The figure below shows the total daily insolation received at the top of the atmosphere by latitude (yaxis)
and
month (xaxis).
Using the information found in the figure and typical percentages of absorption, scattering,
reflection and transmission of incoming shortwave radiation found in the instructional c content for the unit and
Figure 2.34 in the textbook, answer the following questions (make sure to include units in your answer).
a. How much insolation is received at the top of the atmosphere (in W/m2) for a location at 30oN on August
1st? (1 mark)
b. How much of the insolation in a. is reflected by the components in the atmosphere (in W/m2)? (1 mark)
c. How much of the insolation in a. is absorbed by the components in the atmosphere (in W/m2)? (1 mark)
d. How much of the insolation in a. is transmitted through the atmosphere and received at the surface (in
W/m2)? (1 mark)
Figure 1.1: Mean daily insolation (W/m2) on a horizontal surface at the top of the atmosphere as a function of the
day of the year and the latitude. White areas correspond to the polar night. (Source:
http://www.elic.ucl.ac.be/textbook/chapter2_node5_3.xml
3.0/)
Question 2 worth
9 marks
Answer the following questions by comparing the tables below showing the average monthly temperatures (oC) for
four cities in Canada. For each of the cities, the location (in latitude and longitude) as well as elevation are
provided.
a. In the instructional content and the textbook, a number of factors affect the temperature at any location
(including latitude, continent/maritime location, elevation, cloud cover and prevailing winds. Which of these
factor(s) explain the annual temperature ranges for each location? (4 marks)
b. Why is the maximum temperature different for Winnipeg and Resolute Bay? (2 marks)
c. Although both are coastal cities, the temperature patterns for Halifax and Victoria are different. Why? (3
marks)
Victoria, British Columbia (48.41oN, 123.33oW, elevation – 0 m)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Range
Temp
(oC)
5.0 6.2 7.6 9.6 12.1 14.0 15.6 15.9 14.6 10.9 7.2 5.2
5.0 to
15.9
Winnipeg, Manitoba (49.90oN, 97.13oW, elevation – 232 m)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Range
Temp
(oC)
19.4
16.7
8.9
3.3 11.1 16.7 19.4 17.8 12.2 5.0 5.6
14.4
19.4
to
19.4
Halifax, Nova Scotia (44.65oN, 63.58oW, elevation – 38 m)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Range
Temp
(oC)
4.6
4.8
1.0
3.9 8.9 13.9 17.5 17.9 14.4 9.3 4.2 1.7
4.8
to
17.9
Resolute Bay, Nunavut (74.70oN, 94.83oW, elevation – 66 m)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Range
Temp
(oC)
32.0
33.0
31.2
23.5
11.0
0.6
4.0 1.9 5.0
15.2
24.3
29.0
33.0
to
4.0
Question 3 worth
3 marks
The maps below shows the mean sea level pressure for Canada measured on October 16, 2016. The lines on the
map (known as isobars) represent the pressure at the surface, while the symbols indicate the direction of the
wind. Winds are always labeled based on the direction the arrow comes from and not the tip of the arrow.
a. What are the approximate pressure and wind speed and direction for Victoria? (1 marks)
b. What are the approximate pressure and wind speed and direction for Halifax? (1 marks)
c. Explain the pressure gradient force at both locations and how this force, along with the Coriolis force would
create the observed winds (1 marks)
Figure 1.3: Mean sea level pressure map for Canada acquired on October 16, 2016. (Source:
https://www.weather.gc.ca/analysis/index_e.html)
My Home Jason Hou
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Question 4worth
5 marks
The graph below represents the saturated vapour pressure of air (in g/m3) at various temperatures. Using this
figure, answer the following questions. Example calculations can be found on page 101 of the textbook.
a. What is the saturated vapour pressure of an air parcel at a temperature of 15oC? (1 mark)
b. An air parcel at 15oC has an absolute humidity or actual vapour pressure of 4 g/m3. What is the relative
humidity of the parcel of air? (1 mark)
c. What is the approximate dew point temperature of the parcel of air? (2 mark)
d. Using the same parcel of air, assume that it cools to 5oC on a cool autumn afternoon in Winnipeg and
maintains the same actual vapour pressure of 4 g/m3. What is the relative humidity at this time? (1 mark)
Figure 1.4: Graph showing the relationship between saturation vapour pressure (g/m3) and temperature (oC).
Question 5 worth
13 marks
Using a graphing program like Excel, plot the vertical temperature profile (known as the environmental lapse rate)
of the atmosphere for the two hypothetical locations (Table 1.5). Make sure to connect the temperature plots for
Location A with a blue line and for Location B with a red line.
a. Provide the chart in your answer (2 marks)
A parcel of air with an initial temperature of 15oC begins to rise in Location A. The lifting condensation level of the
parcel is 1000 m. With a dashed line, carefully draw the temperature decrease of this parcel of air as it rises to
3500 m, similar to Figure 3.18 of the textbook.
b. Describe the stability pattern of this parcel of air (2 marks)
c. Does the parcel of rising air become highly stable or highly unstable between 1000 and 1500 m? Why? (3
marks)
A parcel of air with an initial temperature of 35oC begins to rise in Location B. The lifting condensation level of the
parcel is 2000 m. With a dashed line, carefully draw the temperature decrease of this parcel of air as it rises to
5000 m, similar to Figure 3.18 of the textbook.
d. Will this parcel of air begin to rise from the surface on its own? Why? (3 marks)
e. Does the stability of this parcel change with increased elevation? If so, at what elevation does this change
occur? (3 marks)
Table 1.5: Temperature (oC) at different elevations for two locations (A and B)
Elevation
(m)
Temperature (oC)
Location A Location B
5000 10