Grand Canyon Microclimatology_ Plant Stresses_ GPH 112_ Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A

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Apr 3, 2024

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2/27/24, 4:19 PM Grand Canyon Microclimatology: Plant Stresses: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A) https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332451 1/6 Grand Canyon Microclimatology: Plant Stresses Due No due date Points 6 Questions 2 Time Limit None Instructions The highest elevations around the Grand Canyon have spruce trees that are not very sensitive to very cold temperatures. They can survive at temperatures of -22˚ F (-30˚C) where other plants cannot. Juniper trees (e.g. Utah Juniper), in contrast, cannot survive super cold temperatures. They also cannot survive super hot temperatures for very long. Still, they very hardy. They can tolerate freezing and 100˚ F temperatures- just not the extremes found around the Grand Canyon. The graphic below made by Professor Lemke gives a snapshot of some of the temperature issues associated with different types of plants. While the graphic above was made for air temperature measurements (e.g. meteorological stations), the ground temperature information in the geovisualization still applies. Extreme cold and extreme heat can influence whether a particular type of plant can survive. For your reference, this is the key for ground temperatures seen in the geovisualization.
2/27/24, 4:19 PM Grand Canyon Microclimatology: Plant Stresses: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A) https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332451 2/6 There are dozens of ways that microclimates can develop and influence plants. The ways vary at different spatial scales. For example, on the scale of tens of centimeters, the orientation of a boulder can influence whether precipitation is channeled to a spot where a tree might or might not germinate. The temperature data in the geovisualization is at the highest resolution available at the present time – at least for the coverage of the entire Grand Canyon. Thus, this investigation is limited to the resolution of about a 30 m pixel. Those are the squares seen in the geovisualization for winter and summer ground temperatures. At this scale, you can investigate/analyze six connections between topography and temperature that are presented below. Diurnal effect of the 10am time of data acquisition – explaining why east-facing slopes are often warmer than west-facing slopes. The satellite gathering the temperature data images at about 10am in the morning. Thus, the east facing slopes have accumulated more insolation than the west-facing slopes.
2/27/24, 4:19 PM Grand Canyon Microclimatology: Plant Stresses: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A) https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332451 3/6 Cold Air Drainage especially in winter due to the low solar angle. The game screen on the right shows a small drainage on the Kaibab Plateau where cold air has collected. As cold air is more dense, it will sit there until significantly warmed or disturbed by wind. This sometimes happens on a much larger scale within the entire canyon, and with enough moisture can lead to cloud inversions, with clouds below the canyon rim. Evaporative cooling – In the summer temperature image, the Colorado River is able to exert a cooling effect on the 30 m pixels. This effect is often several pixels wide. The effect of water evaporative cooling is not seen in the winter imagery around the Colorado River. The reason is that the surface temperatures around the river are sometimes colder or similar to the river itself. Flat treeless surfaces as heat accumulators. Flat surfaces can accumulate a lot of energy in summer, when sun angles are high. Solar radiation starts the process. However, treeless surfaces with lots of exposed rock play a big role in absorbing lots of the solar radiation. The result is that these are some of the hottest surfaces in and around the Grand Canyon
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2/27/24, 4:19 PM Grand Canyon Microclimatology: Plant Stresses: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A) https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332451 4/6 Attempt History Attempt Time Score LATEST Attempt 1 8 minutes 4 out of 6 Score for this quiz: 4 out of 6 Submitted Feb 27 at 4:19pm This attempt took 8 minutes. North-facing slopes that are steeper than the angle of the sun at noon receive no solar radiation. This slope has an angle of 35˚, and the rabbit is facing south, so the slope is facing north. Because the noon sun angle at winter solstice is only 30.5˚, no sunlight hits this slope. The effect on plants is greatest in winter at high elevations, because the result can be severe cold temperatures. Summertime north-south exposure contrasts. Wintertime temperatures in the lower desert portions of the Grand Canyon are not severe. Freezing rarely occurs, and only for a few hours in the morning. Maximum temperatures are not extreme. In contrast, summer temperatures can cause great stress for plants, especially when air temperatures exceed 104˚ F and ground temperatures exceed 120˚ F. Even though sun angles are much higher in summer, the contrast of south (warmer)-facing and north (cooler)facing slopes can influence plants. The rabbit is standing on the side of a river canyon that has facing north, where the sun's rays are not as direct. The hotter surface temperatures on the other side of the canyon are because those surfaces are facing south, and they are getting more direct sunlight.
2/27/24, 4:19 PM Grand Canyon Microclimatology: Plant Stresses: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A) https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332451 5/6 Question 1 3 / 3 pts Correct! 36.1538 -112.2993 in summer -- look down to the bottom Evaporative cooling exerts a Correct! 36.0929 -112.2031 in summer - just on the surface where avatar stands Flat treeless surfaces accum Correct! 36.1222 -112.0787 This canyon displays the effe There were two Colorado River scenes, so I am glad that the hints provided in the wording helped you with the matching. Question 2 1 / 3 pts Please fast travel to the locations presented in the question below. Each location also has the season (winter or summer) that you should investigate. Try to bring the game camera angle up higher, so that you can get an overview of the location and you can spin the view. Make the best matches between the temperatures you see for each location/season with the effect of topography on temperature. Please fast travel to the locations presented in the question below. Each location also has the season (winter or summer) that you should investigate. Try to bring the game camera angle up higher, so that you can get an overview of the location and you can spin the view. Make the best matches between the temperatures you see for each location/season with the effect of topography on temperature.
2/27/24, 4:19 PM Grand Canyon Microclimatology: Plant Stresses: GPH 112: Intro to Phys Geography Lab (2024 Spring - A) https://canvas.asu.edu/courses/177445/quizzes/1332451 6/6 You Answered 36.0923 -112.0034 in winter steep north-facing slopes rec Correct Answer The avatar is on a narrow ridge where the south-facing side is warmer because it receives more solar radiation You Answered 36.3225 -111.9995 in winter The avatar is on a narrow rid Correct Answer steep north-facing slopes receive no solar radiation near winter solstice and hence are quite cold Correct! 36.3775 -112.2701 in winter Low-lying places like small c Quiz Score: 4 out of 6
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