EXERCISE #1  CLIMATE VISUALIZATION

NOTE:  In addition to access to the course webpage and the internet, this exercise requires the use of the WorldWatcher Visualization software.  WorldWatcher is loaded and works on 18 of the computers in the SAL, Harvill 401.  (However, it does not work properly on the other SAL computers -- details below).  For those of you with the skills and equipment to do so, you may download your own free copy of WorldWatcher and install it on your computer (Mac or PC) by visiting the following web site:

WorldWatcher Visualization Software (SSciVEE project, Northwestern University)   Free download, Windows & Mac version; (NOTE: due to a bug, "animations" do not work properly in the Windows version.)

DIRECTIONS:  Work through the exercise step by step.  Some steps are based on visiting sites on the web from within your browser, some are based on working with the WorldWatcher software itself, and some you will complete by typing out your responses.

PART A:  Visualization of Mean Global Climate Patterns via Animations

Step 1:  First, briefly review the concepts of the energy balance by reading the short section on "Radiation and insolation" in the Riley & Spolton text (pp 5-6) and/or any other background textbook you may have available.

Step 2:  Now go to the University of Oregon, Dept of Geography's Global Climate Animations Site.  The "animations" shown here are really  month-to-month views of the mean (average) global patterns of a variety of different climate elements (or variables) obtained from the model-based output of the NCEP/NCAR 40-Year Reanalysis Project (about which we'll learn more later on.)  

Step 3: Visit each animation on this site to familiarize yourself with the mean and seasonal patterns of these major climatic elements. You can click on the images to see a larger version of the animations. Read through the captions beside each animation and take notes on the main features you see on each map.

Step 4:  Go to PART A QUESTIONS and answer the questions on it.  Type out your answers on a separate page.  You can cut and paste the questions into a Word document, type in your answers, and print out your completed version (preferred).   [If you are unsure of the answers because your background in the Radiation Balance needs some beefing up, do the best you can.  We'll go through this together as a class on January 23rd and you'll have time to make any changes before you need to turn in the final version.]

PART B:  The WorldWatcher Software

Step 1:  Read about WorldWatcher.  From your browser, go to the WorldWatcher Software Overview and read about the software and what its capabilities are. 

Step 2:  Now start WorldWatcher.  If you are using the computers in the SAL, be sure you are at one of the following 18 computers before you begin; (look at the label on the computer tower to see the computer name):  HALL, MASSEY, PRED, HARVEY, JOHNSTON, BERRY, WILSON, TAYLOR, BROWN, KOEPPEN, TREWARTHA, CHRISTALLER, WOLPERT, GOLLEDGE, CLARK, LEY, BENNETT, SAUER  (Note: the computers are named after famous geographers!)  If you click on WorldWatcher on any of the other computers, you will get an error message -- we are trying to de-bug this problem. 

Step 3:  Once WorldWatcher has loaded, click on the Getting Started globe icon under Introduction.  Then under Tutorials, click on the First-Timer Seasons Activity.  

Step 4: Now go through the Seasons Activity Tutorial step by step, experimenting and exploring the software and its tools as you go. Complete each successive activity in the tutorial, but STOP when you get to "Animating Visualizations."  This function does not work properly in the Windows version of the software, but if you happen to be on a Mac, you can try to see if it works for you.  (If you like you can try out the final activity of the tutorial on "Drawing your own visualizations" but it is not required for this exercise.)

[NOTE:  If any of you get stuck trying to figure out how to do some of the activities in the latter half of the tutorial, try working with each other to figure it out.  If things still aren't working as they should, do the best you can and send me an email explaining what wasn't working or what you couldn't do.  I may be able to troubleshoot for you via email.  If not, don't worry -- you should still be able to complete this exercise.  If necessary, I'll go over some of these steps in the tutorial with you in class when I return next week.]

Step 5: On the main WorldWatcher Menu, click on Energy Balance again, but this time look at several other variables inthe energy balance such as "Spacebound Energy," "Greenhouse Effect," etc. to see if these single year/month values shed any additional understanding on some of the questions in Part A. 

Step 6: Finally, on the main WorldWatcher Menu, click on Geography.  Click on each of the items on the Geography Menu for a quick overview & review of some basic global geographic patterns and features you should be familiar with as we proceed through the semester.

You're done!  There are no specific questions to answer in Part B, just be sure you are familiar with how to use the WorldWatcher software before our next class.

PART C:  In-Class Follow-Up on 1-23-01

Bring your answers to Part A with you to class on TUESDAY January 23rd.  We'll clear up any questions and finish up the exercise in class together.

See you on Tuesday the 23rd!