Lab J – World Climate Zones
Back in Lab A you learned how to create a climograph. This type of chart shows
monthly climate data for a particular city and always shows two variables: temperature
and precipitation. The X-axis shows the month of the year. Always remember that
temperatures are shown with the line graph and precipitation is shown with a bar chart.
Before assessing any climograph, it is important to figure out which hemisphere the city
is located. You can determine this by looking at which months are the warmest (or
coldest) and then note the hemisphere. This is important because when precipitation is
seasonal (i.e., peaks during one season and is lacking in another), we need to know which
season is dry to properly attach Koppen’s letters.
Each climograph is a real location and the data are real. Each location is linked to the
numbered cities on the map found on J-16 in the exercise. The climograph on page J-2 is
done for you and represents a “template” or an example of how you should complete the
other climographs in the exercise. There are 15 numbers on the map, but only 14
climographs, so one number will not be used.
Use pages 202-203 (information tables), and pages 204-205 (climate map) in your
textbook to help you.
Let’s examine the example on page J-2. The questions on this page (and every page) lead
you through the process of studying the climograph so you can try to assess the climate
by question 4.
#1: Describe the yearly temperature pattern. In this part you should describe what you
see…is the range small, medium, or large? What temperatures do you see? When is
summer or winter occurring? The range will give you some information regarding
latitude (high, mid, low) or continental/coastal location.
#2: What are the highest, lowest and range of temperatures. Here, to the best of your
ability, estimate the highest and lowest temperatures for the location. Then compute the
range.
#3: Describe the pattern of precipitation in terms of yearly amt. and seasonality.
Examine the precipitation. Do you see a uniform distribution? Is their a dry season, and
if so, when? It is uniformly dry with very low precipitation?
#4: What would the Koppen’s climate name and letters be for the location. Hopefully, by
this point, you have formulated some ideas about what the climate might be so assign
them.
#5: What are the climate controls? This is the “cumulative” part of the exercise where
you need to explain, using everything you’ve learned this semester, the factors that are
responsible for creating the climate observed at the location. Things like pressure
patterns, prevailing wind direction, influence of mountains, water bodies, latitude, water
temperature, etc.
#6: Match location to the map on J-16. Having identified the climate and using the
climate map in your textbook or the atlas, pick the city that the climograph is linked to.
You don’t need to figure out the name of the city, just pick the number.
Part II.
Using the written descriptions of various locations, name the climate for each one. These
correspond to the 14 climographs you did earlier in the exercise. The location
descriptions match the items shown on the map on page J-16.
The overall assignment:
For each of the climographs, complete questions #1-4, and #6. Then for any four (4)
climographs of your choosing, answer question #5. This will “lighten” your work load a
bit. Since you only have to think carefully about four climographs for question #5, make
sure to take some time and answer them well. You certainly may do more of them if you
wish.
You will need to complete as much of this lab as possible on your own. There will not be
enough time during our lab meeting to do this entire exercise in class.
Lab M – Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes, and Diastrophism
In this exercise you will be using either your textbook or the diagram found in the atlas to
answer the questions regarding plate boundaries. There is a symbol found in both books
that needs explanation. If you are looking at the subduction zones, you will notice that
the symbol used is that of a line with triangles along it (looks like a cold front). This is
how these books show subduction zones and the subducting plate is the one behind the
symbols.
In the diagram inserted here, you will see subduction along the NW coast of the United
States. The Juan de Fuca plate is subducting under the North American Plate.
Part I – Plate Tectonics
For part A, questions 1-3, you are asked to locate the plate boundaries (draw them on the
world map attached to the lab), identify the type of boundary, and name two landforms
associated with each one. Make sure to answer each question fully. Remember, an
earthquake is not a landform and can not be used to answer the questions.
C. At the following locations, identify the plate that is being subducted. Using what I
explained above and the with the example given, complete all locations. If neither plate
is being subducted, put down “none” and please identify the type of plate boundary.
D. Locate and identify six island arcs. Draw them on the world map also. Remember
from lecture materials and the figure in your textbook, that island arcs are a curved
shaped group of islands. You will be able to identify them by knowing that they are also
associated with a trench which usually bears the same name as the group of islands. Use
your atlas or the large map in the classroom to help find the island arcs.
H. You will need to do some math for this problem. Be sure to express your answer in
miles.
Part II – Vulcanism
A. Skip. We do not have the aerial photos.
B. Use the topographic map in the classroom to answer the question. You do not need
the air photo to answer it.
C. Use the topographic map in the classroom to answer the question. Again, you do not
need the photo to answer the question. Just think about it…what could a white line
running up the flank of the volcano possibly be???
Part III – Diastrophisms – Folding and Faulting
Do all questions.
Lab N – Fluvial Processes and Landscapes
You will need several topographic maps to complete this lab. All of these maps will be
available for your use during our scheduled Wednesday class meeting.
The four maps are: Folsom, NM; Parker SW, AZ; Hereford, AZ; Menan Buttes, ID.
Recall the definition of ‘base level’ from lecture and from the text. You will be
determining base level in some of the problems.
Part I. Downcutting and Resulting Landforms. Use Folsom, NM map.
A.2. – What is the local base level of Pinabete Creek?
Remember that the base level is where a river empties into another body of water. Here,
Pinabete Creek is going to merge with another stream and at the location of the joining,
you will measure the elevation. This is the base level. So… following along Pinabete
Creek (following the direction that the water is flowing) and continue until it joins
another stream or river. Make sure you are not using tributaries – you’ll be able to tell
because the new stream/river will have a different name.
B. What is the percent grade? Formula: