Climate Webquest

modified from one created by Portage High School

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CLIMATE WEBQUEST

(Be sure to read everything in your instructions!)

You are a meteorologist who is studying climate in cities around the world.

You are studying average temperatures, and are finding some interesting trends in the data!

Analyze the evidence, and prepare to discover what influences climate around the world.

I. CONSIDER THE SCIENTIFIC QUESTION

What factors influence average temperatures around the world? Based on your conclusion, what information do you need to predict average temperature in any city for a certain month?

II. GATHER EVIDENCE

1. Analyze the world map to review latitude.

2. Record the definition of elevation at the top of your data sheet.

3. Visit http://www.weatherbase.com. Type Wilmington, NC in the search box at the top of the web page. On your data collection sheet, record:

Latitude

Longitude

Elevation

Average Temperature for December

On your data sheet, record the same information for a city in:

Africa Antarctica Asia Australia

Caribbean Central America Europe Middle East

South America

III. DRAW CONCLUSIONS – USE DATA ANALYSIS SHEET

1. Based on your data, what can you conclude about how latitude, longitude, and elevation affect temperature? Complete the “Observations of Average Temperatures" portion of your "Factors that Influence Climate" Analysis .

2. After making your prediction about what factors influence temperature, visit the following Web sites, and then complete the “Research on Climate” portion of your worksheet.

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/cli_latitude.html (climate changes with latitude)

http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/weather/A0857393.html (primary factors that affect temperature)

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jan99/916068933.Es.r.html (effect of elevation on temperature)

IV. CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES

Are there any temperatures that can’t be supported by your hypothesis? What could be explanations for the cause of these variations? Visit the following Web site to explore possibilities, and then complete the "Alternative Explanations for Climate" portion of your worksheet.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wseabrze.htm (sea breezes)

http://www.ecn.ac.uk/Education/factors_affecting_climate.htm#Distance%20From%20The%20Sea (factors affecting climate)

http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/weather/A0857394.html (secondary factors that affect temperature)

V. COMMUNICATE YOUR FINDINGS

Write a letter to someone you know, create a pictograph/poster or compose a poem detailing your remarkable discovery! Be sure to explain your data, what you believe are the key factors, and why you think these factors influence average temperatures. This is your homework for tonight, so be sure to jot down any needed information from your data sheet before you submit it today.

VI. ADDITIONAL WEBSITES YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ (NOAA National Weather Service)

http://weathereye.kgan.com/cadet/climate/climate_vs.html (difference between weather and climate)

http://www.jgiesen.de/sunshine/index.htm (sunshine applet)