Factors That Affect Climate Answers 2k6w33

ES2101_final

12/05/2001

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What Factors Control Your Local Climate?

1 Why might one place have cold, snowy ●

winters, while it rarely snows at another place only a hundred miles away?

5 Summarize the major differences in climate ● between Fargo, ND and Dallas, TX.

Fargo has much colder minimum temperatures and

Major differences in elevation could for this.

2 Provide a justification for each factor you ●

indicated as having major influence on the climates of Phoenix, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ.

more snow than Dallas.

6 Provide a justification for each factor you ●

indicated as having major influence on the climates of Fargo, ND and Dallas, TX.

Elevation is the major climate control factor. Higher elevations in Flagstaff explain lower temperatures as

●

well as greater amounts of snow.

3 Summarize the major differences in climate between Boston, MA and North Bend, OR.

Latitude appears to be the biggest influence.

7 On another sheet of paper, write a ●

description of your local climate. Discuss characteristics such as timing and types of precipitation you receive, minimum and maximum temperatures and their timing, and any other aspects you think most accurately describe your local climate.

Temperatures in North Bend stay fairly constant year round, whereas Boston has greater temperature variations. Boston has snow in winter, while North Bend does not.

4 Provide a justification for each factor you ●

indicated as having major influence on the climates of Boston, MA and North Bend, OR.

ES2101

Answers will vary. Check for completeness.

8 Describe how each of the climate control ●

factors in Data Table 2 influences your local climate.

Ocean temperature and ocean currents differ greatly

Answers will vary. Check for descriptions of your local

between Boston and North Bend.

climate control factors.

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Locational Information Temperature (Maximum) Temperature (Minimum) Precipitation (Rain) Precipitation (Snow)

Elevation (ft) Latitude Longitude Jan/July Maximum Jan/July Minimum Jan/July Average Jan/July Average

Phoenix 1112 33.3N 112.0W 65/108 122 40/78 19 0.03/0.01 7.7 0/0 0

Flagstaff 7004 35.1N 114.4W 40/82 97 13/47 -23 0.06/0.02 22.9 0.06/0 108.9

Boston 30 42.2N 71.0W 38/80 102 22/62 -7 0.09/0.1 41.5 0.02/0 41.7

No. Bend 10 43.2N 124.5W 50/65 95 39/52 13 0.27/0.04 63.3 0/0 1.8

Fargo 895 46.5N 96.5W 15/82 105 0/60 -35 0.02/0.12 19.5 0.03/0 40.1

Dallas 574 32.5N 97.0W 52/95 113 32/72 -1 0.06/0 33.7 Trace/0 3.1

My Home

Dallas Major m m m m m m

My Home

Data Table 2: Rating the Influence of Climate Control Factors on Local Climate Climate Control Factors Phoenix Flagstaff Latitude m m Elevation Major Major Water m m Ocean Current m m Topography m m Prevailing Winds m m Vegetation m m Key: Major= Major influence m = Minor influence

Earth Science

Boston m m Major Major m Major m

No. Bend m m Major Major m Major m

Fargo Major m m m m m m

Internet Investigations Guide

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Teacher’s Guide Chapter 21 Internet Investigation

Data Table 1: Comparative Climates