My Local Weather Data

Step 1: Print this page, and then use it to record your very own local weather conditions for at least one week. PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to collect local weather data, use the links for the headings in ROW 1 to view current weather conditions from the National Weather Service Climate Reports. You might need to scroll through several climate reports to find the one for your area.

Step 2: Use the model on this page to create a spreadsheet from scratch. Insert the suggested formulas in Row 7. (Don’t forget to save your work often.) Learning Electric.com has short Quicktime video clips that will make you a “Spreadsheet Guru” in no time at all!

Step 3: Enter the weather data for each day of the week. (Don’t forget to save your work often.) Answer the questions in Row 8 by using the spreadsheet to perform calculations.

Step 4: Use David Warlick’s Citation Machine to cite the sources of the copyrighted data in your spreadsheet.

  A B C D E F G H
1 Date High Temperature Low Temperature Wind Direction (DIR) Wind Speed
(SP)		 Precipitation Cloud Cover Air Pressure
2 Monday              
3 Tuesday              
4 Wednesday              
5 Thursday              
6 Friday              
7 Formulas

What formula would you enter to calculate the average high temperature for the week?

Answer.

What formula would you enter to calculate the average low temperature for the week?

Answer.

 

What formula would you enter to display the HIGHEST wind speed here?

Answer.

What formula would you enter to display the SMALLEST amount of rainfall this week?

Answer.

    
8 Data Analysis What if a cold front moved in on Friday? Make the temperature drop 10 degrees and look at the average high for the week. Discuss the influence of the Atlantic Ocean on the temperatures collected for this week. (Exploratorium)

There are many forces that can cause changes in landforms over time: wind, water, ice and gravity.

Have you seen any evidence of erosion this week?

1. Link to the National Climatic Data Center, and then select PRECIPITATION as the DATA TYPE.
2. Continue making the following selections:
• Period: choose current month
• NORTH CAROLINA
• First year to Display: 1895
• Last year to display: 2004
• BAR CHART
3. Click "SUBMIT". (Wait 20-30 seconds.)
Look at the bar chart and describe the trend in precipitation.

What relation does cloud cover have to the current weather system?

Can you see any pattern in the air pressure readings for the week?

Compare data by looking across the rows and down the columns. Do you notice any trends?

Create a bar chart to display your findings. Is it easier to see patterns by studying the bar chart?

Links on this page take you to the Interactive Weather Information Network, by the U.S. National Weather Service. The system they use to collect data is located at the National Weather Service Headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. It obtains raw data from a telecommunications gateway, satellites, and other links.

More Links to Weather Sites:

This activity integrates a wide range of objectives from the Science, Math and Computer/Technology Skills Curricula.

 

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