Objectives:

• Students will use and apply the scientific method.
• Students will research and explain how energy is absorbed at the Earth’s surface.
• Students will research and explain how energy is reflected by the Earth’s surface.
• Students will apply their research to define albedo and explain how it is determined, including the possible effects of the type of ground surface involved.
• Students will explain latent heat, and how it is associated with the phase changes of water.
• Students will apply their knowledge of latent heat to determine its role in governing surface temperatures.
• Students will apply what they have learned to determine the importance of energy absorption at the Earth’s surface.
• Students will apply what they have learned to determine the importance of surface moisture, evaporation, melting, and sublimation in governing surface temperature.
• Students will research and determine the potential impacts a growing town will have on temperature.
• Students will research and explain why there are differences in summer temperatures for different locations at the same latitude. All points at the same latitude receive the same amount of incident solar radiation unless there are variations in the atmosphere (e.g., clouds, aerosols, water vapor).

Time Required:
Five to seven class periods.