FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CLIMATE WEBQUEST

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. Find Adelphia, New Jersey in the United States (the closest city to Monroe in the database). 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 the scientific community 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.

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)

WORLD TEMPERATURES DATA SHEET

Name of meteorologist: ______

Definition of Elevation -

City / Latitude / Longitude / Elevation / Avg. Temp: December
Adelphia, New Jersey
, Africa
, Antarctica
, Asia
, Australia
, Caribbean
, Central America
, Europe
, Middle East
, South America

Factors That Influence Climate

Data Analysis

Name of Meteorologist: ______

Date of Research: ______

I.  Observation of Data

a. Does latitude have an effect on average temperatures? What do you notice about cities near the equator? Why do you think this is?

b. Does elevation have an effect on average temperatures? Compare cities with similar latitudes but different elevations. What do you notice about cities with higher elevations? Why do you think this is?

II. Research on Climate

a.. Based on what you read, what is the primary factor affecting climate? Why?

b.. Based on what you read, does elevation affect climate? Why?

III. Alternative Explanations for Climate

a. List other factors that can influence climate.