Physics - Geophysics Homework 2

HOMEWORK #2 – Type Your Name Here>>> Recent Atmospheric Event Analysis (choose only 3)

Physical Geography (GEOG 300) <> Prof. John Aubert <> American River College

Basic Directions: Using your 1) textbook, 2) lecture notes, and 3) the Homework #2 links provided on Canvas, complete three - only three - of the following five sections. Please, I beg you – complete ONLY three!!!!

Follow the directions from our previous homeworks to create a file with MY questions and YOUR answers. REGARDLESS OF THE PROCESS YOU CHOOSE, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE COMPLETE, ORIGINAL QUESTIONS WITH YOUR ANSWERS!

When finished, submit your assignment to the appropriate Canvas dropbox; see your syllabus and Canvas for due date. DO NOT ANALYZE THE SAME EVENTS AS YOUR FRIENDS! ************************************************ 1) Tropical Cyclones (Choose ONE SPECIFIC STORM from the last 6 months. Use the “Links to Recent Tropical Cyclone Reports” provided here on Canvas under the Homework #2 Module.) Tropical cyclones (called hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones depending on where they are occurring) tend to form over open ocean between 8-15 degrees latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres toward the end of summer and into fall, when the oceans are at their warmest. They generally increase their latitude (i.e. move away from the Equator) as they travel, eventually dying out over land or colder water.

Name of the specific Storm You Chose (NOTE: Do NOT list an entire season…) Answer Here>>>>>

Max Wind Speed (mph) and Min Pressure (mbar) (you can find this under “Peak Intensity” at the right when viewing the wikipedia summary) Answer Here>>>>>

Date or Date Range (include day, month, and year) Answer Here>>>>>

Location (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Latitude (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>

Direction of Spiral (Clockwise or counterclockwise? More info here.) Answer Here>>>>>

Based on what you have learned about tropical cyclones in my lecture notes, in my lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following question: Is the 1) timing, 2) location, and 3) direction of spiral of THIS tropical cyclone generally expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS - just like you are explaining to family. Use complete sentences! Type Here>>>>>

2) Dust Storm (Choose one from the last 6 months. Use this “NASA Natural Hazards”

Homework_Atmospheric_Haz…

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2) Dust Storm (Choose one from the last 6 months. Use this “NASA Natural Hazards” link.) Dust storms generally originate from dry, desert or steppe climate zones, especially during the warmest and driest times of year. The dry climate can be caused by constant subtropical high pressure (i.e. sits near around 20-30 degrees latitude north or south), rainshadow (i.e. sits on the leeward side of a mountain range), and/or continental conditions (i.e. it is far from an ocean). Extended drought can also be a factor. Date or Date Range (include day, month, and year) Type Here>>>>>

Location where dust originated (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Latitude where dust originated (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>

Name of Climate Zone where dust originated (scroll to the end for directions and a map) Answer Here>>>>>

Cause of Dry Conditions (choose from THESE options (described above): subtropical high pressure, rainshadow, continental conditions, and/or extended drought) Answer Here>>>>>

Wind Direction From (see NASA link) Answer Here>>>>>

Based on what you have learned about dry climates and dry seasons in my lecture notes, in my lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following question: Is the 1) timing and 2) location of THIS dust storm generally expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS - just like you are explaining to family. Use complete sentences! Answer Here>>>>>

3) Extreme Precip/Flood (Choose one from the last 6 months Use this “NASA Natural Hazards” link.) NOTE: This section is NOT for reporting on a tropical cyclone (hurricane, typhoon, etc). Flooding is generally caused by heavy precipitation and precipitation is generally caused by one (or more) of three lifting mechanisms: convectional (tropical/ITCZ/monsoon), orographic (mountain lifting) and/or frontal (generally occurring along the polar front in winter). Convectional precipitation generally – though not always - occurs during the warmer time of year, while frontal precipitation generally occurs during the colder time of year.

Date or Date Range (include day, month, and year) Answer Here>>>>>

Location (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Latitude (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>

Name of Climate Zone for this Area (scroll to the end for directions and a map) Answer Here>>>>>

Lifting Mechanism (convectional, frontal, or orographic - see above for tips) Answer Here>>>>>

Based on what you have learned about climates, rainy seasons, and lifting mechanisms in my lecture notes, in my lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following question: Is the 1) timing and 2) location of THIS extreme precipitation event generally expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR

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precipitation event generally expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS - just like you are explaining to family. Use complete sentences! Answer Here>>>>>

4) Wildfire (Choose one from the last 6 months. Use this “NASA Natural Hazards” link.) Wildfires tend to occur in areas experiencing sub-tropical high pressure during a normal dry season (like winter in the tropical savannah & monsoon climates OR summer in our Mediterranean climates), in continental locations far from humid ocean air, in rainshadow deserts, OR in any area experiencing an abnormal, extended period of drought.

Date or Date Range (include day, month, and year) Answer Here>>>>>

Location (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Latitude (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>

Name of Climate Zone for this Area (scroll to the end for directions and a map) Answer Here>>>>>

Cause of Dry Conditions (choose from THESE options (described above): subtropical high pressure, continental conditions, rainshadow desert, and/or extended drought) Answer Here>>>>>

Wind Direction From (see NASA link) Answer Here>>>>>

Based on what you have learned about dry climates and dry seasons in my lecture notes, in my lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following question: Is the 1) timing and 2) location of THIS wildfire generally expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS - just like you are explaining to family. Use complete sentences! Answer Here>>>>>

5) Tornados (Choose a tornado outbreak from the last 6 months. Use this “NWS Storm Prediction Center” link. Click the back link above the map (looks like this “<”) until you find an outbreak (a cluster of red dots) that you are interested in. If you wish to find a specific date there are directions toward the bottom of that page.) Tornadoes can occur at any time of year, though “the season” tends to begin rising in late winter, peaks in mid to late spring, and slowly tapers off into late summer and fall (Dec-Jan has the least activity). Because they generally occur along the polar front boundary, early season tornadoes (Feb - March) tend to occur at lower latitudes (e.g. Southern US), moving northward (e.g. Midwest/Great Plains / Great Lakes) as the season progresses (i.e. as the polar front moves toward higher latitudes). Tornadoes can occur as far north as Southern Canada, usually in August or September (if at all). Though not always, tornadoes are often associated with cold fronts. Date (include day, month, and year) Answer Here>>>>>

Location (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Latitude (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>

Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>

Name of Climate Zone for this Area (scroll to the end for directions and a map) Answer Here>>>>>

Based on what you have learned about tornadoes in my lecture notes, in my lecture

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Based on what you have learned about tornadoes in my lecture notes, in my lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following question: Is the 1) timing and 2) location of THIS tornado generally expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS - just like you are explaining to family. Use complete sentences! Answer Here>>>>>

*****************TIPS*************** **

Tips on Latitude: YOU MUST SPECIFY A NUMBER AND WHETHER IT IS NORTH OR SOUTH LATITUDE! Remember, latitude is a measurement of how far - in degrees - a location is from the equator. One trick is to Google “Latitude of…” and insert the nearest city, state, or country.

Tips on Location: Be as specific as possible. Use well-known cities as reference points. If the city is not utterly and completely recognizable to virtually everyone in the world, you must also list state or province and/or country. If the event is not near a named place, then state how far away – and in what direction - it is from a known place (e.g. “1200 miles southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii”).

Guide to Timing of the Seasons* JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

APPROXIMATE SEASON IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

winter late

winter early spring

spring late

spring early

summer summer

late summer

early fall

fall late fall

early winter

APPROXIMATE SEASON IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

summer late

summer early fall

fall late fall

early winter

winter late

winter early spring

spring late

spring early

summer *The severity and intensity of seasons will vary with latitude. As you get closer and closer to the Equator seasonal changes and differences become less and less obvious.

Tips on Climate: Consult the climate zone map in your textbook – it is also posted on Canvas below this assignment (and also pasted below). You are to provide the name of the specific climate zone as it is shown on the map and NOT just the general category (for example, say “Mediterranean” instead of “Mesothermal”).

Questions updated Oct 2020

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