Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3
SEASONAL AND DAILY

TEMPERATURE
Seasonal & Daily Temperatures We l e a d
This chapter discusses:
1. The role of Earth's tilt, revolution, & rotatation in

causing locational, seasonal, & daily temperature
variations
2. Methods & tools for measuring temperature

Seasons & Sun's Distance We l e a d
Earth's surface is 5 million kilometers further from the sun in

summer than in winter, indicating that seasonal warmth is
controlled by more than solar proximity.
Seasons & Solar Intensity
We l e a d
Solar intensity, defined as the energy per area, governs earth's

seasonal changes.
A sunlight beam that strikes at an angle is spread across a greater

surface area, and is a less intense heat source than a beam
impinging directly.
Solstice & Equinox
We l e a d
24 Hours of Daylight
We l e a d
Figure 3.4
Land of the Midnight Sun. A series of exposures of the sun taken before,
during, and after midnight in northern Alaska during July.
We l e a d
Do longer days near polar

latitudes mean the highest
daytime summer temperatures
are experienced there??
We l e a d
Barrow, Alaska
(71°N)
New York (41°N)

Earth's Tilt & Atmosphere
We l e a d
Earth's atmosphere reduces the amount of insolation striking earth's surface.
Earth's atmosphere and tilt combine to explain variation in received solar

radiation.
Longer Northern Spring & Summer
We l e a d
Earth reaches its greatest distance from the sun during a northern
summer, and this slows its speed of revolution.
The outcome is a spring and summer season 7 days longer than that
experienced by the southern hemisphere.
Local Solar Changes
We l e a d
Northern hemisphere sunrises are in the southeast during winter, but in the
northeast in summer.
Summer noon time sun is also higher above the horizon than the winter sun.
We l e a d
Landscape Solar Response
We l e a d
South facing slopes receive greater insolation, providing energy to melt

snow sooner and evaporate more soil moisture.
North and south slope terrain exposure often trigger differences in

plant types and abundance.
Daytime Warming
We l e a d
Solar radiation heats the

atmosphere from below by
soil conduction and gas
convection.
Daytime Warming
We l e a d
Winds create a
forced convection of
vertical mixing that
diminishes steep
temperature
gradients.
Temperature Lags We l e a d
Earth's surface temperature is

a balance between incoming
solar radiation and outgoing
terrestrial radiation.
Peak temperature lags after

peak insolation because earth
continues to warm until
infrared radiation exceeds
insolation.
Nighttime Cooling
We l e a d
Earth's surface has efficient radiational cooling (radiate IR energy), which

creates a temperature inversion that may be diminished by winds.
Evening length, water vapor, clouds, and vegetation affect earth's

nighttime cooling.
Cold Dense Air
We l e a d
Nighttime radiational cooling increases air density.
On hill slopes, denser air settles to the valley bottom, creating a

thermal belt of warmer air between lower and upper cooler air.
Protecting Crops from Below
We l e a d
Orchard heater Wind machines

circulate the mix cooler
air by setting surface air with
up convection warmer air
current above
Impacts of radiational cooling can be diminished by orchard heaters

creating convection currents to warm from below and by wind
machines mixing warmer air from above.
Protecting Crops from Above
We l e a d
Crops subjected to below

freezing air are not helped by
convection or mixing, but by
spraying water.
The cold air uses much of its

energy to freeze the water,
leaving less to take temperatures
below 0° C that damage the
crop.
We l e a d
1.Which below is not a primary reason for the seasons in

the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere?
a.The closeness of the earth to the sun.

b.The angle at which sunlight reaches the earth.
c.The length of daylight hours.
We l e a d
1.Which below is not a primary reason for the seasons in

the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere?
a.The closeness of the earth to the sun.

b.The angle at which sunlight reaches the earth.
c.The length of daylight hours.
We l e a d
2. If tonight’s air temperature is going to drop into the middle 20’s (F)
and a fairly stiff wind is predicted, probably the best way to protect an
orchard against a hard freeze is to (cost is not a factor):

a. Use wind machines
b.Put orchard heaters to work.
c. Sprinkle the trees with water.
We l e a d
2. If tonight’s air temperature is going to drop into the middle 20’s (F)
and a fairly stiff wind is predicted, probably the best way to protect an
orchard against a hard freeze is to (cost is not a factor):

a. Use wind machines
b.Put orchard heaters to work.
c. Sprinkle the trees with water.
We l e a d
3. The earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5. If the amount of tilt

were decreased to 5, we would expect to observed in the
middle latitudes of the Northern Hemispehere:
a. Warmer summers and colder winters than at present

b. Cooler summers and colder winters than at present
c. Cooler summers and warmer winters than at present
d. Warmer summers and warmer winters than at present
e. No appreciable change from present conditions
We l e a d
3. The earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5. If the amount of tilt

were decreased to 5, we would expect to observed in the
middle latitudes of the Northern Hemispehere:
a. Warmer summers and colder winters than at present

b. Cooler summers and colder winters than at present
c. Cooler summers and warmer winters than at present
d. Warmer summers and warmer winters than at present
e. No appreciable change from present conditions
Daily Temperature Range
We l e a d
Earth's surface efficiently

absorbs solar energy and
efficiently radiates
infrared energy, creating
a large diurnal
temperature range (max -
min) in the lower
atmosphere.
We l e a d
(a) Clouds tend to keep daytime (b) In the absence of clouds, days tend
temperatures lower and nighttime to be warmer and nights cooler,
temperatures higher, producing a small producing a larger daily range in
daily range in temperature. temperature.
Regional Temperatures
We l e a d
Earth's air temperature is governed by length of day and

intensity of insolation, which are a function of:
Latitude
Land and water distribution
Ocean currents
Elevation
January Isotherms
We l e a d
Average air temperature near sea level in January (°F)
Latitude determines that earth's air temperatures are warmer at the

equator than at the poles, but land and water, ocean currents, and
elevation create additional variations.
July Global Isotherms We l e a d
Average air temperature near sea level in July (°F)
The southern hemisphere has fewer land masses and ocean currents that
encircle the globe, creating isotherms that are more regular than those in the
northern hemisphere.
Regional Temperatures
We l e a d
Regional differences in
temperature, from annual or
daily, are influenced by
geography, such as latitude,
altitude, and nearby water or
ocean currents, as well as heat
generated in the urban area.
Heating Degree Day We l e a d
Temperature data are analyzed to determine when living space

will likely be heated (e.g. when below 65° F) and how much fuel is
required for that region.
Cooling & Growing Degree Days
We l e a d
Daily temperature data are also used to determine cooling loads for
living space above 65° F, as well as growing hours for specific crops
above a base temperature.
Recording Thermometer
We l e a d
Non-digital thermometers recorded maximum and minimum

temperature using simple designs to temporarily trap the mercury
or a marker along the thermometer scale.
Technological Upgrades
We l e a d
Pen and lever recording

drums required regular
calibration for accurate data.
Modern weather stations predominantly

use digital data recording techniques
that are less likely to introduce data
error and generate data more readily
analyzed by computers.
QUESTIONS We l e a d
1. The ______________ is the latitude at which days and nights

are always of equal length.
2. Solar panels on a solar home built in the Northern Hemisphere

should face toward this direction: _____________.
3. During January, it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and

_____________ in the Southern Hemisphere.
1. At the North Pole, the sun rises above the horizon on the
vernal equinox and stays above the horizon until the
__________________________.
2. In clear weather the air next to the ground is usually

_________________ than the air above during the night,
and ________________ than the air above during the day.
3. Near the earth’s surface, when outgoing infrared energy

exceeds incoming solar energy, the air temperature
__________________.
1. The difference between the highest and lowest temperature for any
given day is called the daily _______________ of temperature.
2. The astronomical beginning of fall is also known as

_______________________.
3. Warmer hillsides that are less likely to experience freezing conditions

can best be defined as ________________________.
4. The ________________ within the bore just above the bulb in the
maximum thermometer prevents the mercury from flowing back into
the bulb.

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CHAPTER 3

SEASONAL AND DAILY

This chapter discusses:

1. The role of Earth's tilt, revolution, & rotatation in

2. Methods & tools for measuring temperature

Earth's surface is 5 million kilometers further from the sun in

Solar intensity, defined as the energy per area, governs earth's

A sunlight beam that strikes at an angle is spread across a greater

Do longer days near polar

New York (41°N)

Earth's atmosphere reduces the amount of insolation striking earth's surface.

Earth's atmosphere and tilt combine to explain variation in received solar

South facing slopes receive greater insolation, providing energy to melt

North and south slope terrain exposure often trigger differences in

Solar radiation heats the

Earth's surface temperature is

Peak temperature lags after

Earth's surface has efficient radiational cooling (radiate IR energy), which

Evening length, water vapor, clouds, and vegetation affect earth's

Nighttime radiational cooling increases air density.

On hill slopes, denser air settles to the valley bottom, creating a

Orchard heater Wind machines

Impacts of radiational cooling can be diminished by orchard heaters

Crops subjected to below

The cold air uses much of its

1.Which below is not a primary reason for the seasons in

a.The closeness of the earth to the sun.

1.Which below is not a primary reason for the seasons in

a.The closeness of the earth to the sun.

3. The earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5. If the amount of tilt

a. Warmer summers and colder winters than at present

3. The earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5. If the amount of tilt

a. Warmer summers and colder winters than at present

Earth's surface efficiently

Earth's air temperature is governed by length of day and

Land and water distribution

Average air temperature near sea level in January (°F)

Latitude determines that earth's air temperatures are warmer at the

Average air temperature near sea level in July (°F)

Temperature data are analyzed to determine when living space

Non-digital thermometers recorded maximum and minimum

Pen and lever recording

Modern weather stations predominantly

1. The ______________ is the latitude at which days and nights

2. Solar panels on a solar home built in the Northern Hemisphere

3. During January, it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and

2. In clear weather the air next to the ground is usually

3. Near the earth’s surface, when outgoing infrared energy

2. The astronomical beginning of fall is also known as

3. Warmer hillsides that are less likely to experience freezing conditions

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