GI 1
Form a guiding question to test the relationship between relative humidity and temperature.
Does RH increase as temperature decreases? / Does RH decrease as temperature increases?
*IV: Temperature
DV: RH
State the instrument used to collect the daily temperature range.
Maximum-minimum thermometer
State 4 elements of weather.
Temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, cloud cover, wind, air pressure
How do volcanic eruptions affect global cooling?
Sulphur-based particles are released which reflect solar radiation back into space. Cooling of global temperatures for a period of time.
What is a diurnal temperature range?
The daily temperature range (Highest temperature - lowest temperature = dirunal temperature range)
State 4 ways that GI data can be represented.
Bar graph, pie chart, flow map, wind rose, scatter graph
Describe how you would represent data for wind direction.
Wind rose - shade 1 box per day in the direction of the prevailing wind. If there is no direction that day, add 1 to the middle of the wind rose.
Describe a national response to climate change.
E.g. Singapore Green Plan 2012/2030, Green Mark Scheme, Plant-A-Tree Programme
Describe how the climate has changed since 1880.
1. Global records since 1880 show a significant, but irregular upward trend in temperature with fluctuations of 0.3°C to 0.6°C
2. Global warming over the last century: world is warming on average by 0.74°C, with most of the increase since the 1970s
3. Global temperatures in the last decade reached the highest levels on record
What instrument is used to measure (i) wind speed and (ii) wind direction?
(i) Wind speed: Anemometer
(ii) Wind direction: Wind vane
Explain how to collect rainfall data.
Instrument: Rain gauge
Where to site it?
When to check it?
How to read measurements of rainfall collected?
Describe how to use systematic sampling to record cloud cover in the school field.
Identify a fixed distance interval (e.g. 5m), and use an okta grid to at each point, angled up overhead to the sky, and identify how many of the 8 boxes are covered with clouds.
Explain how distance from the sea affects temperature.
Near the coast (Closer to the sea): Smaller annual temperature range. Maritime effect/moderating effect as the sea cools the coast in summer and warms the coast in winter, leading to warmer winters and cooler summers.
Land far from the sea experiences the continental effect (larger annual temperature range)
Explain why Singapore has a higher average temperature than areas much further from the equator.
Reason #1: At higher latitudes, due to the curvature of the earth, sun rays travel a longer distance. Solar energy is lost to the atmosphere and space before reaching earth’s surface. Due to the lower solar energy present to heat up the earth’s surface, lesser warmth (heat energy) available to pass on to surrounding air/ atmosphere.
Reason #2: The Sun’s rays strikes at a smaller angle of incidence as one moves from the Equator towards the North and South Poles. (smaller angle of incidence at higher latitudes!)
Solar radiation is spread over a smaller area near the equator resulting in higher average temperatures in Singapore.
Describe an international response to climate change.
e.g. Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement
Kyoto Protocol is an agreement between many countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Greater responsibility was placed on the developed and European countries as they are deemed to be the ones mainly responsible for the current high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
When countries meet their targets, greenhouse gas emission globally will fall. This will help to slow down global warming.
Explain how to ensure data collection can be accurate for relative humidity data.
Ensure the muslin cloth around the wet bulb thermometer is wet.
Ensure the sling psychrometer is placed at arms length, swung parallel to the ground at a constant speed for 45-60s (use a stopwatch to time). Immediately read the wet bulb thermometer and record the temperature.
Repeat the process 2 more times and take the average RH.
Suggest ways in which students can ensure that a GI can be reliable.
WHERE (increase the number of test sites)
WHEN (increase the number of days, increase the number of times data is collected in a day)
HOW (ensure instruments and sampling method are used accurately)
With the use of a named example, describe the rainfall and temperature characteristics of the tropical equatorial climate.
Rainfall: High total annual rainfall (>2000mm), no distinct wet/dry seasons
Temperature: High mean annual temperature, small annual temperature range
E.g. Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia
Explain how relief rainfall is formed.
Warm, moist air from the prevailing wind is forced to rise when approaching the area of higher relief (e.g. a mountain) (on the windward side). As air rises, it cools to dew point temperature where it reaches saturation level. Water vapor condenses to water droplets, forming clouds. When water droplets grow heavy enough, they fall to the ground as rain.
Why are breezes formed?
Due to temperature differences over two areas (e.g. coast vs sea, coast vs inland), pressure differences are formed, thus wind moves from an area of high pressure to low pressure
Briefly describe how you would conduct an investigation to find out the prevailing wind direction in Swiss Cottage Secondary School.
WHERE
WHEN
HOW (WITH WHAT)
Describe how students can go about investigating how temperature changes with altitude at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
WHERE
WHEN
HOW (WITH WHAT)
‘The main human activity which has contributed to global warming is deforestation.’
To what extent do you agree with this statement, and why?
Factors: Deforestation, Agriculture, Industrialization, Urbanisation
Agree - Happens at the largest scale / For other activities to take place, deforestation needs to happen first (INTERRELATEDNESS)
‘Longer growing seasons are the most significant impact of climate change.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement, and why?
Factors: Sea level rise (displacement of coastal communities), More frequent extreme weather events (destruction of infrastructure and casualties), Spread of some infectious insect-borne diseases (loss of lives and a stretched healthcare system if unprepared), Longer & shorter growing seasons in different places (more food / less food able to be grown)
Small extent - other impacts affect a larger scale of people, more places/countries.
Explain the formation of the northeast monsoon.
During the summer months in the Southern hemisphere, land in Australia is heated up. Air becomes warmer, creating a low pressure area. However, it is winter in the Northern hemisphere. Cooler air over Central Asia sinks creating a high pressure area.
Air moves from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.
Wind blows from Central Asia towards Australia, reaching Singapore as the northeast monsoon due to the Coriolis effect (deflecting winds in the NH to the right).