climate/weather...investigations
© 2002 American Geological Institute. http://www.agiweb.org
Contents: All Activities and Investigations
Climate and Weather Investigations
Investigation 1
Investigation 2
Investigation 3
Investigation 4
Investigation 5
Investigation 6
Investigation 7
Investigation 8
Throughout this module, students will use hands-on, inquiry-based explorations to investigate:
- how weather instruments work;
- what is contained in a weather report;
- how weather observations are made;
- the underlying causes of weather patterns;
- the difference between climate and weather;
- how scientists know that the climate has changed in the past;
- and how climate is changing now.
-
To learn more about elements of weather, visit
the following web sites:
- Air Temperature
- Air Temperature, Glenn Research Center (NASA)
- Measuring Air Temperature, National Severe Storms Laboratory
- Wind
- What is Wind? British Wind Energy Association
- Wind and Wind Power, Iowa Energy Center
- What Causes Wind, About.com
- Clouds
- How Clouds Form and Travel, NASA Goddard Institute
- What are Clouds? NASA AIRS
- Precipitation
- Formation of Raindrops, The Learning Network
Read an explanation of what air temperature measures
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/temptr.html
Learn more about how different thermometers measure temperature.
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/~cortinas/1014/l10_2.html
Find out about the different factors that contribute to wind movement.
http://www.britishwindenergy.co.uk/edu/wind.html
This page includes diagrams of several instruments that measure wind. It also explains some of the math behind wind speed calculations.
http://www.energy.iastate.edu/WindManual/Text-Power.html
A brief discussion explains "in very simple terms, wind is the result of air movement over the Earth." Click on links to related topics: how is wind measured? what are the world wind records? why are some winds named?
http://weather.about.com/library/weekly/aa043000a.htm
Brief online article reviews the conditions surrounding cloud formation and also explains how precipitation is "released" from clouds. http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/intro/rossow.01/cloudsform.html
Site reviews how clouds form. Includes some observational activities to help students understand clouds and also examines how clouds are tied to energy, air stability, and systems and interactions.
http://www-airs.jpl.nasa.gov/html/edu/clouds/What_are_clouds.html
Read a short paragraph about the formation of rain. The article continues with a section on measurement of rainfall, distribution of rainfall, and religion and rainfall.
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/weather/A0860629.html
Investigation 2 -- Comparing Weather Reports
-
To learn more about weather reports and forecasts,
visit the following web sites:
- Weather Reports and Forecasts
- How To Make a Long Range Weather Forecast, About.com
- Weather Forecasting, Online Meteorology Guide, University of Illinois
- Forecasting Methods
- Surface Features
- Forecasting Temperatures
- Forecasting Precipitation
This page includes sections on the secret of forecasting, weather almanacs, raw data, services for hire, services for free, and limitations of forecasting.
http://weather.about.com/library/weekly/aa021499.htm
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fcst/home.rxml
This page includes the following subtopics:
Different forecasting methods for different weather scenarios.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fcst/mth/prst.rxml
Important surface features to consider when making a forecast.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fcst/sfc/hgh.rxml
Factors to consider when forecasting day and nighttime temperatures.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fcst/tmps/cld.rxml
Factors to consider when forecasting precipitation.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fcst/prcp/frnt.rxml
Investigation 3 -- Weather Maps
-
To obtain real weather maps, visit the following web sites:
- National Weather Service Home Page
- The Datastreme Project, American Meteorological Society
- Atmospheric Pressure
- Atmospheric Pressure: The force exerted by the weight of air, NASA
- Controlling Atmospheric Pressure, Scientific American: Amateur Scientist
- It's a Breeze: How Atmospheric Pressure Effects the Weather, NASA
- High-Pressure Areas and Low-Pressure Areas
- High and Low Pressure Systems, Oklahoma Climatological Survey
- Air Masses and Fronts
- Air Masses and Fronts, Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of Wisconsin
- or another page from the University of Wisconsin on air masses and fronts with different diagrams and maps of the us and world
- Air Masses and Fronts, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Public Affairs Office
- Air Masses and Fronts, Online Meteorology Guide, University of Illinois
- Air Masses
- Fronts
- Advection
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
http://www.ametsoc.org/dstreme/
Review some general facts about air pressure, how it changes, and what happens if it changes. The page includes a list of suggested additional activities as well as a web site demonstration of air pressure changes on a hot air balloon.
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/air_pressure/
Learn more about the history behind how scientists came to understand what controls atmospheric pressure..
http://www.sciam.com/1998/0498issue/0498amsci.html
Find out about how a mercurial barometer measures atmospheric pressure.
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/air_pressure/barometer.html
While this article does give some specific information about weather conditions in Oklahoma, it also includes some detailed general information about the nature of different high and low pressure systems.
http://radar.metr.ou.edu/OK1/meteorology/HiLowSystems.html
This page about weather and why there is weather. In addition, it explains some of the symbols often seen on weather maps.
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/wxwise/class/frntmass.html
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/lectures/lecture_fronts.html
Read about cold or warm air mass source regions and consider how your weather may be different depending on the air mass source that affects your area.
http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/pao/Educate/WeatherTalk2/indexairmasse.htm#top
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/home.rxml
Topics covered on this site include the following:
Air masses that commonly influence weather in the United States.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/arms/home.rxml
Boundaries separating air masses. Includes warm fronts, cold fronts, occluded and stationary fronts and dry lines.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/home.rxml
Introduces advection and describes the differences between warm and cold advection.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/adv/adv.rxml
Investigation 4 -- Weather Radio Sondes, Satellites, and Radar
-
To learn more about weather high in
the atmosphere, visit the following web sites:
- Radiosondes
- RADIOSONDES -- An Upper Air Probe, University of Wisconsin at Madison
- Weather Radar
- Radar Data Details, Unisys Weather
- National Doppler Radar Sites, National Weather Service
- Radar and Severe Weather, Miami University
- Weather Satellites
- Satellite Data Details, Unisys Weather
Learn about the history and technology of the radiosonde that contains instruments capable of making direct in-situ measurements of air temperature, humidity and pressure with height, typically to altitudes of approximately 30 km.
http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~hopkins/aos100/wxi-raob.htm
This site gives a little more detail about the different types of radar data. In addition, it explains what different colors indicate on a radar image.
http://weather.unisys.com/radar/details.html
Interested to know what the radar image in your area looks like right now? Click on the radar site nearest you to find out.
http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/national.html
If you are really interested in weather radar maps, this site has several of the entire continental United States. It also provides links to other weather related sites.
http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/coriolis/radarseverewth.html
Find out about and see examples of visible, infrared and water vapor images.
http://weather.unisys.com/satellite/details.html
Investigation 5 -- The Causes of Weather
-
To learn more about the water cycle,
visit the following web sites:
- Main Loop of the Water Cycle
- Water: A Never Ending Story, University of Washington
- Make a Water Cycle Wheel, Illinois EPA
- Follow a Drip Through the Water Cycle, USGS
- The Water Cycle, EPA
- Evaporation and Condensation
- Ask a Scientist: Evaporation and Humidity, Department of Energy
- Clouds and Precipitation
- Cloud Classification, Plymouth State College
- Clouds and Precipitation, Online Meteorology Guide, University of Illinois
- Development
- Cloud Types
- Precipitation
- Clouds, Precipitation, and Weather Radar, University of Wisconsin
This web page is designed for students and teachers. It includes activities about different processes in the water cycle with some background material to help teachers.
http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/pilot/water_cycle/index.html
Print out these pages and follow the instructions to make your own water wheel. See how the water moves from the ocean to the air to the land and back again.
http://www.epa.state.il.us/kids/fun-stuff/water-cycle/
Read a story about a drop of water as it goes through the entire water cycle. To help, some of the terms are linked to their definitions in a glossary.
http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/followdrip.html
Learn more about how sunshine, evaporation, rain, snow, mountains, rivers and streams, and oceans are all involved in the water cycle processes.
http://www.epa.gov/region07/kids/wtrcycle.htm
Find out some more details about evaporation that appeared as a question on the Ask a Scientist at the Department of Energy.
http://newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/wea00/wea00063.htm
This site offers a boutique of different cloud photos and descriptions. It also explains how and why clouds form at different elevations.
http://vortex.plymouth.edu/clouds.html
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/home.rxml
Topics covered on this site include the following:
The importance of rising motion and the mechanisms responsible for lifting the air.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/dvlp/wtr.rxml
High, middle and low-level clouds, vertically developed clouds, plus some less common cloud types.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/cldtyp/home.rxml
Hail, rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/prcp/home.rxml
Test your knowledge with this online quiz about clouds, precipitation, and weather radar.
http://www.uwgb.edu/moranj/chapter7.htm
Investigation 6 -- Climates
-
To learn more about the different climatic
zones, visit the following web sites:
- Biomes, Exploring the Environment
- Arctic Tundra
- Deciduous Forest
- Desert
- Taiga
- Tropical Rainforest
- Tropical Savannah
- Mission Biomes, Earth Observatory, NASA
- Tundra
- Shrubland
- Rainforest
- Grassland
- Desert
- Temperature Deciduous Forest
- Coniferous Forest
- Biomes for Teachers! University of Richmond
- Factors That Determine Climate
- Climate, Environmental Change Network
- A Primer: Factors Affecting Arctic Weather and Climate
- Climate and Vegetation
- Climate, Land Use, and Environmental Sensitivity (CLUES), USGS Global Change Research
- Koppen Climate Classification
"Scientists have divided the broad spectrum of climates and ecological communities found on Earth into biomes in different ways - some with many divisions, some with only a few." This site focuses on some of the common biomes with photos that accompany separate descriptions of each.
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/
Topics covered on this page include:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/biotundra.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/bioshrubland.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/biorainforest.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/biograssland.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/biodesert.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/biotemperate.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/bioconiferous.html
This page includes links to other sources of background information, a slide show of biomes, activities, and lesson plans.
http://www.richmond.edu/~ed344/webunits/biomes/teacher.html
This page features a diagram of the climatic zones of the world.
http://www.ecn.ac.uk/Education/climatic_factors.htm
"The factors discussed in this section are building blocks to understanding arctic weather and climate. Each factor plays an important role alone and in interaction with other factors. The "Arctic Energy Budget" ties all the factors together in a description of the Arctic as a climate system."
http://nsidc.org/arcticmet/factors/
Read about some different projects that investigate vegetation response to climatic change, and vegetation-land surface impacts on climate change.
http://climchange.cr.usgs.gov/info/veg-clim/
Find out more about the 5 principal climate types Koppen developed in the early 1900s.
http://www.hqlist.demon.nl/gvg/ctkoppe2.htm
Investigation 7 -- Exploring Climate Change
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To learn more about measuring climate change,
visit the following web sites:
- Climate Proxies
- Proxy Climatic Data, NOAA Paleoclimatology Program
- Summary for Policymakers: The Science of Climate Change, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (United Nations)
- Fossil Groups: Spores and Pollen, USGS
- Tree rings
- Photo Gallery of Tress and Tree Rings, University of Tennessee
- Classic References in Dendrochronology, University of Tennessee
- Fossils
- Giant Dinosaur-Age Bones in Antarctica Clue to Warmer Climate, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- Ice Cores
- Why Study Ice Cores, National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL)
- How is it done?
- Ice Core Contributions to Global Change Research: Past Successes and Future Directions, NICL
- Past Glaciations
- All About Glaciers, National Snow and Ice Data Center
- Ice Ages in New England, UMASS
- Causes of Climate Change
- Changing Atmosphere, Changing Climate? , EPA
This site provides links for several different climate proxies including: Historical Data, Corals, Fossil Pollen, Tree Rings, Ice Cores, Ocean & Lake Sediments
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/primer_proxy.html
Review a list of facts and statistics about Greenhouse gases, anthropogenic aerosols, climate change over the past century, the evidence for human influence on global climate, future climate change, and remaining uncertainties.
http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/sarsum1.htm
"By analyzing pollen from well-dated sediment cores collected at critical sites, it is possible to obtain high-resolution records of vegetation change with decadal-scale resolution and to document community changes over the last few centuries and millennia."
http://geology.er.usgs.gov/paleo/sporepollen.shtml
http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/gallery.htm
http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/references.htm#general
Read a transcript from a CNN story about the dinosaur bones from Antarctica as a clue to climate change.
http://www.cmnh.org/fun/dinosaur-archive/1999Jul/msg00138.html
This site includes a brief description about why ice cores are an important source of information.
http://nicl.usgs.gov/why.htm
This section of the National Ice Core Laboratory web site takes you step by step through the process of taking, obtaining, studying an ice core.
http://nicl.usgs.gov/process.htm
This article is provided in either html or pdf format to download and goes into great detail about using ice cores for climate change research.
http://www.nicl-smo.sr.unh.edu/icwg/
This site includes four major sections: 1) data and science, 2) general information, 3) glacier news, 4) and the glacier story.
http://nsidc.org/glaciers/
This page provides some general description as well as photos about the last glaciation of New England.
http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/iceages.html
This fact sheet explains how human activity may be affecting the climate.
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/climate/index.html
Investigation 8 -- Climate Change Today
-
To learn more about global climate change,
visit the following web sites:
- A Paleo Perspective on Global Warming, NOAA Paleoclimatology Program
- Global Climate Change Student Guide, ARIC
- Global Warming, NOAA
This site covers several topics including: What is Global Warming? How do we study Global Warming? Weather, Climate, and Paleoclimatology.
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/globalwarming/paleostory.html
This comprehensive guide includes chapters on the climate system, causes of climate change, empirical study of climate, climate modeling, paleoclimatic change, and contemporary climate change.
http://www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/gccsg/index.html
Find out the answers to some frequently asked questions about global warming.
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html
Resources:
- National Weather Service
- National Climatic Data Center home page
- Datastreme Project, American Meteorological Society
- Climate Change Outreach Material, EPA
- Educational Outreach - Paleoclimatology Science Primer, NOAA
- Find Our How Satellites Work, Wind Energy Program, Department of Energy
- Satellites, NOAA
- Greenland Summit Ice Cores Cd-Rom, NOAA
- Links for using weather instruments
- thermometer
- How to Read a Thermometer, University of Michigan
- Make a Thermometer, Energy and Science Projects for Students, California Energy Commission
- anemometer
- Wind Speed Measurement: Anemometers, Danish Wind Industry Association
- Wind Speed Indicator, Energy and Science Projects for Students, California Energy Commission
- Anemometer, Kestrel Wind/Weather Instruments
- barometer
- It's a Breeze: How Atmospheric Pressure Effects the Weather, NASA
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/
http://www.ametsoc.org/dstreme/
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/outreach/
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/primer.html
http://www.eren.doe.gov/wind/feature.html
http://www.noaa.gov/satellites.html
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/icecore/greenland/summit/index.html
http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~coalitn/sciedoutreach/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/caps/thermometer.html
Learn how a thermometer works by making one for yourself.
http://www.energy.ca.gov/education/projects/projects-html/thermometer.html
http://www.windpower.dk/tour/wres/wndspeed.htm
http://www.energy.ca.gov/education/projects/projects-html/anemometer.html
These instructions apply for a hand-held digital anemometer and also explains how it measures different wind speeds.
http://www.nkhome.com/ww/2000/instructions.html
Find out about how a mercurial barometer measures atmospheric pressure.
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/air_pressure/barometer.html
- Geologic maps: State and local:
- The United States Geological Survey National Geologic Map Database contains information on how and where to obtain geologic maps. (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/)
- Your state Geological Survey - find your state survey on-line at Association of American State Geologists (http://www.kgs.ukans.edu/AASG/AASG.html).
- Download state geologic maps at About.com's site. (http://geology.about.com/science/geology/cs/geomapsusstates/)
- Reading Geologic Maps - informative review on how to read and interpret geologic maps. (http://geology.about.com/science/geology/library/weekly/aa100800a.htm)
- Geologic maps: Regional (two or more states):
- The on-line bookstore of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (http://bookstore.AAPG.org; 918-584-2555)
- Topographic maps: Local
- The United States Geological Survey MapFinder allows you to order 7.5 minute maps online for $4 per map plus $5 s/h per order. (http://edc.usgs.gov/Webglis/glisbin/finder_main.pl?dataset_name=MAPS_LARGE)
- The United States Geological Survey maintains a list of Map Dealers. Click on your state to obtain a list of retailers who sell maps. (http://mapping.usgs.gov/esic/map_dealers/)
- The United States Geological Survey National Geologic Map Database site on How to find topographic maps (http://ngmsvr.wr.usgs.gov/Other_Resources/rdb_topo.html)
- TopoZone site allows you to download topographic maps (including USGS maps) for free, at various scales (from 1:100,000 to 1:24,000). (http://www.topozone.com/)
- MapServer offers free online viewing of topo, nautical and aeronautical charts plus high altitude digital ortho quads (nav photos). (www.maptech.com and www.mapserver.maptech.com)
- General Map Resources:
- An excellent list of map resources available online can be found on the Central Michigan University Resources for Earth Science and Geography Instruction web site. Included are links to sites to make maps, as well as links to free downloadable outline maps, satellite imagery, GPS, and GIS databases. (http://personal.cmich.edu/~franc1m/locamap.htm)
- "Maps" - USGS Earth Science Information Center, includes general map information, from how to read maps to how to obtain them. Also includes links to further information regarding topographic, thematic, planetary maps, and more. (http://ask.usgs.gov/maps.html)
- National Geographic (maps and videos): 1-800-962-1643 (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/index.html)
- "Maps of the United States" - USGS fact sheet, contains a series of depictions of the United States, along with information on how to obtain additional US maps. (http://www.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/maps-us/index.html)
- "Maps of the World" - USGS fact sheet, contains a series of world maps, including outline maps, seismicity maps, and political maps. Also contains information for ordering more specific world maps. (http://www.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/maps-world/maps-world.html)
- "National Atlas Maps" - USGS site of a variety of US maps that are available online, including shaded relief maps, aquifer maps, and further information on how to order maps not available online. (http://www-atlas.usgs.gov/atlasmap.html?)
- National Research Council. Global Environmental Change: Research Pathways for the Next Decade. National Academy Press, 1999.
- Tom Murphree and Mary K. Miller with the Exploratorium. Watching Weather: A Low Pressure Book About High Pressure Systems and Other Weather Phenomena, Owl Books, 1998, 154 pages, 5 1/4” x 8 1/4”, paperback.
- J. Burton and K. Taylor, The Nature and Science of Rain (1997); J.Williams, The Weather Book (2d ed. 1997).
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309064201/html/
- Science, Causes of Climate Change Over the Past 1000 Years. Thomas J. Crowley. July 14, 2000, Volume 289: 270-277.
- Scientific American. The Coming Climate, Meteorological records and computer models permit insights into some of the broad weather patterns of a warmer world. Karl, Nicholls, and Gregory. May 1997.
- Geotimes, AGI
This magazine reviews current issues in the Earth Sciences and can serve as a valuable supplemental resource for teachers and students alike. Visit the web site for online articles and information about obtaining a one-year subscription (40% discount for AGI Member Society members; 65% discount for students).
http://www.geotimes.org/current/