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Introduction to Geography, 8/e
Arthur Getis, San Diego State University
Judith Getis
Jerome D. Fellmann, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Physical Geography: Weather and Climate

Problems

Web Page Questions:

Answer the following questions using the web pages listed in the chapter.

1. National Council for Science and the Environment - http://www.noaa.gov/
Select "The Weather" and then select "National Warnings." Peruse this site.

a. How many different national warnings did you see? Why is this site constantly being updated?

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b. Given the definition of weather, make a general statement about all web pages for weather.

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<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::Weather Stats::/sites/dl/free/0072367229/9464/Image04_01.jpg','popWin', 'width=700,height=306,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif">Weather Stats (30.0K)</a>Weather Stats

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::Climagraphs::/sites/dl/free/0072367229/9464/Image04_02.jpg','popWin', 'width=594,height=876,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif">Climagraphs (87.0K)</a>Climagraphs

2. On the following diagram show the effect of the Coriolis Force on the deflection of winds in the northern

and southern hemispheres. Note: there is no deflection at the Equator.

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::Diagram 1::/sites/dl/free/0072367229/9464/Image04_03.jpg','popWin', 'width=431,height=431,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif">Diagram 1 (16.0K)</a>Diagram 1

3. On the following diagram indicate, for both hemispheres:
a. the following areas of high and low pressure with their respective titles:
  • Equatorial Trough
  • Subtropical High Pressure Belts
  • Subpolar Low Pressure Belts
  • Polar Highs

b. the following wind belts with their respective titles and directions:
  • Northeast Trades
  • Southeast Trades
  • Westerlies
  • Polar Easterlies

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::Diagram 2::/sites/dl/free/0072367229/9464/Image04_04.jpg','popWin', 'width=431,height=431,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif">Diagram 2 (13.0K)</a>Diagram 2

4. Complete the following table concerning soil horizons.(NOTE: italics get printed on the chart, the rest are to be printed in the answer section.)

 OAEBCR
Situation in Profile near the surface    
Color Intensity      
Presence of Organic Mattergreatest amount     
Presence of Minerals  little amounts   
Zone of ___?   accumulation  
Representative Particle Size smallest    

5. From your daily newspaper or local TV station or Internet source, cut out or make note of or print out the five-day extended weather forecast for a 14-consecutive day period. On the chart below, circle the days in vertical columns where the forecast and the actual occurrence closely match. Cross out the days where they do not match. Make a statement about the accuracy of long-range weather forecasts. For example, if the first 5-day forecast calls for rain on Thursday and sunshine on Friday, compare that to the second 5-day forecast to see if the same prediction is made for those two days. When Thursday and Friday come about, note if all or any of the predictions matched the actual weather experienced on those days. (Answers will vary with the weather forecasts.)

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::Forecast Chart::/sites/dl/free/0072367229/9464/Image04_05.jpg','popWin', 'width=560,height=276,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif">Forecast Chart (31.0K)</a>Forecast Chart

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. A conservationist group interested biogeography has asked for your support to purchase a tract of forest habitat in the northern hemisphere containing a unique species of tree that is being encroached by several tree species normally found to the south of this location. See diagram. Discuss why you would or would not support the purchase of land to create a forest preserve. For argument's sake, you decided to help purchase land in this area. Which tract of land - Tract A, Tract B or Tract C - would you agree to purchase and why?
  2. Make believe you lived thousands of years ago on the island off the Atlantic coast of present day Canada when this area had a subtropical climate similar to that of present-day Florida. On your 5th birthday, the Arctic Ocean began to break through a land barrier had contained it and started to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Now on your 105th birthday you recollect on the changes in climate. How did the climate change over that 100-year period? Why?
  3. List and explain in detail the influences on climate formation. Relate each influence to a specific climate explaining how that influence is exemplified.
  4. Discuss the interrelationship between climate, soil formation and natural vegetation. Explain why world maps of these phenomena are strikingly similar.
  5. Discuss how vegetation plays an important role in maintaining a favorable state of the atmosphere locally, regionally, and globally.