Required Semester Assignment: Will count as 1 quiz. Due electronically on the last day of finals week.

Understanding the climate is by observing the natural world. To motivate this I’d like you take a series of regular observations (approximately once per week) over the course of the semester. Write down the results and then interpret those results in a written paragraph that you will hand in at the end of Finals week.

Observe how sunset changes with time: Find a spot where you can see the sun when it is nearing the western horizon. Use a simple and inexpensive compass or other device (Google Earth?) and record the direction in degrees from magnetic north of the sunset. Alternately, note the location of sunset on a sketch of the western horizon or on a map from something like Google maps or Google Earth. Record the direction or location of the setting sun once per week starting this week until the end of the semester. How does the location of the sunset change between January and April? Why does it change?

Note that this is a required assignment. This observation and explanation is worth 1 quiz grade.

Optional Semester Assignment :

Record how the location of the Orion Constellation changes in the evening sky during the semester.

On one clear evening each week, look for Orion at about 8 pm. Estimate the height from the western horizon (i.e. number of hands) of the triangle in each observation. Does it change over the course of the semester? Why?

Write a 1 page description of your observations and an explanation for them.

Note that this observation is extra credit. If you successfully complete this project, you will earn credit equal to 1 quiz.