Chapter 3

Air Temperature

Daily Cycle

Solar radiation warms earth during the day (Figure 3.2)

Terrestrial radiation cools earth during the night

Inversion (reversal) of normal temperature profile due to radiative cooling (Figure 3.3)

Thermal belt (Figure 3.4)

Factors Controlling Temperature

Latitude (polar vs. tropical)

Land vs. water nearby

Warm vs. cold ocean currents

Altitude

Example: Figure 3.11 San Francisco vs. Richmond

Thermometers

Liquid-in-glass (Figure 3.14)

Min./max. thermometer

Instrument shelter (5 ft above ground level; see Figure 3.3)

ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System).


       4.    Climate Forecast
         
a.     Groundhog Day, February 2 (Punxsutawney Phil) vs.  NOAA, National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)