HOMEWORK #2 – Type Your Name Here>>>
Recent Atmospheric Event Analysis (choose only 3)
Physical Geography (GEOG 300) <> Prof. John Aubert <> American River
College
Basic Directions: Using your 1) textbook, 2) lecture notes, and 3) the Homework #2 links
provided on Canvas, complete three – only three – of the following five sections. Please, I beg you –
complete ONLY three!!!!
Follow the directions from our previous homework’s to create a file with MY questions and YOUR
answers. REGARDLESS OF THE PROCESS YOU CHOOSE, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE COMPLETE,
ORIGINAL QUESTIONS WITH YOUR ANSWERS!
When finished, submit your assignment to the appropriate Canvas drop box; see your syllabus and
Canvas for due date. DO NOT ANALYZE THE SAME EVENTS AS YOUR FRIENDS!
************************************************
1) Tropical Cyclones (Choose ONE SPECIFIC STORM from the last 6 months.
Use the “Links to Recent Tropical Cyclone Reports” provided here on Canvas under the
Homework #2 Module.)
Tropical cyclones (called hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones depending on where they are occurring) tend to
form over open ocean between 8-15 degrees latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres
toward the end of summer and into fall, when the oceans are at their warmest. They generally increase
their latitude (i.e. move away from the Equator) as they travel, eventually dying out over land or colder
water.
Name of the specific Storm You Chose (NOTE: Do NOT list an entire season…)
Answer Here>>>>>
Max Wind Speed (mph) and Min Pressure (mbar) (you can find this under “Peak Intensity”
at the right when viewing the Wikipedia summary) Answer Here>>>>>
Date or Date Range (include day, month, and year) Answer Here>>>>>
Location (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Latitude (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>
Direction of Spiral (Clockwise or counterclockwise? More info here.) Answer Here>>>>>
Based on what you have learned about tropical cyclones in my lecture notes, in my
lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following question: Is
the 1) timing, 2) location, and 3) direction of spiral of THIS tropical cyclone generally
expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS – just like you
are explaining to family. Use complete sentences! Type Here>>>>>
2) Dust Storm (Choose one from the last 6 months. Use this “NASA Natural Hazards”
Homework_ Atmospheric_ Haz…
2) Dust Storm (Choose one from the last 6 months. Use this “NASA Natural Hazards”
link.)
Dust storms generally originate from dry, desert or steppe climate zones, especially during the warmest
and driest times of year. The dry climate can be caused by constant subtropical high pressure (i.e. sits
near around 20-30 degrees latitude north or south), rainshadow (i.e. sits on the leeward side of a
mountain range), and/or continental conditions (i.e. it is far from an ocean). Extended drought can
also be a factor.
Date or Date Range (include day, month, and year) Type Here>>>>>
Location where dust originated (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Latitude where dust originated (scroll to the end for directions) Answer
Here>>>>>
Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>
Name of Climate Zone where dust originated (scroll to the end for directions and a map)
Answer Here>>>>>
Cause of Dry Conditions (choose from THESE options (described above): subtropical high
pressure, rain shadow, continental conditions, and/or extended drought) Answer Here>>>>>
Wind Direction From (see NASA link) Answer Here>>>>>
Based on what you have learned about dry climates and dry seasons in my lecture
notes, in my lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following
question: Is the 1) timing and 2) location of THIS dust storm generally expected and
normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS – just like you are explaining
to family. Use complete sentences! Answer Here>>>>>
3) Extreme Precip/Flood (Choose one from the last 6 months Use this “NASA
Natural Hazards” link.) NOTE: This section is NOT for reporting on a tropical cyclone (hurricane,
typhoon, etc).
Flooding is generally caused by heavy precipitation and precipitation is generally caused by one (or more) of three
lifting mechanisms: convectional (tropical/ITCZ/monsoon), orographic (mountain lifting) and/or frontal
(generally occurring along the polar front in winter). Convectional precipitation generally – though not always –
occurs during the warmer time of year, while frontal precipitation generally occurs during the colder time of year.
Date or Date Range (include day, month, and year) Answer Here>>>>>
Location (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Latitude (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>
Name of Climate Zone for this Area (scroll to the end for directions and a map) Answer
Here>>>>>
Lifting Mechanism (convectional, frontal, or orographic – see above for tips) Answer
Here>>>>>
Based on what you have learned about climates, rainy seasons, and lifting
mechanisms in my lecture notes, in my lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text
above, answer the following question: Is the 1) timing and 2) location of THIS extreme
precipitation event generally expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR
precipitation event generally expected and normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR
OWN WORDS – just like you are explaining to family. Use complete sentences! Answer
Here>>>>>
4) Wildfire (Choose one from the last 6 months. Use this “NASA Natural Hazards” link.)
Wildfires tend to occur in areas experiencing sub-tropical high pressure during a normal dry
season (like winter in the tropical savannah & monsoon climates OR summer in our
Mediterranean climates), in continental locations far from humid ocean air, in rain shadow deserts, OR
in any area experiencing an abnormal, extended period of drought.
Date or Date Range (include day, month, and year) Answer Here>>>>>
Location (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Latitude (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>
Name of Climate Zone for this Area (scroll to the end for directions and a map) Answer
Here>>>>>
Cause of Dry Conditions (choose from THESE options (described above): subtropical high
pressure, continental conditions, rain shadow desert, and/or extended drought) Answer
Here>>>>>
Wind Direction From (see NASA link) Answer Here>>>>>
Based on what you have learned about dry climates and dry seasons in my lecture
notes, in my lecture videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following
question: Is the 1) timing and 2) location of THIS wildfire generally expected and
normal? Explain why (or why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS – just like you are explaining
to family. Use complete sentences! Answer Here>>>>>
5) Tornados (Choose a tornado outbreak from the last 6 months. Use this “NWS Storm
Prediction Center” link. Click the back link above the map (looks like this “<”) until you find an
outbreak (a cluster of red dots) that you are interested in. If you wish to find a specific date
there are directions toward the bottom of that page.)
Tornadoes can occur at any time of year, though “the season” tends to begin rising in late winter, peaks in mid to
late spring, and slowly tapers off into late summer and fall (Dec-Jan has the least activity). Because they generally
occur along the polar front boundary, early season tornadoes (Feb – March) tend to occur at lower latitudes (e.g.
Southern US), moving northward (e.g. Midwest/Great Plains / Great Lakes) as the season progresses (i.e. as the
polar front moves toward higher latitudes). Tornadoes can occur as far north as Southern Canada, usually in August
or September (if at all). Though not always, tornadoes are often associated with cold fronts.
Date (include day, month, and year) Answer Here>>>>>
Location (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Latitude (scroll to the end for directions) Answer Here>>>>>
Approximate Season (scroll to the end for a guide) Answer Here>>>>>
Name of Climate Zone for this Area (scroll to the end for directions and a map) Answer
Here>>>>>
Based on what you have learned about tornadoes in my lecture notes, in my lecture
Based on what you have learned about tornadoes in my lecture notes, in my lecture
videos, in the textbook, and in the text above, answer the following question: Is the 1)
timing and 2) location of THIS tornado generally expected and normal? Explain why (or
why not) IN YOUR OWN WORDS – just like you are explaining to family. Use complete
sentences! Answer Here>>>>>
*****************TIPS***************
**
Tips on Latitude: YOU MUST SPECIFY A NUMBER AND WHETHER IT IS NORTH OR
SOUTH LATITUDE! Remember, latitude is a measurement of how far – in degrees – a location is
from the equator. One trick is to Google “Latitude of…” and insert the nearest city, state, or
country.
Tips on Location: Be as specific as possible. Use well-known cities as reference
points. If the city is not utterly and completely recognizable to virtually everyone in the world, you
must also list state or province and/or country. If the event is not near a named place, then state
how far away – and in what direction – it is from a known place (e.g. “1200 miles southwest of
Honolulu, Hawaii”).
Guide to Timing of the Seasons*
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
APPROXIMATE SEASON IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
winter late
winter
early
spring spring late
spring
early
summer
summer
late
summer
early
fall fall late
fall
early
winter
APPROXIMATE SEASON IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
summer
late
summer
early
fall fall late
fall
early
winter winter late
winter
early
spring spring late
spring
early
summer
*The severity and intensity of seasons will vary with latitude. As you get closer and closer to the Equator
seasonal changes and differences become less and less obvious.
Tips on Climate: Consult the climate zone map in your textbook – it is also posted
on Canvas below this assignment (and also pasted below). You are to provide the name of the
specific climate zone as it is shown on the map and NOT just the general category (for example,
say “Mediterranean” instead of “Mesothermal”).
Questions updated Oct 2020
