Value of questions is shown in [brackets].  Total: 50 points.

Please hand in your answers on another sheet of paper.  You may use this sheet for #1.
 

1.   [12] This question compares the climate of three Washington locations.

Fill in the table below using the website http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmwa.html.

Before you look up the numbers, guess which of the three locations has the highest annual average temperature. (credit given for any of the three - you don't have to guess the right answer) ________________
 

climate variable	Clearwater (on the coast)	Seattle (Sand Point)	Yakima
January - avg max
January - avg min
January diurnal temperature range (max minus min)
July - avg max
July - avg min
July diurnal temperature range
Annual average temperature
Annual precipitation
Annual snowfall

Which city has the highest annual average temperature?  

Study the January and July maxes and mins.  Which of these climate variables has the smallest difference across the three stations?  Which has the largest?

Why does Yakima get the most snow even though it gets the least precipitation?

For fun, guess the same set of numbers for your home town, then look up a climate station in or near your home town; if you live in another western state, you can use http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/.  Elsewhere in the USA, use http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/USclimate/states.fast.html
How close were you?  Did any of the numbers surprise you?

2. [5] In 2-3 complete sentences, what is the difference between the greenhouse effect and global warming?

3.   [6] (a) Define "feedback".
      (b) A and B are linked through a feedback loop.  In each of the situations below, state whether the relationship
indicates a negative feedback or a positive feedback.
        i.   A increases; B acts to decrease A
        ii.  A decreases; B acts to increase A
        iii. A increases; B acts to increase A
        iv. A decreases; B acts to decrease A
    (c) name three major climate feedbacks and for each, state whether it is positive or negative.

4.  [6]
(a) What are the three most common gases in the atmosphere?

(b) What would Earth's average surface temperature be if these gases were the only gases in the atmosphere?  (You don't need to use any formulas for this;  it was calculated in class and in the textbook.) Explain your answer.
 

5.  [7] The earth is closer to the sun in January than in July (by about 3%).

(a) how much more intense is the solar radiation in January?  You will need to use a formula (ooh! a math question!) in chapter 3 to calculate the percentage change in intensity.

(b) Explain why the Northern Hemisphere tends to be warmer in July than in January.

6.  [8] Venus and Mars orbit the sun at average distances of 0.72 and 1.52
A.U., respectively.

(a) What is the solar flux at each planet?

(b) Venus has a planetary albedo of 0.8 and Mars has a planetary albedo of 0.22.  Determine the effective radiating temperatures of
these planets.
 

7.  [6] Explain, in your own words, Figure 2-14 in the book.  Why is the planet's temperature lower with daisies (solid curve in panel b) than without (dashed curve)?  Why is its temperature more stable with the daisies than without?

Bonus: [4]  Suppose there were a companion planet, "black Daisyworld."  Draw the equivalent of Figure 2-14 for black Daisyworld.  Assume that the
effect of temperature on black daisies (Figure 2-9) is the same as for white daisies.  Hint: start by redrawing Figure 2-10 for black
daisies, and think carefully about where the stable equilibrium is.
 
 

This page: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/2002Q1/211/asst1.html