Homework 2 1)
The following link provides observations of temperature and other variables from the NOAA climate divisional database (10 points).
https://climatereanalyzer.org/clim/noaa-prism/
a.
Go to the link and create two graphs for the annual average temperature anomalies (select
“Annual (Jan-Dec)” under month) - one for the United States and a second for any other state. Copy and paste the graphs that you created here. b.
Describe whether you see any change in either graph and discuss the similarities and/or differences between the two graphs. c.
Give one reason why you might see differences in these graphs. 2)
What scientific arguments would you use to explain to someone why they should trust the global average temperature record that shows that our planet is warming? (10 points) 3)
State at least three reasons why scientists are confident that our planet is undergoing warming that
do not use the global average temperature record. (10 points)
4)
Read the following two articles and answer the following questions about our two polar regions –
Arctic and the Antarctic
(20 points)
: https://nsidc.org/learn/parts-cryosphere/sea-ice
https://nsidc.org/learn/parts-cryosphere/sea-ice/why-sea-ice-matters
a.
Briefly describe the differences in geography and sea-ice extent between the two polar regions? b.
Is sea-ice extent in the Arctic and Antarctic changing in similar or different ways? (hint -
see graph below) c.
Describe any two reasons why changes in the Arctic or the Antarctic affect people and ecosystems.
