GEO 125

Physical Geography


TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS

Temperature scales

  • Fixed points : (1) Ice point and (2) Steam point
  • Fahrenheit scale
  • Celsius (Centigrade) scale
  • Where and when different temperature scales are used

Variation in temperature with altitude

  • A. Negative relationship between temperature and altitude in the troposhpere
  • Temperature inversions

Temporal variations in temperature

  • Daily: (1) Variation by hour of the day and (2) Clear days versus cloudy days
  • Annually
  • Recent past
  • Geologic past

Temperature maps

  • Temperature as a continuous distribution
  • Isotherm maps

Geographic variation in temperature

  • Latitudinal position
  • Altitude
  • Distribution of land versus water in determining geographic variations in temperatures as related to (1) absorption, (2) radiation, and (3) reflection (albedo)
  • Degree of continentality: (1) continental climates and (2) maritime climates
  • Ocean currents:  (1) Warm water currents and (2) cold water currents

Variation in temperature at different spatial scales

  • Microscale
  • Macroscale
  • Mesoscale
  • Global scale

Instruments used to measure temperature

  • Liquid-in-glass thermometers: (1) standard themometer, (2) maximum thermometer, and (3) ninimum thermometer
  • Thermographs
  • Thermocouples
  • Instrument shed

Air temperature data

  • A. Daily maximum
  • B. Daily minimum
  • C. Daily average
  • D. Monthly average
  • E. Annual average
  • F. Annual average
  • G. Annual average
  • H. Annual temperature range

Applied uses of temperature data

  • Climographs
  • Degree days: (1) cooling, (2) heating and (3) growing
  • Indices of human discomfort: (1) wind-chill factor and (2) heat index

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