Assignment 2: Climate Comparison. Hangzhou, China New Climate Station

Download the assignment document to complete the tasks required of you. There are three components in the document you'll download:



1) "Step by Step" assignment instructions



2) Grading rubric - how exactly you'll be graded



3) Assignment template - cut and paste the template into your own document to submit as your completed assignment. Be sure to remove the example information from the template and replace it with your information. You'll see what I mean when you get working on the assignment.


GEO101 Earth System Science Summer 1 2020
Assignment 2 Module 5

Assignment Format and Value:
• 12-point Times New Roman Font
• single spacing
• Page length: whatever you feel is necessary to accurately answer the questions (not including title page, references cited, diagrams, maps, charts, etc.).
• Standard margins (1”)
• Headings and Subheadings where appropriate
• References Cited at end of paper
• APA 6th edition citation style (www.citationmachine.net)
• Value: 100 points towards your final grade (breakdown noted in rubric)
• Due Date: End of Module 5 (Sunday, June 28, 2020; 11:59 PM EST)
• Submission: electronic via Blackboard

Assignment Objectives:
• To attempt to document the weather and climate for your climate station in Assignment 1

Section 1 – Background

In assignment 1, you accessed climate data for a climate station that was close to your hometown. You accessed climographs and discussed observed trends in temperature and precipitation for each month. You included several graphs in that assignment:
 




 Section 2 – Comparing Climates
For this assignment, I want you to complete the following:
• Select another climate station that is on another continent (a continent that is different from that on which your hometown is found. For instance, if your hometown is in North America, you can select another climate station from any continent, but not from North America.
• This climate station that you select should be the same climate class as your hometown. For instance, in the sample graphs included with this assignment, the climate class is “Dfb.” This information can be found beneath the station name. This climate class specifically refers to Koppen climate classifications, of which there are six climate classifications. The leading letter in the Koppen scheme identifies the climate group; this must match on your second climate station.
o A - tropical
o B - arid
o C – temperate
o D - continental
o E - polar
o H/M (mountain)
o The second letter of the Koppen Scheme (in the example, “f”), and the third letter of the Koppen Scheme (in the example, “b”) refer to precipitation and the level of heat, respectively. These letters do not have to much, but if they do, it is okay.
• Cut and paste the Climograph for your new climate station so it can be compared to the climograph of your hometown (from assignment 1); see template for layout
• Cut and paste the distribution graphs for both your hometown and the new climate station; see template for layout
• Cut and paste the physical geography map for both your hometown and the new climate station; see template for layout
• Answer the questions in the template.

























Section 2 - Grading Rubric:

Critical Element Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Does Not Meet Expectations
Climate station is correctly selected and documented with station information
(/25) All information pertaining to the selected climate station is carefully and correctly presented using the template




(/25) Most information pertaining to the selected climate station is carefully and correctly presented using the template; one or two pieces of information are missing
(/20) Some of the information pertaining to the selected climate station is carefully and correctly presented using the template; more than two pieces of information are missing


(/15) Absent
No information pertaining to the selected climate station is presented





(/0)Screenshots and data are correctly presented and analyzed where needed
(/25) All screenshots, graphs and data as noted in the template are included in the correct order in the template



(/25) Most screenshots, graphs and data as noted in the template are included in the correct order in the template; one graph/chart/data is missing
(/20) Some screenshots, graphs and data as noted in the template are included in the correct order in the template; more than one graph/chart/data is missing


(/15) AbsentNo information pertaining to the selected climate station is present





(/0)Description of Graphs and Data (Questions)

(/25) Climograph correctly defined, and Q1-Q4 correctly answered

(/25) Climograph, Q1-Q4 mostly correct (1 or 2 answers missing/incorrect)

(/20) Climograph, Q1-Q4 mostly incorrect (3 or more answers missing/incorrect)

(/15) AbsentNo answers or answers are incorrect

(/0)Articulation of Response
(/25) Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization. APA 6th style is clearly used where needed. Template clearly followed.

(/25) Submission has minor errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization. APA 6th style is clearly used where needed. Template mostly followed
(/20) Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization. APA 6th style is ambiguously used where needed. Template not followed well.



(/15) AbsentAssignment lacks organization, grammar, and other style elements. Template not used.




(/0)TOTAL POINTS: 100 80 60 0

Assignment 2 – Submission Template
Name:

Date:

Fill out the chart using the data provided in the climographs for both stations.

Hometown Climate Station –
INSERT STATION NAME HERE New Climate Station
INSERT STATION NAME HERE
Latitude/Longitude
Elevation
Climate Class Years of Data Mean Annual Temperature Mean Annual Precipitation
Cut and paste climographs here (delete these graphs and insert your own) 
 


Cut and paste distribution graphs and the physical geography maps here for both stations (delete these graphs and insert your own)
  
  Questions
1. Compare (similarities) and contrast (differences) the location for your two climate stations. Consider:a. Latitude/longitudeb. Proximity to waterc. Elevation of climate stationd. Mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation (who is warmer/wetter?)e. Other physical features you think are relevant (urban areas, agricultural, etc.).2. Compare and contrast the climographs for the two climate stations. Consider:a. Timing of warmest and coldest months (list them, and state how warm/cold it gets)b. Timing of wettest and driest months (list them, and state how wet/dry it gets)c. How warm is the hottest month?d. How cold is the coldest month?3. Compare the distribution of Temperature and Precipitation graphs for the two climate stations. Consider:a. Which months show the greatest variability in temperature?b. Which months show the greatest variability in precipitation?c. Which climate station shows the greatest variability overall?d. **these distribution plots are called “box and whisker” plots. Most of the observations fall within the red or blue box; almost all the data falls within the bars that mark the end of the plots (on both ends). Outliers (statistically different data) are indicated by dots. The greater the distance between the ends of the “boxes and whisker” means that there is much more variability in the observed data. For example:e. high variability in the data  low variability in the data4. Are you surprised at the similarities or differences between the observed climate data between your two climate stations? Using your text, lecture notes, and other sources, explain why (or why you are not) you are surprised at the similarities or differences. Your discussion should include ideas such as global atmospheric circulation, global wind belts, and your best attempt to understand the climate of each area. Explain what you have learned about climates based on this assignment.