Lab 1: Solar Radiation & Seasons
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University of Notre Dame *
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Geography
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Dec 6, 2023
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Lab 1: Solar Radiation & Seasons
Q1:
What controls how much radiation the Sun emits? Sunspots are not the primary control.
The Sun’s temperature: as temperature increases, radiation emitted increases exponentially.
Q2:
Does the Sun emit more ultra-violet radiation or visible radiation?
The Sun mostly emits visible radiation.
Q3:
To what celestial body is the tilt axis always pointed throughout the year?
The axis is always tilted towards the North star Polaris.
Q4:
What hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun on June 21?
Northern Hemisphere
Q5:
What hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun on December 21?
Southern Hemisphere
Q6:
What are the approximate latitudes (i.e., to the first decimal place) of the following places?
Zoom in on each circle to get the most accurate latitude.
a. Arctic Circle, Canada:
66.3 N
b. Richardson, NB, Canada:
45.0 N
c. Tropic of Cancer, Atlantic Ocean:
23.3 N
d. Equator, Brazil:
0.0
e. Tropic of Capricorn, Argentina:
23.3 S
f. Malspina, Argentina:
45.0 S
g. Antarctic Circle, Antarctica:
66.3 S
Q7:
Where was the noon altitude of the Sun highest and lowest on the equinoxes? Your answer
should be either a latitude or a name for a specific latitude.
The noon altitude was highest on the equinoxes at the Equator (0.00 N), and lowest at the Arctic
Circle, Canada (66.56 N) and the Antarctic Circle, Antarctica (66.56 S).
Q8:
Approximately how many hours of daylight did each of the locations receive on the two
equinoxes?
Each of the locations received approximately 12 hours of sunlight during the equinoxes.
Q9:
Where was the noon altitude of the Sun highest and lowest on June 21? Your answer should
be either a latitude or a name for a specific latitude.
On June 21st, the noon altitude was highest at the Tropic of Cancer (23.44 N), and lowest at the
Antarctic Circle (66.56 S).
Q10:
Where was the noon altitude of the Sun highest and lowest on December 21? Your answer
should be either a latitude or a name for a specific latitude.
On December 21st, the noon altitude was highest at the Tropic of Capricorn (23.44 S), and
lowest at the Arctic Circle (66.56 N).
Q11:
What locations had the most and fewest daylight hours on June 21? Your answers should
be either (1) a latitude, (2) a name for a specific latitude, or (3) the name of a specific range in
latitudes.
The Arctic Circle had the most daylight hours on June 21st, and the Antarctic Circle had the
fewest daylight hours.
Q12:
What locations had the most and fewest daylight hours on December 21? Your answers
should be either (1) a latitude, (2) a name for a specific latitude, or (3) the name of a specific
range in latitudes.
The Antarctic Circle had the most daylight hours, and the Arctic Circle had the fewest daylight
hours on December 21st.
Q13:
What is the noon altitude of the Sun on December 21?
55.6
Q14:
What is the noon altitude of the Sun on June 21?
76.6
Q15:
What two processes cause locations at high latitudes to receive less intense solar radiation
compared to locations at lower latitudes?
The processes are beam spreading and beam depletion. Beam spreading means that when
sunlight hits earth’s surface from an angle, it spreads over a larger area and is less
concentrated/intense. When the sun is directly overhead, at a sun altitude of 90, the sunlight is
concentrated into a smaller area and is more intense. Beam depletion also occurs when the sun is
at lower altitudes (closer to the horizon) because the sunlight has to pass through a much thicker
atmosphere at sunrise and sunset than it does at noon.
Q16:
What are the latitudes and longitudes of Miami, FL USA and Cleveland, OH USA?
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a. Miami:
25.5 N, 80.1 W
b. Cleveland:
41.3 N, 81.4 W
Q17: Which location do you expect to have more solar radiation on the June Solstice and why?
I would expect Miami to have more solar radiation on the June Solstice because on June 21st, the
noon altitude is highest at the Tropic of Cancer (23.44 N), which is closer to Miami.
Q18:
What aspect of solar radiation causes Cleveland to have more solar radiation than Miami in
June and July?
The number of daylight hours is higher in Cleveland during June and July.
Q19:
How did the locations of the warmest areas shift from January to July?
In January, the warmest areas were concentrated more in the southern hemisphere, but in July,
the warmest areas were more in the northern hemisphere.
Q20:
Why is Aswan, Egypt one of the hottest places on Earth in July?
Aswan, Egypt is already warm due to it being located in a desert. In July, it receives more direct
sunlight due to the tilt of the earth.
Q21:
Why does Canada experience much larger differences in temperature from January to July
than does Brazil?
Brazil does not receive as much temperature variation as Canada does because Brazil is near the
equator, so the amount of direct sunlight it receives does not change much between the seasons.