Clim 301 HW #2

HW02: Contouring and Units (Due Sep. 17)

This lab continues with contouring. The goal is to learn how to interpret a contour plot, and how to create one.

Part 2 of this homework contains some unit conversion problems.

Part 1: Draw contours on the provided plot at 60 meter contour intervals. The plot is for the 500mb level. The observed data is provided in the form of station models.

Also draw the following features on the map: troughs, ridges, Lows, and Highs.

In addition, select two points on the map. Select Point A where the gradient is weak, and draw an arrow indicating the direction of the gradient. Select a point B on the map where the gradient is strong, and draw an arrow indicating the direction of the gradient at that point.

A description of station models for upper air data can be found in Vasquez in Appendix 4.

Instructions for drawing contour lines from observations are given in Vasquez in Appendix 6.

Instructions for identifying troughs, ridges, highs and lows have been given in class. If you have any questions be sure to see me.

Below is the plot to be analyzed:


Part 2: Convert the following data to SI units. Assume standard gravity where needed.
Express your result in scientific notation (for example, 8.3311x10-5).

Although there are online calculators that will do these conversions, it is strongly recommended that you do them yourselves, and only check your work using those calculators.

6371 km (kilometer)

8.322x108 cm (centimeter)

4 miles

8000 ft (feet)

5.3x10-2 gm (gram)

83°F (degrees Farenheit)

2.3°C (degrees Centigrade or Celsius)

15 hours

14 minutes

18 mph (miles per hour)

63 kt (knots)

15 dyn (dynes)

8 lbs (pounds force)

0.1 bars

1013mb (millibars)

15 psi (pounds per square inch)

30.03 inches of Hg (mercury)

2 gm/cm3

SI units include: meter (m), kilogram (kg), second (s), kelvin (K).

Other units derived from the above include Newtons (N), Pascals (Pa), m/s (meters per second), kg/m3 (kilograms per cubic meter), etc.