in the handout) Introduction [5 marks] Assignment 1-4. Using the supplementary MS Excel file ‘ Lab 4 Climate Data ’ on Brightspace, plot the Montreal December- February snowfall data for 1929-2010 on an X-Y scatter graph . Calculate the 5-year running mean of the ‘Snowfall’ data for the entire 82-year period and plot this on Figure 1 . Add a simple linear trendline to the 5-year running mean. Finally, include a caption for Figure 1 in your report. [23 marks] 5. Examine the trendline , is the snowfall trend negative, positive or roughly constant from 1929-2010? Explain how you know this. ( Hint: look at the y-equation) [2 marks] 6. Examine the 5-year running mean line (not the trendline). During the 1970s was snowfall increasing or decreasing? [1 mark] 7. What are the minimum , maximum , and average snowfall values of the entire 82-year period? Report your minimum, maximum, and average to 1dp in the table included in the Lab Report Template. [4 marks] Table 1. Minimum, maximum, and average snowfall (cm) for Montreal, QC from 1929-2010. Snowfall (cm) Year Minimum (cm) Maximum (cm) Average (cm)

Student name: Student #: Assignment: Course: GEOG 1010 (Fall 2023) Instructor: Elyn Humphreys Due Date: 8. Using MS Excel, calculate the Climate Normal for Snowfall from 1981-2010 . Remember, this is the average of the 30-year period. Report your answer in centimetres to 1dp . [2 marks] 9-11. Using the 1981-2010 Climate Normal, calculate winter Snowfall Anomalies for the entire 82-year period. Anomalies show the departure of a given year’s weather from the long-term average (Climate Normal). Plot the Snowfall Anomalies data for 1929-2010 on a 2-D column graph (this is Figure 2 ). Finally, include a caption for Figure 2 in your report. [11 marks] 12. Based on the anomalies: a. Describe the general trend of Montreal’s snowfall prior to 1980. [1 mark] b. Calculate the Climate Normal of the snowfall data from 1931-1960. Report your answer in centimetres to 1dp. [2 marks] c. How much more/less Snowfall (cm) occurred during 1931-1960 compared to the current climate normal (1981-2010)? Show your calculations and report your answer in centimetres to 1dp . [3 marks] d. What is this increase/decrease as a percentage (%)? Show your calculations and report your answer as % to 1dp . [3 marks] 13. Figure A (in the handout) shows a time series plot for Mean Winter Air Temperature and provides a 5-year running mean and linear trendline (with y-equation) . Describe the general change in winter air temperatures over the 82-year period. ( Hint: justify your answer with the y-equation). [2 marks] 14. a. Explain how the long-term trend in Mean Winter Air Temperature ( Figure A ) may account for the long-term trend in Snowfall ( Figure 1 ). ( Hint: what general relationships do you see between the two figures) [1 mark] b. Are there any long-term trends in the Dec-Feb Rainfall data ( Figure B in the handout ) which suggest air temperature influences snowfall? You need to compare Figures A and B (handout) with Figure 1 and explain your answer. [2 marks]

Student name: Student #: Assignment: Course: GEOG 1010 (Fall 2023) Instructor: Elyn Humphreys Due Date: Conclusion [3 marks] References