McLucas_B_Lab4_orographic_precipitation.docx
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Appalachian State University *
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Date
Dec 6, 2023
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GHY 1011 – Global Climate Change
Precipitation Measurement and Orographic Effects
name____________________________________
Assignment
(*use the file Lab4_orographic_precipitation.docx available on ASUlearn for
your lab report. Before submitting the lab report be sure to rename it adding your last name
and first initial (e.g.,
McLucas_B_Lab4_orographic_precipitation.docx ). In addition to the lab
report, you will be submitting a map you create for questions 10 and 14).
Part I: Precipitation Gauge Siting and/or Snow Measurement
1.
When did CoCoRaHS begin? (1 point)
In 1998, the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University launched CoCoRaHS as a
reaction to the devastating flood that occurred in Fort Collins in 1997.
2.
Why was CoCoRaHS started? (1 point)
3.
Who uses the CoCoRaHS data? (1 point)
Meteorologists, floodplain managers, insurance adjusters, farmers, ranchers, educators, students, and
recreationists use CoCoRaHS data to make well-informed judgments about severe storm warnings and
water resource analysis.
4.
Describe your site (i.e., where, exactly will you place your gauge). (1 point)
I’m going to place my gauge on the ground right by the Nantahala River.
5.
What makes this a good location? (2 points)
This is a good location because it rains a lot in the Nantahala area and its by a river where the
evaporation is at its highest point.
6.
Are there any
drawbacks
of the site? (2 points)
The only draw backs are Nantahala is about 10 degrees colder than Andrews which is where I live.
7.
Discuss the suitability of your site to measure precipitation (especially snow) during periods of
high winds. (e.g., will it be subject to blowing rain/snow or drifting snow) (2 points)
no, the spot that I have chosen is in an open grassy area by the Nantahala River.
8.
Discuss the factors that may influence the amount of snow that accumulates in the gauge (2
points).
If it rains a lot all day then there would be more in the funnel.
One problem I might run into is if it
stays warm than there wont be much snow and the snow will most likely melt.
9.
Why is taking a core sample often desirable to measure the liquid equivalent of new snowfall?
(2 points).
Because you can measure it more accurately but you have to measure how much
warm water you use and how much water there is after all the snow has melted and just
subtract the warm water that you put in from the total and then you’ll have your daily
precipitation rate.
b
http://www.cocorahs.org/Content.aspx?page=measuresnow
)
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Part II: Topographic Influences on Precipitation Patterns
10.
Using the shaded relief map ( WNC_map.pdf ) of Western North Carolina, mark with a large
X
five
locations that you suspect received maximum snowfall from this event. You can use
the “draw” feature in Adobe to add your “X” markings. Be sure to rename this file in our
standard format (i.e., use the “save as” feature), i.e., Lastname_First_intial_WNC_map.pdf .
(5 points)
11.
Which areas likely received greater/smaller amounts of accumulation and why? (4 points)
The top 5 places with the most accumulation are Lenoir, East Ashville, Hickory, Candler and
Brevard. The lowest place with accumulation seems to be Cities like Ashville and Bryson City.
And the highest point of accumulation seems to be places in the mountains away from
towns or city’s.
12.
Discuss how the actual observations compare to your predictions? (2 points)
My predictions were close I was thinking more areas like cities and towns more than areas in the
mountains.
13.
Discuss
how and why the topography influenced the precipitation patterns in this case. ( 2
points) because that’s areas where the rain goes
that’s how non
manmade lakes are made
and another thing you have to look at is the water shed areas.
07-09 October 2017 – Southeast Flow Associated with Hurricane Nate
14.
Using the shaded relief map of Western North Caroline you just saved for Question 10,
mark
with a large circle
five
locations that you suspect received maximum rainfall from this event. (5
points)
1
Brevard
65.9
2
Oak Island
60.0
3
Myrtle Grove
58.5
4
Morehead City 58.2
5
Leland
58.2
15.
Which areas likely received greater/smaller amounts of precipitation and why? (4 points)
Places with the smallest amount of precipitation is Half Moon, New Bern, and Boone
16.
Discuss how the actual observations compare to your predictions? (2 points)
There were pretty close to what I thought because Brevard is like Nantahala Forest and how it rains
so much
.
17.
Discuss
how and why the topography influenced the precipitation patterns in this case. ( 2
points) because these areas have large bodies of water and with that causes a lot of
precipitation causing it to rain. That’s why in places like Florida it rains so much because its
covered and surrounded by big bodies of water.
Part III: Importance of Precipitation in Global Climate Change
18.
Why is the measurement of precipitation important in the context of climate and climate
change? (provide a brief answer, 2-3 sentences) (4 points) its important because we can
measure how much rain is leaving the atmosphere. But it’s important to know how much
comes back into the atmosphere. And if there is more being taken than there is coming
back then it can cause places to go into a drought season which is also bad for example
over the years the Sahara desert turned into a desert it used to be a big rainforest but
because of climate change it altered the rainforest dramatically and now it’s a desert that
barely gets any rain fall.
19.
Next, choose a state OTHER than North Carolina and discuss
two
potential implications for
that state if climate changes result in substantially more (or less) precipitation (atmospheric
moisture, water availability). (6 points) if the climate continues how it is then places like
Florida is going to have problems with bad flooding, the past 5 years there’s been a raise in
water temperature and precipitation in Florida because of how many people live in Florida
and all of these big industries’ pumping out all of this black smoke like the paper plants its
destroying the ozone witch it why the climate is getting worse and trying to change if we
push it father than in the next 20mto 30 years were going to see a big difference in the
floods in Florida many places will be covered in water in Florida places like Maimi.
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