This exam consists of two parts. The first part is worth 10 points, the second 12, distribute your time accordingly. The points are indicated by each question. Be sure to write your name legibly on all sheets you hand in. Show all your work.

Part A: Wind speed associated with Hurricane Kate. Table 1 (below) presents wind speeds recorded by a data buoy in the eastern Gulf of Mexico during the passage of Hurricane Kate on November 20-21 1985.

1. What instrument would have been used to measure wind speed? (1)

2. On a graph plot the wind speed during the passage of Hurricane Kate (4)

3. On your graph identify when the two eye walls passed the data buoy (1)

4. If the hurricane was moving westward at 15 km p h, what was the diameter of the eye? (2)

5. Based on the Saffir-Simpson scale (Table 2) what was the maximum intensity Hurricane Kate reached? (Show the calculations you used to arrive at your answer) (2).

Table 1:

Table 2:

Part B: Average july temperature in the central US

1. On the map of the central US below draw on isotherms to illustrate the spatial pattern of temperature (3)

2. Draw a cross-section to illustrate temperature patterns from A to A' (3)

3. What is the average temperature gradient from A to A'

a) expressed in C per km

b) expressed in F per mile

Conversion factors:

C = 5/9 (F - 32); F = (1.8 x C) + 32; 1 km = 0.62 miles

4. Indicate where on your cross-section the temperature gradient is steepest (1)

5. Briefly explain this pattern (1)