GEOL1340_Lab 1
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Geology
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May 3, 2024
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GEOL 1340
Name: Moises Aguilar Martinez
Weather and Climate
Lab 1
Due Date
Problem 1 (20 points).
Summarize two key weather events in the U.S. over the last year. Please reference your sources (no more than a paragraph or 300 words. You may need to use an extra page).
An EF4 Tornado that began in Booring, Tennessee had catastrophic damages to the area on December 10, 2021. On this day the area had been unseasonably warm which even broke past standing records. A strong upper-level trough approached from the west producing warm and unstable air mass. This would create supercells that would go on to produce a very strong tornado. The tornado would travel along the Mississippi River and cross into Lake County. The tornado crossed through stores, shop buildings, hotels, restaurants, and camping facilities. Throughout its path of destruction, a total of 3 fatalities and millions of dollars of damage to property would occur. On September 23, 2022, a tropical depression formed in the central Caribbean sea on September 23rd. At 11pm later that day it would be upgraded to a tropical storm that would later be known as IAN. IAN would travel through the Gulf of Mexico as it approached South West Florida. At 7 am September 6, IAN would become a category 4 hurricane hitting Florida and causing major damage. Wind gusts of up to 110 mph were measured at 100 feet above ground level. Collier county was left with buildings damaged and thousands without power. A total of 2.2 billion dollars of damage to property was caused. References:
Ncei. Storm events database. National Centers for Environmental Information
. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=997133. Accessed 9 February 2023
Problem 2 (20 points).
Weather and climate data
Find temperature data for December 1- December 31, 2022, for the Fort Worth area from the National Weather Service (http://www.weather.gov/fwd/dfwclimo). Go to summary of previous months and use the drop-down menu to choose December 2022. Record the daily high (max) and low
(min) temperature in a table along with the days of the month.
Now record the climate data for December for Fort Worth. Go to (https://www.weather.gov/fwd/dfw_normals) and choose December. Record the average high and low temperatures into the table (the “normal”, “maximum”, and “minimum” temperatures).
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Construct a single graph of the observed high and the low temperature for this time period along with
the average high and low temperatures (either using Excel, MATLAB, or drawing your own graph on
graphing paper). Be sure to include labels on the x (dates) and y (temperatures) axis and include a legend. Copy the graph and the table into this lab document. What are your observations regarding the weather compared to the climate averages throughout the month of December, 2022? In this context, describe the difference between weather and climate. 3
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Problem 3 (30 points).
Figure1 displays surface map air pressure in hecto Pascal (100 Pa = 100 N/m
2
) observed at weather stations. On the map, consider each pressure value to have been observed at the location of the plotted number. Note that the average mid-latitude sea level pressure is 1013.25 hPa.
Figure 1. Surface air pressure observations of the central and eastern U.S.
The isobars 1008 hPa and 1012 hPa have already been drawn. Complete the analysis by drawing the 1016 hPa, 1020 hPa, 1024 hPa, 1028 hPa, and 1032 hPa.
Please consider following rules:
1.
Always draw an isobar so air pressure readings greater than the isobar value on one side of the isobar and lower values on the other side of the isobar.
2.
When positioning the isobars, assume uniform pressure change. For example, a 1012-hPa isobar should be positioned halfway between 1008 hPa and 1016 hPa.
3.
Adjacent isobars tend to shape alike. Isobar changes are usual gradual
4.
Continue drawing the isobars until they reach the border of the graph.
5.
Isobars never stop in the middle of the graph. They never fork, touch, or cross each other.
6.
Isobars can not be skipped if they fall within the range of air pressure reported. Isobars must appear in a sequence. For example, the 1012 hPa isobar must be placed between the 1008 hPa
isobar and 1016 hPa isobar even if there are no observations between these points
7.
Always label all isobars
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8.
Extra Credit (10 points) Draw arrows showing the direction of the geostrophic winds
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Problem 4 (30 points).
Refer to the “Surface Station Model” and related explanations of map symbols to interpret the plotted weather data reported in the red box on the weather map in Figure 2. The station is Brownsville, TX.
Please report values and units.
Briefly explain the weather conditions.
Surface Air Temperature:47 degrees F
Dew Point: 45
Weather: Rain, not freezing, continuous. (slight at time of observation)
Sky Cover: 100% cloud cover
Wind speed:10+10= 20 knots
Wind direction: northwest
Sea-level pressure: 1021.7hpa
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Figure 2. Station models of surface weather conditions
Temperature: Heat energy of the air measured by a thermometer. In the U.S., the surface temperatures are given in degrees Fahrenheit. Example above: 57°F.
Wind: Speed measured by an anemometer, movement of air in nautical miles per hour (knots, kts). The long feather represents 10 kts, while the short feather represents 5 kts. A pennant flag indicates 50 kts. Direction is determined by a wind vane by where the air is coming from relative to true north.
Example above: 15 kts from north-northwest. (North is assumed at the top of the map.)
Sea-level pressure: Force of air per area due to its weight corrected to equivalent sea-level altitude of station. Measured by a barometer in hectopascals (or millibars- mb) and plotted in coded form without leading 9 or 10 as well as decimal point to show tenths. Typical sea-level air pressures range from 950 to 1049 hPa. Example above: 1010.7 hPa.
Sky cover: Percentage of total sky area covered by clouds of any level. Measured by a ceilometer. Example above: 100% overcast.
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Dewpoint: Water vapor content of the air, specifically the temperature (°F) the air at constant air pressure must be cooled to become saturated (begin condensation). Greater dewpoints mean greater amounts of water vapor per volume of the air. This is one of several measures of atmospheric humidity and is preferred in meteorology due to its direct relation to vapor content. Example above: 56°F. (The small difference between the temperature and the dewpoint indicates the air is near saturation with a high relative humidity. Fog or precipitation may form when the air is near saturation, as is shown by the sky cover and weather symbols)
Weather: A symbol for current observed weather conditions, especially those which may affect visibility and hamper aircraft operations. Example above: moderate rain.
For a more complete listing of weather symbols related to the station model, go to NWS https://www.weather.gov/jetstream/sfc_plot_symbols_max
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