EES: Heat Effects

Purpose

Take the basic idea of heat capacity developed so far and extend it to other areas to help explain regional and global thermal patterns. Work in other data sets, where possible, particularly cloud cover and water temperature and mass.

Overview

Students use the GLOBE and NOAA data bases to construct paired, transect, or area average time-series of daily max/min temperatures (or average surface temperature) to explore issues of climate sensitivity to ocean currents, latitude,elevation and cloudiness.

Time Required

one week

Skill Level

Advanced

Key Concepts and Skills

Concepts: Our surroundings, solar input, geographic location influence air tmeperature.
Skills: data gathering, data analysis, small group effort

Materials and Tools

internet connection
research notebook and graph paper
atlas of the world

Design and Learning Approach

This activity should be doable across a continuium of scales and have a range of specific project ideas that reinforce basic concepts as well as introduce the students to delemmas/problems of real concern.

Data Comparisons

Construct paired, transect, or area average time-series of daily max/min temperatures (or average surface temperature) by extracting one year of data from any of the following sources:
- GLOBE data archive
- NWS
- ferret
- ldgo
Consider sites such as:
- San Diego, Santa Barbara, Fresno
- Miami, Charleston, Norfolk, New York and Boston
- CO: Grand Junction, Climax, Denver, Fort Collins, Pueblo
Ask questions like:
- What are the observed temperature ranges and mean values?
- What temperature influences differ between these sites?
- Would you expect these temperatures to be alike or different? Why?
- Is the data easier to understand if you average sites or time periods together?
Make plots of: ______________ and explain them.
- Temperature vs. time
- Temperature vs. elevation
- Air Temperature vs. Water temperature

Urban Heat Islands

Locate a large urban area with several GLOBE schools within the city and also in the suburbs and countryside nearby. Some places to consider:
- Phoenix, AZ
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
- ??, Germany
- Sydney, Australia
Collect an annual or climate average temperature record
Look for differences between the sites - do any standout?
Use a temperature cross-plot to look for trends between the official NWS city temperature and each sites data.
Average together similar records from urban and suburban areas.
How do these differ from the official record? Consider:
- mean
- bias
- historical trend
Let us know what you find and how confident you are of your results.
What could change your results?

Cost Impact

Training Impact

Systems Impact

Assessment Requirements

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Last updated: 11/25/96
Comments? globe@hwr.arizona.edu