Lab: Climate Inquiry
Names: _______________________
Date: _________________ Hr: ___
AP Environmental Science
II. Background: Living organisms are naturally selected based on their response to biotic and abiotic conditions.
Today we’re looking at a very important abiotic factor all terrestrial organisms respond to: temperature. We’ll
investigate the role that changing temperatures play in creating a specific biome.
III. Question: What role does latitude play in the abiotic conditions for terrestrial biomes?
IV. Hypotheses: Latitude plays a relatively minor abiotic role in determining terrestrial biome conditions.
V. Materials: Computer, Seasons program, Starry Night program, climate data
VI. Procedure:
1. Access the Seasons program under the Start Menu (McNamara-APES)
2. Carefully study the graph as the program automatically plots temperature vs. months for a specific latitude
(you'll need to be able to interpret this graph later).
3. Click Change Axis Tilt Axis Tilt and Sunlight Intensity (at top of screen). Complete table #1.
4. Return to previous screen. Click Change Axis Tilt Axis Tilt and Sun Elevation. Complete table #2.
5. Return to main screen (with Earth orbiting). Click Select Latitudes. Select 2 of your 4 latitudes and watch as
temperatures are plotted for one year.
6. Screen capture the graph of the 2 latitudes (including axes and keys). Save this as an image file to be used
later. Select the other 2 latitudes and repeat. Complete Table #3.
EXIT SEASONS PROGRAM
6. Find Starry Night Pro n the desktop. Cancel small pop-ups until you get to the main screen.
7. Under the Options drop-down menu, click Viewing Location, then Latitude tab. Choose the first latitude you
used in table 1 (0°, Equator). Move the Time Flow rate to 3000x and drag the hand icon over the screen until
you are looking east. Set the time/date to 6:00 A.M. TODAY. Record the time of sunrise and sunset (move hand
to face west).
8. Return to the Viewing Location and repeat for your 3 other latitudes. Record all in Table #4.
9. Change time of year to June 23 at the highest latitude. Record observations below table 4.
VII. Observations
Table 1: Latitude vs. Radiation Received at Spring Equinox
Latitude
Sunlight Spreads Over ___
Solar Radiation
times area it covers overhead (kW/m2)
0° (equator)
1.00
1.243
24°N (Key West, FL)
42.5°N (Grosse Pointe, MI)
61°N (Anchorage, AK)
Table #2: Sun Angle vs. Time of Year
Latitude
Noon Sun Angle at
Summer Solstice (June 23)
Noon Sun Angle at
Winter Solstice (Dec 23)
0° (equator)
24°N (Key West, FL)
42.5°N (Grosse Pointe, MI)
61°N (Anchorage, AK)
89.5° above horizon
42.5° above horizon
Lab: Climate Inquiry
Names: _______________________
Date: _________________ Hr: ___
AP Environmental Science
Table #3: Temperature vs. Latitude
Latitude
Summer High
Temperature (°C)
0° (equator)
Winter Low
Temperature (°C)
24°N (Key West, FL)
42.5°N (Grosse Pointe, MI)
61°N (Anchorage, AK)
Table #4: Sun Times vs. Latitude for TODAY
Latitude
Sunrise
(am)
0° (equator)
Sunset
(pm)
Length of
Daylight (hrs)
Sun’s Path Across Sky
(High, Medium, Low)
24°N (Key West, FL)
42.5°N (Grosse Pointe, MI)
61°N (Anchorage, AK)
Other observations:
June 23rd at 61°N (Anchorage, AK): Notice anything unusual during the 24 hr day?
VIII: Analysis
Using Table #1
1. Summarize the relationship between latitude, area covered by sunlight, and solar radiation intensity.
2. Design a line graph comparing solar radiation (kW/m2) received vs. change in 4 latitudes.
3. Calculate how much solar radiation (kW) a 500m2 forest at the Equator would receive (at Spring Equinox)?
Calculate how much the same size forest in Key West, Grosse Pointe, and Anchorage each receives.
4. How would your calculations from the previous questions influence NPP at each site? Biodiversity??
Using Table #2
5. Summarize the relationship between latitude and the sun angle ( above horizon).
Using Table #3
6. Attach your 2 screen captured graphs (procedure step #5) showing monthly temperature vs. latitude.
7. Explain how latitude controls the variation in temperature between summer and winter months.
Using “other observations”
8. If polar latitudes (61°N) receive nearly 24 hrs of sunlight in summer, explain why they aren’t as
warm as the tropics.
IX: Conclusion: (Summarize what you learned plus how well your hypothesis was supported.)
Expected Lab Rubric: Go to our class website.
Lab: Climate Inquiry
AP Environmental Science
Names: _______________________
Date: _________________ Hr: ___
Climate Lab Rubric
I. Title:
II. Background
III. Question:
IV. Hypotheses:
V. Materials: only your materials
VI. Procedure: Briefly listed
VII. Observations/Data: Include all 4 data tables + 61° June Obs.
VIII. Analysis
- Table 1 Summary Questions , Graph, Calculations (1, 3, 4, 1 = 9pts)
- Table 2 Summary Questions (1pt)
- Table 3 Summary + Graphs (4 + 1 = 5pts)
- Polar Latitudes in summer (1pt)
IX. Conclusion: Complete; shows understanding
TOTAL POINTS
6 points
9 points
16 points
2 points
33 points