The following questions are based on Figure 29-3, a chart showing average annual

Question

The following questions are based on Figure 29-3, a chart showing average annual temperature from 1905 to 2009 in three U.S. cities: Nome, Alaska; Bozeman, Montana; and Tucson, Arizona.

Question 1

Generally, what has happened to the average annual temperature in these three cities over the last century?

a) It has stayed the same

b) It has decreased

c) It has increased

Question 2

Using the straight best-fit line as an indicator, estimate the approximate observed temperature change over the last century in each city; indicate if the temperature has increased (+) or decreased (-). (Note: These answers are based on simplistic assumptions.)

a) Tucson: +5 °F Bozeman: +6 °F Nome: +2 °F

b) Tucson: +6 °F Bozeman: +5 °F Nome: +2 °F

c) Tucson: +6 °F Bozeman: +2 °F Nome: +5 °F

Question 3

Looking at the annual temperature value dots (not the 5-year moving average), what is the warmest year shown on the chart for each of the cities?

a) Tucson: 1994 Bozeman: 1934 Nome: 1978

b) Tucson: 1990 Bozeman: 1954 Nome: 1978

c) Tucson: 1994 Bozeman: 1922 Nome: 1966

Question 4

What is the coldest year shown on the chart for each of the cities?

a) Tucson: 1910 Bozeman: 1927 Nome: 1926

b) Tucson: 1913 Bozeman: 1917 Nome: 1920

c) Tucson: 1921 Bozeman: 1987 Nome: 1929

Question 5

Using the 5-year moving average lines for reference, in which of the cities does average annual temperature fluctuate the most from one year to the next or from one decade to the next?

a) Tucson

b) Nome

c) Bozeman

Question 6

Do all of the major warm and cold periods in Nome correspond to warm and cold periods in the other two cities?

a) No

b) Can't tell

c) Yes

Question 7

Although greenhouse gas concentration has increased steadily over the last century, based on your answers for problems 3 and 4 above, is increased greenhouse effect likely to be the only factor influencing temperature change in these cities?

a) Yes

b) No

Question 8

Looking at the annual temperature value dots and the 5-year moving averages, do you see any evidence of temperature changes following an 11-year sunspot cycle?

a) No

b) Yes

Question 9

If not, why might the influence of the sunspot cycle not be evident on these charts?

a) The sunspot cycle correlates with extreme temperature variability.

b) The very slight temperature differences associated with the sunspot cycle are masked by other temperature-control factors.

Question 10

Look at the temperatures from 1990 to 1992. Describe any possible effect of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo on the temperature record of these cities.

a) A slight dip in temperature is seen in Bozeman and Nome, but not in Tucson.

b) A slight increase in the temperatures of all three cities.

Question 11

Based on your observations in problem 7a above, how important were volcanic eruptions in the overall temperature patterns of these cities over the last century?

a) Volcanic eruptions are the most important factor.

b) Other factors appear to be more important.

Question 12

What cyclical factor helps explain the cool period in Nome between about 1945 and 1975?

a) The positive phase of the PDO.

b) The negative phase of the PDO.

Question 13

The warm period between about 1975 and 2005?

a) The negative phase of the PDO.

b) The positive phase of the PDO.

Question 14

Tucson’s population grew from about 7500 in the year 1900 to about 546,000 by 2009 (with over 1,000,000 in the surrounding county), and so a portion of the observed temperature increase here may be due to the urban heat island effect. Using your answer in problem 2 above as a starting point, use the EPA’s upper-end estimate of the UHI effect (5.4°F) to calculate the approximate amount of temperature increase that probably cannot be explained by urbanization. (Note: This answer is based on simplistic assumptions.)

a) 2.6 °F

b) 0.6 °F

c) 1.6 °F

d) 3.6 °F

Question 15

The following questions are based on Figure 29-4, charts showing annual precipitation in Tucson, Arizona, and Bozeman, Montana, from 1905 to 2009.

Using the best-fit line for reference, what generally happened to annual precipitation in these cities over the last century?

a) They both increase

b) They both decrease

c) Tucson decreases, Bozeman increases

Question 16

The following questions are based on Figure 29-4, charts showing annual precipitation in Tucson, Arizona, and Bozeman, Montana, from 1905 to 2009.

Which city exhibits the greatest precipitation variability?

a) Tucson

b) Bozeman

Question 17

The following questions are based on Figure 29-4, charts showing annual precipitation in Tucson,
Arizona, and Bozeman, Montana, from 1905 to 2009.

Why did you select your answer for Question 11a?

a) Wet climates have more precipitation variability

b) Dry climates have more precipitation variability

Question 18

Using the 5-year moving average lines for reference, did all of the major wet and dry periods of the last century occur at the same time in Bozeman and Tucson?

a) Yes

b) No

Question 19

Which city shows a greater increase in precipitation during the 1982–83 El Niño event?

a) Tucson

b) Bozeman

Question 20

Why might this be the case?

a) Being farther from the ocean makes it more likely that Bozeman would get more humid air from the Pacific than in the Southwestern US.

b) The southwestern U.S. tends to have a greater increase in precipitation during an El Niño event than the north-central U.S. (same as the Imperial Valley!)

a) It has stayed the same

b) It has decreased

Physical Geography Laboratory Manual 75 Tucson 70 60 50 Bozeman 45 Figure 29-3: Average annual temperature in Tucson, Arizona; Bozeman; Montana; and Nome, Alaska from 1905 to 2009. Five-year moving average shown with thick trend line; "best-fit" shown with thin straight line. (Data sources: National Climate Data Center Nome 30 25 TTT Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks)

Explanation / Answer

Question 3

Ans. a) Tucson: 1994 Bozeman: 1934 Nome: 1978

Question 4

Ans. b) Tucson: 1913 Bozeman: 1917 Nome: 1920

Question 5

Ans. b) Nome

Question 6

Ans. a) No

Question 7

Ans. a) Yes

Question 10

Ans. a) A slight dip in temperature is seen in Bozeman and Nome, but not in Tucson.

Explanation for all of the above answers:

All the above answers were derived based on the study and observation of the graphs of Annual Average temperatures in Tucson, Bozeman and Nome, between 1905 and 2009.

(Note: As per Chegg Answering Guidelines, we have to answer any 4 of the sub-parts, but I have answered 6 questions here. Please repost other questions to get them answered.)

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