A2 METEOROLOGY: AN ICT LESSON
Based on A2 MET LINKS PAGE of GeographyPages
Searches using GOOGLE with appropriate strings will be useful too.
Remember that you also have access to David Waugh’s ‘GAIA’, and you’ve had the chance to get O’Hare & Sweeney’s ‘The Atmospheric System’ from the library, along with other meteorological textbooks.
You will have 2 lessons in the computer rooms to complete these tasks.
References: Waugh: pp. 188-195 / O’Hare & Sweeney: pp. 16-23
The tasks are as follows:
1. Provide a definition of the terms: albedo, atmospheric pressure, aspect, troposphere, isothermal layer
[ 5 ]
2. What would be a typical albedo value for the following surfaces:
Tropical Rainforest
Sandy Deserts
Water (assume reasonable temperature)
Ice
Farmland: Arable crops
Grassland
[ 5 ]
3. There are a number of factors which influence the amount of insolation received at the earth’s surface, and the temperature variations between different places
They can be summarised as the following:
- Altitude
- Height of the sun in the sky
- Land-sea difference (land heats up quicker than the sea but also cools down more quickly) - due to difference in specific heat capacity and ease of penetration of sun's rays into water, plus the cooling effect of evaporation at the surface
- Prevailing winds
- Ocean currents
- Albedo
- Diurnal variations
- Localised patterns in cloud cover
- Urbanisation
Make notes from Waugh, or via Internet sites, which explain the effect of the above factors on the temperature at the surface.
[ 10 ]
4. What mechanisms act to transfer heat from the equator towards the Poles ? Explain these with the aid of at least one diagram.
5. Go to the University of Oregon's GLOBAL CLIMATE ANIMATIONS site.
Watch the animations which show the net flow of radiation: both short and long wave, and the flux (or movement) of heat. Look at the seasonal pattern of variations in surface temperature - try the FLASH option first for a better result.
What do you notice about the areas of the earth's surface which are the warmest ?
Where are they located, and how do these locations vary throughout the year ?
Explore some of the other animations and try to explain them: e.g surface pressure, global water balance
6. PAST QUESTIONS
a) Why does temperature in the earth's atmosphere normally decrease as altitude increases ? [ 5 ]
b) With the aid of an example, outline the effect of aspect on surface temperatures [ 4 ]
c) Describe the characteristics of the troposphere which help explain its importance in controlling weather patterns on the earth's surface [ 5 ]
The work needs to be completed in WORD, or some other format, and handed in by the end of the second session in the ICT rooms.
If you finish early, you may leave early, as long as the work is completed to my satisfaction.
You will also receive a sheet giving you suggested work to do over the summer holiday.