ES2101_final 12/05/2001 13:49 Page 5

What Factors Control Your Local Climate? ES2101

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1 Why might one place have cold, snowy
winters, while it rarely snows at another
place only a hundred miles away?
Major differences in elevation could account for this.
●
5 Summarize the major differences in climate
between Fargo, ND and Dallas, TX.
Fargo has much colder minimum temperatures and
more snow than Dallas.

●
2 Provide a justification for each factor you
indicated as having major influence on the
climates of Phoenix, AZ and Flagstaff, AZ.
Elevation is the major climate control factor. Higher
elevations in Flagstaff explain lower temperatures as
well as greater amounts of snow.
●3 Summarize the major differences in climate
between Boston, MA and North Bend, OR.
Temperatures in North Bend stay fairly constant year
round, whereas Boston has greater temperature
variations. Boston has snow in winter, while North Bend
does not.
●
6 Provide a justification for each factor you
indicated as having major influence on the
climates of Fargo, ND and Dallas, TX.
Latitude appears to be the biggest influence.
●
7 On another sheet of paper, write a
description of your local climate. Discuss
characteristics such as timing and types of
precipitation you receive, minimum and
maximum temperatures and their timing,
and any other aspects you think most
accurately describe your local climate.
Answers will vary. Check for completeness.

●
4 Provide a justification for each factor you
indicated as having major influence on the
climates of Boston, MA and North Bend, OR.
Ocean temperature and ocean currents differ greatly
between Boston and North Bend.
●
8 Describe how each of the climate control
factors in Data Table 2 influences your local
climate.
Answers will vary. Check for descriptions of your local
climate control factors.

Data Table 1: Comparative Climates

Teacher’s Guide Chapter 21

Phoenix Flagstaff Boston No. Bend Fargo Dallas My Home
Locational Elevation (ft) 1112 7004 30 10 895 574
Information Latitude 33.3N 35.1N 42.2N 43.2N 46.5N 32.5N

Internet Investigation
Longitude 112.0W 114.4W 71.0W 124.5W 96.5W 97.0W
Copyright © McDougal Littell Inc.

Temperature Jan/July 65/108 40/82 38/80 50/65 15/82 52/95

(Maximum) Maximum 122 97 102 95 105 113
Temperature Jan/July 40/78 13/47 22/62 39/52 0/60 32/72
(Minimum) Minimum 19 -23 -7 13 -35 -1
Precipitation Jan/July 0.03/0.01 0.06/0.02 0.09/0.1 0.27/0.04 0.02/0.12 0.06/0
(Rain) Average 7.7 22.9 41.5 63.3 19.5 33.7
Precipitation Jan/July 0/0 0.06/0 0.02/0 0/0 0.03/0 Trace/0
(Snow) Average 0 108.9 41.7 1.8 40.1 3.1

Data Table 2: Rating the Influence of Climate Control Factors on Local Climate
Climate Control Factors Phoenix Flagstaff Boston No. Bend Fargo Dallas My Home
Latitude m m m m Major Major
Elevation Major Major m m m m
Water m m Major Major m m
Ocean Current m m Major Major m m
Topography m m m m m m
Prevailing Winds m m Major Major m m
Vegetation m m m m m m
Key: Major= Major influence m = Minor influence

Earth Science Internet Investigations Guide 73