Orbits, Seasons, and Ice Ages – Report Sheet

Name: ______Date: ______

Questions: Answer each question in a complete and grammatically correct sentence.

1) Record your answers to the Procedure Steps 1,2 and 3 on Figure 1 above. 2) Identify the dates for the aphelion and perihelion in the spaces provided below.

Aphelion ______Perihelion ______3) Give the latitude for the location of the vertical ray of the sun as shown in Diagram B: Orbit of Earth (shown in Introduction). Record below.

June 21 ______September 22 ______

December 21 ______March 21 ______

4) Figure 2 below shows varying angles of insolation, or incoming solar radiation, which would be experienced during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere. Note that areas A, B, and C, which are equal size, receive varying amounts of insolation depending on the angle of insolation.

Figure 2: Angles of Insolation in Northern Hemisphere in Winter

At which position (A, B, or C) shown in Figure 2 above, is the intensity of insolation the greatest? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)

5) Why is the intensity of insolation the greatest at the position you names in your answer to question 4? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)

6) Look at Diagram C: Changes in Earth’s Orbit and Tilt shown in the Introduction to this lab. 11,500 years ago, an ice sheet covered much of the Northern Hemisphere and consequently, the Northern Hemisphere was in an Ice Age. What was the probable effect on temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere when the Earth was closest in its orbit to the sun on June 21? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)

7) Regarding your answer to question 6, what would the temperatures do to the snow and ice when the Earth was in the position shown in Diagram C for 11,500 years ago? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)

8) Regarding your answers to question 6 and 7, was the Earth going into or coming out of Ice Age 11,500 years ago? (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE.)

9) Record the number of hours of night on March 21 for the following locations.

00 latitude ______

400 N latitude ______

900 S latitude ______

10) What is meant by “land of the midnight sun”? Where, when and why could this situation exist? NOTICE” this is three questions (1) where, (2) when, (3) why. (Answer in a COMPLETE SENTENCE. If you aren’t sure, then maybe you could Google it!!!)