Sco assignment

Assignments: You will be required to complete four assignments in which you will apply what you have learned. In some cases the assignments will involve use of Internet resources or keeping track of phenomena over time or a field trip. You should allow approximately one week minimum for each assignment. You should ensure that you have access to a digital camera. All assignments must be submitted through Blackboard using the link provided. Create a single PDF (preferred) or Microsoft Word file (with a filename of the form “GSCI 110 VA Lastname Firstname Assignment X.xxxx”) containing all of the questions (with numbers) and answers for that assignment.  Click on the box to browse your computer for the file, then attach it and select Submit. Feel free to contact your instructor if you have difficulty submitting the assignment answers in Blackboard. Assignments sent through email or other means will not be graded. Please report your difficulties if you have trouble submitting via blackboard, but ultimately it is your responsibility to submit your documents to me via blackboard. The metric (SI) system is the international standard for science, so please convert all units from statute units (feet, miles, pounds or Fahrenheit) to metric units (km, m, cm, kg, Celsius). Expect to lose points if you use non-metric units. Geocoordinates (latitude and longitude) may be expressed as decimal degrees (as long as they are not prematurely truncated) or degrees/minutes/seconds. Treat the assignment answers as a professional report with headings as necessary so the instructor can find everything and give you all the credit you deserve. Please use a serif font such as Times New Roman to enhance readability, and keep the font consistent throughout the document. Using boldface type with keywords and headings is an easy way to keep yourself organized. Text should wrap around inserted pictures. All assignments are graded independently, so if you are using material from a previous assignment, restate the material rather than refer to it. If you use material from an existing source, be sure to paraphrase it and not quote it (see Academic Honesty below) and include a citation in the text and reference to the source at the end of your answer using the APA format (

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

).

 

Instructions:

 

answer all the questions below. The total amount of points for the assignment is 100, distributed as listed with each question. Submit the responses as a single PDF or Microsoft Word document attached to this exercise.

 

1 (10 points).  Make a list of the names, latitudes, longitudes, and elevations of your current location plus 10 other locations you would like to visit (include places on at least five different continents in your list. You may use Google Earth or any other mapping program or website to obtain this information. A link to Google Earth is provided below.

 

2 (10 points). Make a map of your location using Google Earth. You can copy the map as an image from Google Earth and paste it into Microsoft Word (check your manuals or online help for instructions). Estimate the scale of the map as a representative fraction (for example, 1:150,000).  Use the scale bar in Google Earth to help you calculate the representative fraction, and include the scale bar on the map.

 

3 (40 points). Track the following over a 7-day period at your location, and make a table listing all of the variables in one row per day:
Minimum temperature and time of day
Maximum temperature and time of day
Sunrise
Sunset
End of astronomical twilight

 

All of this information can be found for your location using the Weather Underground site (link provided below).

 

Is there a lag between the time of maximum insolation (noon) and the time of maximum temperature?  If so, typically how long?  Is there a lag between the time of minimum insolation (end of twilight) and the time of minimum temperature? If so, typically how long is the lag?
How did the times of sunset and sunrise change during your observation period?  Can you explain those changes by considering Earth’s seasons?
4 (20 points). Over a 7-day period, make a space weather diary. Include a picture of the Sun each day (you can use an Internet source for the solar images provided you describe where the images came from), the number of sunspots and the maximum solar flare observed that day. Links to sites with this information are below.

5 (20 points).  From the climogram website provided below, choose five locations on five different continents. Each location can be no larger than a single city.  How do the major controls on temperature (latitude, altitude, continentality, and cloud cover) affect the average temperature and seasonal cycle of temperature at each location?

http://www.google.com/earth/index.html

http://www.wunderground.com/

http://spaceweather.com/

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/index.html

http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/lutgens3/medialib/abcontrol/pages/question.html