Name:________________________________________________             Section:________________

part 1:  Temperature Conversions

1.   Convert the following Fahrenheit temperatures to Celsius.

a.   32 °F    = 0°C

b.   50 °F    = 10°C

c.   -22 °F   = -30°C

d.   0 °F      = -17.8°C

2.   Convert the following Celsius temperatures to Fahrenheit.

a.   25 °C   = 77°F

b.   0 °C     = 32°F

c.   5 °C     = 41°F

d.   -10 °C  = 14°F

TABLE 3.3    Monthly Temperature Data (°C) for Three Midlatitude U.S. Cities

MONTH

 

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

San Francisco, CA. 37.61°N, 122.38°W  (San Francisco International Airport)

 

Mean Temp.

9.2

11.2

11.8

13.1

14.5

16.3

17.0

17.6

18.0

16.1

12.6

9.6

Max. Temp.

13.1

15.2

16.0

17.7

19.1

21.2

22.0

22.3

23.1

21.1

16.8

13.3

Min. Temp.

5.4

7.2

7.6

8.4

9.8

11.4

12.1

12.7

12.8

11.0

8.3

5.9

Wichita, KS. 37.65°N 97.43°W (Wichita/Midcontinent Airport)

 

Mean Temp.

-0.9

0.8

6.9

13.1

18.3

23.6

26.7

26.1

21.3

14.6

6.8

0.9

Max. Temp.

4.5

7.9

13.3

19.9

24.8

30.6

33.6

32.7

27.7

21.5

12.7

6.6

Min. Temp.

-6.6

-4.0

0.6

7.0

12.6

18.1

20.8

19.9

15.1

8.3

0.9

-4.2

Norfolk, VA 36.90°N  76.20°W  (Norfolk International Airport)

 

Mean Temp.

3.9

5.0

9.2

13.8

18.9

23.3

25.6

25.1

22.1

16.2

11.3

6.5

Max. Temp.

8.5

9.8

14.3

19.3

24.0

28.2

30.2

29.5

26.4

20.8

16.2

11.2

Min. Temp.

-0.6

0.1

4.0

8.3

13.7

18.4

21.1

20.7

17.8

11.6

6.5

1.8

 

 

 

Name:________________________________________________             Section:________________

part 2:  Continentality and Air Temperature

1.   Plot the cities in Table 3.3 on the base map provided (Figure 3.2).

2.   Compute the statistics listed below using the data in Table 3.3.

 

San Francisco,

California

Wichita,

Kansas

Norfolk,

Virginia

Average Annual Temperature*

13.9

13.2

15.1

Maximum Range in Annual Temperature*

17.7

40.2

30.8

Month of Highest Mean Temperature

September

July

July

*See Table 3.2 for definition

3.   Plot the mean monthly temperatures for all three locations on the graph paper provided.  Plot temperature on the Y-axis (vertical axis) according to the range of values in the temperature data.  Plot months of the year on the X-axis (horizontal axis).  Connect the points for each city as a smooth line, and label each line.

4.   Based on the statistics computed in Question 2, describe the relationship between location and maximum range in temperature.

drier interior locations have greater temperature range, whereas moister coastal sites have less temperature range 

5.   Why does San Francisco have a smaller temperature range than Norfolk, VA, even though both are located on coasts?  Keep in mind the prevailing winds are from the west.

San Francisco is on the windward side of a continent (facing the Pacific Ocean); Norfolk is on the leeward side of a continent (facing 3000 miles of land upwind)

6.   Assuming that all three cities receive their highest total monthly insolation in June, how long (in months) is the seasonal lag at:

San Francisco:  3                               Wichita:  1                               Norfolk:   1

7.   a.   Which city has the longest seasonal lag in mean monthly temperature? San Francisco

b.   Why? Because San Francisco is immediately downwind of the ocean-thus thermal inertia of moist oceanic air that is immediately upwind; i.e., oceans moderate temperature of overlying air by 1) energy diversion of heat for LE (heat used to keep air humid), and 2) thermal conduction between air and seawater

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIGURE 3.2  North America Base Map

 

 

 

 

Name:________________________________________________             Section:________________

part 3:  Latitudinal Temperature Gradient in North AMERICA

1.   Plot the cities in Table 3.4 on the base map provided (Figure 3.2).

2.   Plot the January and July average temperatures listed in Table 3.4 against latitude on the graphs provided.

3.   Draw a straight line through each temperature graph that best represents the trend of the plotted points.  Try to minimize the vertical distance between each point and the “best fit” line.

4.   Calculate the January (winter) and July (summer) temperature gradients in degrees Celsius per degree of latitude over the latitudinal range of these cities.  Show your work.

a. January Gradient = -18.6-14.7/49.9-25.7 =   - 1.38oC/1oLatitude

 

b. July Gradient = 19.6-27.7/49.9-25.7 =   - 0.33oC/1o Latitude

 

5.   Is the temperature gradient larger or smaller during the winter?         larger

6.   a.   Compute the difference between July average and January average temperatures for each city and enter the value in the space provided in Table 3.4.

b.   Describe the relationship between the temperature range and location between 25° N and 50° N latitude.

increased temperature range at increased latitude  (+1.88oF/1oLatitude)

 

TABLE 3.4  Average January and July Temperatures for Selected Central U.S. Cities

                                      Latitude            Avg. Temperature (°C)            Temperature

         City                          (°N)                January          July                    Range

   Winnipeg, Canada         49.9                 -18.6            19.6             38.2

   Fargo, ND                     46.9                 -14.3            21.2             35.5

   Sioux Falls, SD               43.6                -10.1           23.5            33.6

   Lincoln, NE                    40.9                  -4.6           25.5            30.1

   Manhattan, KS               39.2                  -2.8           26.2            29.0

   Wichita, KS                    37.7                  -1.3           27.4            28.7

   Oklahoma City, OK       35.4                   2.1           27.7            25.6

   Ft. Worth TX                 32.8                   6.3           29.6            23.3

   San Antonio, TX             29.5                   9.6           29.4            19.8

   Monterrey, Mexico        25.7                 14.7           27.7            13

 

 

 

7.   Hot Springs, Ark. has a latitude of about 34° N.  Use the graphs you constructed to estimate the average January and July temperatures.

a.   Predicted Average January Temperature: ((34-25.7)-1.38)+14.7 = 3.25oC

b.      Predicted Average July Temperature:        ((34-25.7)-0.33)+27.7 = 25.0oC

c.       Predicted temperature range:                    25.0 oC -3.25 oC = 21.75

d.   Plot Hot Springs on your base map (Figure 3.2).

e.   How do the predicted values compare to the actual values for Hot Springs?

slightly low for January and July temperatures; slightly low estimate for range 

 

 

Actual Average January Temperature: 4°C

Actual Average July Temperature: 27.6°C

Actual temperature range: 23.6°C

8.   Portland, OR is located at approximately 45o N while Hot Springs is located at 34° N. Given your answer to question 6b, would you expect Portland to have a larger or smaller temperature range than Hot Springs?

smaller, as Portland is also near a west coast

9.   Use the graphs you constructed to estimate the average January and July temperatures at Portland 45o N.

a.   Predicted Average January Temperature: ((45-25.7)-1.38)+14.7 = -11.9oC

b.   Predicted Average July Temperature:        ((45-25.7)-0.33)+27.7 = 21.3oC

c.   Predicted temperature range:                    21.3 -  -11.9 = 33.2

d.   Plot Portland on your base map (Figure 3.2).

e.   How do the predicted values compare to the actual values for Portland below?

Predicted 16o too low for January; Predicted 2o too high for July; predicted double the actual range 

 

Actual Average January Temperature: 3.9°C

Actual Average July Temperature: 19.6°C

Actual temperature range: 15.7°C

10. a.   Which city, Portland or Hot Springs, did your graph best predict the average temperatures and temperature range for?

Hot Springs

b.   Why? (Hint: Consider where Portland is located and the location of the data used to construct your graphs.)

Data to determine gradient came from interior; Portland is coastal.