Examine the distribution of temperature on the globe in 2012 and answer the foll

Question

Examine the distribution of temperature on the globe in 2012 and answer the following questions:

1) What is the effect of latitude on the distribution of temperature? Is the relationship clearer in the January, July or the annual mean temperature distribution? Provide a hypothesis for this observed pattern.

2) What is the effect of the seasons on the temperature distribution?

3) For a given latitude,

(i) which is colder in the winter, the continents or the oceans?

(ii) which is hotter in the summer, the continents or the oceans?

(iii) Propose a hypothesis for this observed pattern in i. and ii.

Explanation / Answer

1. We know that the Earth is tilted 23.50 about its axis. This tile provides solar radiation to a particular region of the eart which depends on the season. During January, it is Winter solistice in the Northern Hemisphere and hence, the sun's radiation will be over the Tropic of Capricorn (South) which faces summer season. As we go to high lattitudes, the solar insolation becomes weaker because sun's rays will have to travel a longer distance at high lattitudes (due to the tilt of the Earth). The vive versa happens during the Southern Winter, but the distribution of heat with respect to lattitudes will be similar.

2) As said above,in the Northern summer, the sun's insolation will be directly above the Tropic of Cancer. This will result in Northern Summer which will increase the temperature (July map), and there wll be decrease in mean temperature in the Southern Hemisphere. When it is Southern Summer, the insolation will be over the Tropic of Capricorn, which will increase the temperature in the Southern Hemisphere (January map).

3)

i) In winter, the continents will be colder

ii) In summer, the continents will be hotter than oceans

iii) the above pattern is due to the fact that continental land mass has higher capacity to absorb heat and also to release the same amount of heat. Whereas ocean react rather slowly to the temperature changes. Hence land will be cooler and warmer in summer compared to the oceans

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