Weather and Climate

Midterm Exam NATS 1780 A - Weather and Climate - Summer 2020 Part A - Mandatory Questions 1. Regarding Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 5:43 pm in Toronto: a. Name the astronomical event that occurred on this date at this time. [1 mark] b. Convert this date and time to UTC. [1 mark] 2. Obtain a copy of irradiance data from EMOS that includes Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 5:43 pm in Toronto. Answer the following questions: a. State the maximum value of downwelling shortwave irradiance (W/m2 ), and the time in Toronto when this maximum occurs. [2 marks] b. State the Toronto dates/times (EDT and UTC) corresponding to sunrise and sunset based upon EMOS irradiance data. [2 marks] c. What was the length of the day in hours in Toronto. [1 mark] d. When should the maximum temperature for the day have been reached according to the irradiance data? [1 mark] e. According to EMOS’s temperature data, when was the maximum temperature for the day actually reached? [1 mark] f. How closely in time do your answers for the previous two questions match? Provide your answer in hours and minutes. [1 mark] g. According to EMOS data, was cloud cover more of a factor in the morning, afternoon, or overnight? How do you know? [2 marks] h. Regarding the upwelling-longwave radiation data: i. When do the lowest values occur, and what is the value? State as a range of time in EDT and an average irradiance in W/m2 . [2 marks] ii. Why isn’t this value of irradiance ever 0 W/m2? Explain. [2 marks] i. Submit a copy of the EMOS irradiance data that includes your annotations, name, and student number. [20 mark penalty for not submitting this annotated graph.] 3. Obtain a copy of irradiance data from EMOS that includes Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 11:19 pm EST in Toronto. Answer the following questions: a. State the Toronto dates/times (EDT and UTC) corresponding to sunrise and sunset based upon EMOS irradiance data. [2 marks] b. How much shorter (in hours and minutes) is the length of this day relative to June 20, 2020? [1 mark] c. What is the lowest value of upwelling longwave irradiance in W/m2? [1 mark] © L. I. Lumb - Sharing prohibited. Violators subject to legal/academic consequences. 1 d. Submit a copy of this EMOS irradiance data that includes your annotations, name, and student number. [20 mark penalty for not submitting this annotated graph.] 4. Regarding May 26, 2020 in Toronto: a. According to temperature EMOS data, what is the maximum value of temperature? [1 mark] 5. Compare the temperature data for May 26 and June 20: a. On which of the two dates is the higher value for temperature recorded? [1 mark] b. How can you reconcile these observations with the astronomical event that occurred on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at 5:43 pm in Toronto? [2 marks] 6. In which month does Toronto typically record its hottest temperatures? State the month, as well as your source for this data. [2 marks] 7. How might upwelling longwave irradiance data allow you to reconcile the potential for significantly warmer temperatures after June 20 in 2020? [2 marks] 8. Sketch a process-flow diagram to account for upwelling longwave irradiance as the primary driver for warmer temperatures after June 20 in 2020. [3 marks for a sketch that includes your name and student number.] © L. I. Lumb - Sharing prohibited. Violators subject to legal/academic consequences. 2