GEOL1111_when precip changes_questions
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Normandale Community College *
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1111
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Geology
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Jan 9, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by DukeRain12395
GEOL1111 – When precipitation patterns
change – Water Resources; lab is worth 30
points!
Part A: What is Drought?
1. List 5 cities or locations for which you examined dynamic climographs (climate data) or
accumulated precipitation maps. Include the date range that you observed. Tell whether each
location is wetter than normal, about normal, or drier than normal. Explain your reasoning.
Defining drought
2. Write a definition for drought, in your own words. Is it a drought today?
Part B. Visualizing Drought Indicators
3. Compare your model to the real world: describe the situation represented by each container.
4. On average, the Western U.S. experiences fewer cloudy days per year than the Eastern U.S.
Based on this fact, which area is more likely to have drier soil and therefore, be more prone to
drought?
Decreased precipitation
5. Which areas in the continental U.S. consistently received less precipitation than normal during
January 2008?
6. Based on your explorations, describe the locations that you think were developing or
experiencing drought by June of 2008.
Reduced streamflow
7. If an area shows just one stream gage location with lower-than-normal streamflow, can you
assume that the area is in drought? Why or why not? Describe one or more conditions besides
drought that could account for low streamflow.
8. Based on patterns in the streamflow data, predict which areas of the country are experiencing
drought.
9. How well did your predictions match the drought monitor map? Describe areas where your
predictions were correct and areas where they did not match.
10. Of the two main types of data you examined—precipitation and the streamflow—which of
the two seems to be a better predictor of drought conditions identified by the Drought Monitor
layer?
Part C. How is Drought Measured?
11. Access and interpret the current PDSI map image. Write a description of current drought
status for areas across the U.S.
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