Part A
What is the difference between your town’s minimum and maximum temperatures yesterday? In your answer, list one explanation for why temperature changes during the day.
Response: The difference between my town’s minimum temperature and maximum temperature yesterday was [insert specific temperature difference, e.g., "15°F"]. One explanation for temperature changes during the day is that as the sun rises, it warms the Earth's surface, which in turn heats the air above it. This process continues throughout the day, reaching a peak when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.
Part B
What do you think the Departure from Normal column means, and why is it important for weather scientists in terms of temperature and precipitation? In your answer, explain what conclusions you can draw about your town from this column.
Response: The Departure from Normal column indicates how much the observed temperature or precipitation deviates from the average values for that date based on historical data. It's important for weather scientists because it helps them understand trends and anomalies, which can indicate changes in climate patterns. For my town, a positive departure in temperature suggests that it was warmer than usual, which may lead to implications for local ecosystems or energy usage.
Part C
This chart describes wind intensity. Find the highest wind speed in your town yesterday in MPH. According to the chart, which level was it? Next, look outside and observe the wind. How would you classify the wind right now based on your observations?
Response: The highest wind speed recorded in my town yesterday was [insert specific speed, e.g., "25 MPH"], which falls into the [insert classification level, e.g., "Gusty" level] according to the chart. Currently, when I look outside, the wind feels [insert observation, e.g., "calm and gentle" or "strong and swaying the trees"], which I would classify as [insert classification, e.g., "Light Breeze" or "Moderate Breeze"] based on the Appearance of Wind Effects column.
Part D
Go back to the National Weather Service website and click on a different town and state to get its weather conditions yesterday. How did the conditions compare to the conditions in your town?
Response: In comparing the conditions of [insert chosen town/state] to my town, I found that the temperatures were [insert comparison, e.g., "similar at a max of 70°F and min of 55°F"], but their wind speed was significantly higher at [insert wind speed, e.g., "35 MPH"], while my town had much lower winds. This indicates that while temperatures were comparable, my town experienced much calmer weather overall.
Part E
Why does the weather office have multiple weather stations in a single state within a close distance of each other?
Response: The weather office has multiple weather stations within a single state to capture localized weather variations. Different areas can experience varying weather conditions due to geographical features, urban development, and microclimates. Having multiple stations ensures accurate and precise data collection, allowing scientists and meteorologists to provide more reliable forecasts and warnings tailored to each location.
Self-Evaluation
Score: [insert rating, e.g., "4"]
In this activity, I believe I did well in gathering and analyzing the weather data from my local area and comparing it with another location. I learned how to interpret weather reports and what different terms and measurements mean in a forecasting context. The most challenging part was understanding some of the terminology associated with wind intensity and precipitation, but this activity helped clarify these concepts. Overall, I feel more confident in my ability to analyze weather data moving forward.