Description
For this part of the test, prepare a two-page set of hand-written (but legible) notes that address the four questions below. These must be your individual work. Answer all four questions in a total of two pages. Remember: You are writing notes, not creating essays.
Each of the main questions (prompts) is the first sentence of each paragraph, shown in bold below. Each is a Unit Objective, so the text has a lot of information supporting this prompt, as do my slides. I added a few supporting sentences to help you address the prompts. I am looking for 50 points of information, which produces about 13 points of information for each prompt. (You will want more, but this is a good start.) Here are the prompts:
Describe the time and spatial variations of solar radiation received at surface locations.
How do seasonal earth-sun geometry and latitude affect solar zenith angle and day length to influence total incoming radiation?
How does this produce the energy that results in the varying seasons?
How does this explain why there is a lot of seasonality in high latitudes, but not in low latitudes? (From Unit 4, page 44)
Describe the cascade of solar energy to Earth’s surface and the resulting energy exchanges between surface and atmosphere. (This is a long-term energy balance.
What goes in must go out of the atmosphere. The same is for the earth.
Where does the energy go, and how does it get there? Hint: One of my slides has a better picture.) (From Unit 5, page 55)
Describe the four basic lifting mechanisms for producing precipitation: convergent lifting, frontal, convectional, and orographic (lifting).
What causes the air to lift, and what happens in the atmosphere as the process occurs?
Make sure you discuss all four basic lifting mechanisms. (Unit 12)
Explain the weather systems of middle and high latitudes, including the formation of cyclones and the weather patterns associated with them. These are mid-latitude storm systems carried by the Jet Stream, not tropical storms and hurricanes. (Unit 13)