Download SECTION II The Physical World: The Earth, Climate and Water

SECTION II
The Physical World:
The Earth, Climate and Water
Page 2-1
Page 2-2
The Earth Assignment
Introduction
The shape of the earth is in large part a product of the movement of its tectonic plates across its
surface over billions of years. The objectives of this assignment are to have you:
identify the world’s major tectonic plates and the boundaries between them
locate major earthquakes, volcanos and landscape features
effectively communicate this information on a map using symbols to a reader
describe the relationship between the plates and major physical landscape features
•
•
•
•
To do this assignment you need coloured pencils – please come equipped!
Instructions
Use ArcExplorer to prepare a map showing major tectonic plates, earthquakes and volcanoes:
1.
Open ArcExplorer
2.
Add the layer 'plates.shp' (in the 'world' directory of the data directory).
- Right-click on this layer in the TOC to open the Properties menu and then:
•
under Colour, change to “light gray”
•
change the width of the line used to show the plates to '3' from '1' to make the plate
boundaries stand out more clearly
•
under the Labels tab, add the names of the plates, change the text size to 12, the
colour to magenta, and make them bold - this will make them easier to see and
read on the map
3.
Add the layer 'countries.shp', open its Properties menu and make it transparent.
4.
Add the layer 'qks20012005gt4.shp' (this shows earthquakes of magnitude of greater than
4 from 2001-2005) and then:
- select this layer by clicking on qks20012005gt4 in the TOC.
- use the 'QueryBuilder' to find those earthquakes during this period with a magnitude of
greater than 7.5 on the Richter scale.
- how many of these very large earthquakes are there? _______ (also record on answer sheet)
- with the earthquakes layer on top of the others, the plate boundaries are obscured; to
allow us to see these boundaries more clearly, drag the earthquakes layer to the bottom
of the list of layers in the TOC; the earthquakes that you found in the query building step
should remain on top and be easier to see
- rename this layer by right-clicking on it in the TOC, choose “rename” and make it ‘Major
Quakes 2001-2005' & press Enter.
- Use the Properties menu of this layer to:
•
•
5.
Change the colour of the symbol used to show the quakes to 'yellow'
Change the size of the symbol used to '5' from '6'
Add the layer 'volcanoes.shp' and rename it 'Major Volcanic Eruptions'
- use the Properties menu of this layer to:
•
•
•
Change the symbol used for volcanoes to a 'triangle'
Change their colour to 'green'
Change their size to '5' from '6'
- how many of these volcanoes are there (see the Attribute Table)? _______
Page 2-3
6.
Go to the Layout view. Click on the globe at the bottom to re-centre and resize your map.
Add a title, legend, source and north arrow to your map.
7.
Export your map to an image file and print a copy (preferably in colour).
8.
From the plate tectonics map in your atlas (p. 8-9), add arrows manually to your map to
show the direction each plate is moving.
9.
On the map, manually indicate which plate boundaries are primarily convergent,
divergent and transform by adding lines of different colours to these boundaries. Add this
information to your legend as well.
10. Describe the relationship between the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes on your
map and the types of plate boundaries near to which they are located.
11. Using your atlas, locate and show the following physical landscape features on your map:
• Marianas Trench
• Mid-Atlantic Ridge
• Himalaya Mountains
• Aleutian Trench
• East Pacific Rise
• Andes Mountains
• Java Trench
• Indian Ocean Ridge
• Rocky Mountains
• Tonga Trench
• East African Rift System
• Peru-Chile Trench
Choose a symbol to represent each TYPE of feature and add it manually to your map at
these locations. You do not need to identify the features individually, only by type of feature.
Define the symbols you chose in your legend.
12. Describe the relationship between the distribution of trenches, ridges/rifts and mountains on
your map and the types of plate boundaries near to which they are located.
13. Using your atlas, locate the following volcanic islands with a red square (add them
manually to your map and legend, – you do not need to identify them individually):
• Hawaii
• Kerguelen Island
•
•
Saint Helena
Cape Verde Islands
Why are these volcanic islands located where they are in relation to plate boundaries?
Page 2-4
Name:
______________________
Earth Assignment
Teacher: ______________________
Intro to Geography
1-3. Attach your map.
Make sure that it has:
•
•
•
•
4.
a proper title, legend, north arrow and source
arrows added to show plate movement directions
coloured lines added to show the different types of plate boundaries
symbols representing trenches, ridges, mountains and volcanic islands
How many earthquakes greater than 7.5 on the
Richter scale were there between 2001 and 2005?
__________
5.
How many volcanoes are there in this database?
__________
10.
Circle all of the correct answers for the following:
Earthquakes tend to be located near what type of plate boundaries?
a. Transform
b. Convergent
c. Divergent
Volcanoes tend to be located near what type of plate boundaries?
a. Transform
b. Convergent
c. Divergent
12. Ocean Ridges tend to be located near what type of plate boundaries?
a. Transform
b. Convergent
c. Divergent
Ocean Trenches/Rift Systems tend to be located near what type of plate boundaries?
a. Transform
b. Convergent
c. Divergent
Mountain ranges tend to be located near what type of plate boundaries?
a. Transform
b. Convergent
c. Divergent
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13. Why are these volcanic islands located where they are in relation to plate boundaries
(Hawaii, Kerguelen Island, Saint Helena, Cape Verde Islands)?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Page 2-6
Film: The Heat Within (The Miracle Planet)
1.
What is the temperature of the earth at the bottom of the Western Deep Levels Mine (11,738
feet below the surface)? _____________
2.
How deep is the earth’s hard rock surface layer (the Lithosphere)? ___________
3.
Why did the earth become a ‘sea of molten rock’ when it was impacted by planetesimals in
the primordial age?
________________________________________________________________________
4.
How often do volcanoes erupt in Iceland? ______________________________________
5.
How was Iceland formed?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6.
How are ‘pillow lava’ formed and where are they found?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
7.
What do ‘smokers’ emit? ___________________________
8.
What do travertines emit? __________________________
9.
Why is the Rift Valley sinking?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
10. Describe the ‘blanket effect’ _________________________________________________
11. What was the name of the earth’s supercontinent that existed 250,000 million years ago?
____________________________________________
12. Which fragment of the African continent created the Himalayan mountains when it impacted
the Asian continent?
_______________________________
13. What does fossil evidence found in the Himalayas and the Alps indicate?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
14. What is the primary force driving the process known as ‘continental drift’?
________________________________________________________________________
Page 2-7
Climate Classification Assignment
Introduction
One way geographers try to make sense of global climates is to classify climates into categories.
In this assignment, you will use and interpret the modified Köppen Climate Classification.
The objectives of this assignment are for you to:
•
•
•
•
demonstrate an understanding of different global climates
classify the climate of different places
prepare and interpret climographs
interpret and work with a scientific classification system
Instructions:
PART A - Interpreting Climate Maps
Use the Climate Regions map on pp. 126-127 in your atlas to find the type of climate for ONE of
the three sets of 10 cities (assigned by your instructor). Then determine the Köppen climate code
letters that BEST describes the climate type for each city using the table on the next page.
SET A
1. Georgetown, Guyana
2. Juliaca, Peru
3. Khartoum, Sudan
4. Limon, Costa Rica
5. Malatya, Turkey
6. Nuukv, Greenland
7. Paris, France
8. Qiqihar, China
9. Rabat-Salé, Morocco
10. Stockholm, Sweden
SET B
1. Denver, Colorado
2. Guangzhou, China
3. Havana, Cuba
4. Libreville, Congo
5. Meekatharra, Australia
6. Ndola, Zambia
7. Nuukv, Greenland
8. Qiqihar, China
9. Stockholm, Sweden
10. Teheran, Iran
SET C
1. Lhasa, China
2. Malatya, Turkey
3. Manaus, Brazil
4. Meekatharra, Australia
5. Nuukv, Greenland
6. Rabat-Salé, Morocco
7. Sittwe, Myanmar
8. Stockholm, Sweden
9. Qiqihar, China
10. Wellington, New Zealand
PART B - Climographs and Climate Classification
Climographs are diagrams that combine thirty-year average monthly values of temperature and
precipitation. They provide a quick visual summary of the climate of an area. Months are placed
on the x-axis of the graph, temperature (°C) is plotted on the left y-axis with a line connecting the
monthly values, and precipitation (cm) is plotted as vertical bars on the right y axis.
1. Use two of the sets of climate data on the next page (they will be assigned to you by your
instructor) to create two climographs (one above the other) on one sheet of graph paper.
• Use a red line for temperature and blue bars for precipitation (no gap between bars).
• Precipitation must start at 0 cm and the maximum must be 40 cm on both graphs.
• For temperature, start at -40°C and go to 40°C.
• Diagrams should be neat, correctly labelled, with a proper title, legend and source.
2. Try to determine for each of these two stations:
a. Whether they are in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. Explain your reasoning.
b. The Köppen Climate classification for your location (see next page). Back up your
choice of EACH letter with an explanation based on the data.
c. A more precise location (from the choices provided). Explain your reasoning.
d.
Page 2-8
Köppen Climate Classification
The Climate Regions map in on pages 126-127 of the Canadian Oxford World Atlas is a simplified version of the
Köppen climate classification system, which systematically identifies up to three letters to describe the climate
(temperature and precipitation) of a region. The first letter is always CAPITALIZED (sometimes the first two). Climates
are divided into six broad groupings:
A
Tropical Climates
Af
Am
Aw
As
B
Dry Climates
Semiarid -- Steppe
Arid Desert
Cw
Cs
Cfa
Cfb,Cfc
Temperate Savannah
Temperate Mediterranean
Temperate Humid
Temperate Marine
Cool and dry
Hot and dry
Temperate Climates
D
Coldest month >0ºC, <18ºC, warmest >10ºC
Continental Climates
Dry season in winter
Mild winter, dry season in summer
Precipitation all year, warm summer
Precipitation all year, cool summer (see below)
Coldest month <0ºC, warmest month >10ºC
Da
Db
Dw
Dc,Dd
Continental (large temperature range)
Continental (large temperature range)
Continental (large temperature range)
Continental Subarctic
ET
EF
Polar Tundra Climate
Polar Ice Cap
E
Constantly moist – precipitation all year
Monsoon rain (short dry season in winter)
Dry season in winter
Dry season in summer
See limits on graphs below
BS
BW
C
H
Coolest month is above 18ºC
Tropical Equatorial
Tropical Monsoon
Tropical Savannah (wet/dry seasons)
Tropical Savannah (wet/dry seasons)
Polar Climates
Warm summer (over 22°C)
Cool summer
Dry season in winter
Low temperatures all year (see below)
Warmest month less than 10ºC
Warmest month less than 10°C,t warmer than 0 ºC
Perpetual frost, all months less than 0 ºC
Mountain
Variable temperature/precipitation by altitude
Lower-case letters each have a specific meaning about either temperature or precipitation:
a
b
c
d
f
h
Warmest Month >22°C
Warmest Month <22°C
Less than 4 months >10°C
Less than 4 months >10°C
and coldest month <-38°C
Constantly moist (precipitation all year)
Hot and dry, all months above 0°C
k
m
n
1
n
s
w
Cold and dry, at least 1 month <0ºC
Monsoon rain (short dry season, heavy rainy season)
Frequent fog
Infrequent fog but high humidity and low rainfall
Dry season in summer (<30% of annual precipitation)
Dry season in winter (<30% of annual precipitation)
Dry Climates – use the graph that meets the conditions below:
Precipitation evenly distributed
(Neither the six coldest nor the six warmest
months of the year has over 70% of annual
precipitation)
Dry Season in Winter
(<30% of annual precipitation is in six coldest
months of the year)
Dry Season in Summer
(<30% of annual precipitation is in six
warmest months of the year)
Page 2-9
Defining Köppen Climates
Note: on the course website (under Links) there is a web-based tool that takes you through this one step at a time.
As
Page 2-10
Montreal’s Climate
Following the steps on the previous page:
Is the Station E (Polar climate)?
Month
(ºC)
(cm)
Temp.
Precip.
No, there are months above 10ºC
Is the Station B (Dry climate)?
Jan
-10
6.3
Neither 6 warmest (53%) nor 6 coldest (47%) months have >70% of total, therefore
precipitation is evenly distributed
On graph, mean temp = 6.1, precip. = 94, therefore not a B climate
Feb
-9
5.6
Mar
-2
6.8
Apr
5.7
7.5
May
13
6.8
Jun
18
8.3
Jul
21
8.6
Aug
19
10
Sep
15
8.7
Oct
8.3
7.5
Nov
1.6
9.3
Dec
-7
8.6
6.1
94
Is the Station A (Tropical climate)?
No, there are months with an average temperature below 18ºC
Is the Station C (Mild climate)?
No, there are months with an average temperature below 0ºC
Therefore Montreal is a ‘D’ (Continental) climate
The warmest month is less than 22ºC, therefore the 2nd letter is not ‘a’
The warmest month is less than 22ºC , but there are over 4 months >10ºC
Therefore the second letter is ‘b’ and not ‘c’ or ‘d’
Precipitation evenly distributed (>30% in six warmest and six coolest months)
Therefore the third letter is ‘f’
Montreal’s Köppen climate classification is therefore
Source: data averaged 1961-1990 from Environment Canada
Dbf
Mean/
Total
Page 2-11
Part B – Climate Data
Data are based on long-term climate averages (30 years).
Station
I
II
III
Month
Temp (°C)
Precip
(cm)
Temp (°C)
Precip
(cm)
Temp (°C)
Precip
(cm)
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
-31.3
-28.2
-25.3
-18.6
-6.7
3.2
6.6
6.6
1.2
-11.2
-23.6
-28.1
0.7
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.7
3.2
4.6
4.8
2.8
0.9
0.4
1.0
22.2
22.8
22.3
20.5
18.5
17.1
16.3
16.1
16.1
17.0
18.5
20.5
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
29.4
28.8
28.4
28.2
27.9
27.3
26.4
24.9
25.8
27.6
28.6
29.3
23.2
40.0
34.5
31.3
9.5
2.1
0.0
0.0
0.5
1.6
7.1
14.3
Year
-13.1
20.4
19
2
25.8
164.1
Station
IV
V
VI
Month
Temp (°C)
Precip
(cm)
Temp (°C)
Precip
(cm)
Temp (°C)
Precip
(cm)
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
26.0
26.2
25.6
24.1
22.4
21.1
20.7
21.2
21.6
22.3
23.4
24.9
13.5
12.4
13.4
10.9
7.8
5.2
4.5
4.6
6.2
8.2
10.0
13.7
-12.0
-10.6
-4.5
3.2
10.8
16.2
19.2
17.7
12.8
6.8
-0.1
-8.9
8.5
7.5
7.9
7.6
9.3
10.8
11.2
10.9
11.3
8.9
10.0
10.4
11.3
13.2
15.6
17.6
20.7
23.8
28.0
28.2
25.0
20.8
15.8
12.0
2.7
3.1
3.6
3.2
1.7
0.7
0.2
0.3
0.7
2.0
3.7
2.8
Year
23.3
110.4
4.3
114.2
19.4
24.7
Page 2-12
Name:
______________________
Climate Classification Assignment
Teacher: ______________________
Intro to Geography
Part A
Complete the following with the Köppen code and an explanation of what each letter means.
No.
Place
1
Georgetown
Code
Explanation
Guyana
2
Juliaca
Peru
3
Khartoum
Sudan
4
Limon
Costa Rica
5
Malatya
Turkey
6
Nuukv
Greenland
7
Paris
France
8
Qiqihar
China
9
Rabat-Salé
Morocco
10
Stockholm
Sweden
Page 2-13
Part B -- Climograph Preparation and Interpretation
1.
Complete on ONE sheet of graph paper the TWO properly formatted climographs assigned to
you by the instructor.
2.
Station (Circle the FIRST climograph completed)
I
II
III
This location is in the NORTHERN / SOUTHERN hemisphere (CIRCLE ONE)
Explanation: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Köppen Climate Code (all applicable letters) ______ ______ ______
Explanation:_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Possible Location: (Choose one and circle)
Churchill, Manitoba
Lima, Peru
Vancouver, Canada
Tiksi, Former USSR
Darwin, Australia
Capetown, South Africa
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3.
Station (Circle the SECOND climograph completed)
IV
V
VI
This location is in the NORTHERN / SOUTHERN hemisphere (CIRCLE ONE)
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Köppen Climate Code (all applicable letters) ______ ______ ______
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Possible Location: (Chose one and circle)
Chicago, USA
Cairo, Egypt
Quebec, Canada
Marrakech, Morocco
Salvador, Brazil
Cochin, India
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Page 2-14
Name:
______________________
Climate Classification Assignment
Teacher: ______________________
Intro to Geography
Part A
Complete the following with the Köppen climate code and an explanation of each letter:
No.
Place
1
Denver
Code
Explanation
USA
2
Guangzhou
China
3
Havana
Cuba
4
Libreville
Congo
5
Meekatharra
Australia
6
Ndola
Zambia
7
Nuukv
Greenland
8
Qiqihar
China
9
Stockholm
Sweden
10
Teheran
Iran
Page 2-15
Part B -- Climograph Preparation and Interpretation
1.
Complete on ONE sheet of graph paper the TWO properly formatted climographs assigned to
you by the instructor.
2.
Station (Circle the FIRST climograph completed)
I
II
III
This location is in the NORTHERN / SOUTHERN hemisphere (CIRCLE ONE)
Explanation: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Köppen Climate Code (all applicable letters) ______ ______ ______
Explanation:_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Possible Location: (Choose one and circle)
Churchill, Manitoba
Lima, Peru
Vancouver, Canada
Tiksi, Former USSR
Darwin, Australia
Capetown, South Africa
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3.
Station (Circle the SECOND climograph completed)
IV
V
VI
This location is in the NORTHERN / SOUTHERN hemisphere (CIRCLE ONE)
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Köppen Climate Code (all applicable letters) ______ ______ ______
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Possible Location: (Chose one and circle)
Chicago, USA
Cairo, Egypt
Quebec, Canada
Marrakech, Morocco
Salvador, Brazil
Cochin, India
Explanation:_____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Page 2-16
Name: ______________________
Teacher: ______________________
Climate Classification Assignment
Intro to Geography
Part A
Complete the following with the Köppen climate code and an explanation of each letter:
N
o.
1
Place
Code
Explanation
Lhasa
China
2
Malatya
Turkey
3
Manaus
Brazil
4
Meekatharra
Australia
5
Nuukv
Greenland
6
Rabat-Salé
Morocco
7
Sittwe
Myanmar
8
Stockholm
Sweden
9
Qiqihar
China
10
Wellington
New Zealand
Page 2-17
Part B -- Climograph Preparation and Interpretation
1.
Complete on ONE sheet of graph paper the TWO properly formatted climographs assigned to
you by the instructor.
2.
Station (Circle the FIRST climograph completed)
I
II
III
This location is in the NORTHERN / SOUTHERN hemisphere (CIRCLE ONE)
Explanation: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Köppen Climate Code (all applicable letters) ______ ______ ______
Explanation:_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Possible Location: (Choose one and circle)
Churchill, Manitoba
Lima, Peru
Vancouver, Canada
Tiksi, Former USSR
Darwin, Australia
Capetown, South Africa
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3.
Station (Circle the SECOND climograph completed)
IV
V
VI
This location is in the NORTHERN / SOUTHERN hemisphere (CIRCLE ONE)
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Köppen Climate Code (all applicable letters) ______ ______ ______
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Possible Location: (Chose one and circle)
Chicago, USA
Cairo, Egypt
Quebec, Canada
Marrakech, Morocco
Salvador, Brazil
Cochin, India
Explanation:__________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Page 2-18
Page 2-19
Page 2-20
Film: Global Warming: The Signs & the Science
Answer the following questions as you watch the film:
1. For how long has the earth’s temperature been rising at an increased rate?
2. According to ‘science’, what is driving this increase?
3. What are some of the signs that global warming is happening?
4. What are some of the negative consequences?
5. What evidence of global warming can be found in the Canadian north?
6. How is global warming affecting Africa and the Alps?
7. How long ago did humans start using ‘ancient sunlight’?
8. Which activities are primarily responsible for the depletion of carbon deposits?
9. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 during the Industrial Revolution was: ____ ppm.
Today, the concentration is ____ pppm.
10. In the near future, ___________ will replace the U.S. as the world’s largest economy.
11. Why does it object to restrictions on its GHG emissions?
12. Levels of GHG emission ____________ as LDC countries increase incomes.
13. How is global warming affecting the spread of infectious diseases?
14. How do warmer temperatures contribute to an increase in violent storms?
Page 2-21
15. Where is El Nino found?
16. What happens when El Nino reverses direction?
17. What is the main cause of rising sea levels?
18. How did Hurricane Katrina affect gas prices?
Why?
19. How will global warming impact semi-arid regions?
20. One degree of warming leads to a ______% decrease in the world’s rice yields,
which provides ______% of the Earth’s food supply.
21. Nitrogen is released when fossil fuels burn. How does this contribute to global warming?
22. List the two possible options for addressing global warming.
a) __________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________
23. List the eight mitigating measures presented in the film.
a) _____________________________
e) _____________________________
b) _____________________________
f) _____________________________
c) _____________________________
g) _____________________________
d) _____________________________
h) _____________________________
Page 2-22
Film: Bottled Water – Who Needs It?
1.
How much more does bottled water cost than tap water (in Britain)?
2.
Did the professional sommeliers detect a difference between bottled and tap?
3.
Why do people like bottled water?
4.
Compare the carbon footprint of bottled and tap water.
5.
Which was the first company to successfully market bottled water?
6.
How did they succeed in marketing it (what idea did they sell)?
7.
How much is spent on advertising bottled water per year?
8.
How much does the British government spend on bottled water & coolers?
9.
What proportion of water bottles end up in landfill?
10. How much plastic is now produced worldwide?
How much has that increased over the last 7 years?
11. How long do plastic bottles last in landfill?
Page 2-23
12. What is the problem with plastic granular pellets washing up on ocean shores?
13. How much of Fiji Island’s export revenue comes from Fiji water Co.?
14. For whom was the Fiji water supposed to be, when it was originally discovered?
15. What proportion of Fiji residents don’t have safe tap water?
16. What are the health consequences of this?
17. Why is the village water source unsafe?
18. Who gets the bulk of the money from Fiji Co. bottled water sales?
19. How is Fiji Co. trying to reduce their environmental impact?
20. Which bottled water company is now using compostable bottles?
21. What did scientists in the British DOE (department of environment) determine about the
quality of their tap water compared to bottled?
Page 2-24