Seasonal and daily temperatures

Question 1

What controls seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations?

Answer 1

Variations in energy

Question 2

What causes the seasons?

Answer 2

• The tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to the plane of it’s orbit around the sun.
• The elliptical path of the Earth brings it closer to the Sun mid winter

Question 3

Where is the sun overhead mid-summer?

Answer 3

The Tropic of cancer

Question 4

Where is the sun overhead mid-winter?

Answer 4

The Tropic of capricorn

Question 5

Sunlight falling at an angle spreads over a larger area, so what does energy depend on?

Answer 5

Angle of illumination

Question 6

What is the inverse square law of radiation?

Answer 6

At increasing distance d from a source of radiation, the energy passing through 1m^2 decreases as 1/d^2

Question 7

How is energy transported from tropical regions to higher latitudes?

Answer 7

• Pattern of circulating ocean currents
• Mid-latitude cyclones and anti-cyclones
• Transfer of evaporated water from tropical regions

Question 8

What is global climate influenced by?

Answer 8

Everything that influences energy balance

Question 9

Does the Earth recieve the same solar Radiation each season?

Answer 9

Yes

Question 10

What has been one of the main drivers of ice ages?

Answer 10

Eccentricity changes of the Earth’s orbit

Question 11

What is daily variation in temperature controlled by?

Answer 11

The Earth’s rotation

Question 12

Do temperatures decrease faster with height by day or by night?

Answer 12

By day

Question 13

What do snow and ice do?

Answer 13

They insulate us against very cold ground temperatures

Question 14

What are isotherms?

Answer 14

Lines of constant temperature

Question 15

What do isotherms show?

Answer 15

The influence of land and sea on average temperatures across the Earth

Question 16

What does nearby water do to the range of temperatures experienced?

Answer 16

It decreases the range of temperatures

Question 17

What is specific heat capacity?

Answer 17

The amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1g of material by 1 degree celsius

Question 18

What is latent heat?

Answer 18

The amount of heat energy needed to evaporate 1g of material or, more generally, to change its state at constant temp

Question 19

What are different ways to measure temperature?

Answer 19

• Liquid-in-glass thermometer
• Ubiquitous digital thermometer
• Platinum resistance thermometers

Question 20

What measuring devices must be protected form direct sunlight and rain?

Answer 20

Meterological thermometers, hygrometers and barometers