Geography 311U - Climatology

World Wide Web Exercise #1

Climate Data - Sources and Interpretation

Due in Dropbox no later than Wednesday, January 19

Introduction

Climate data and information are disseminated by a wide range of agencies and for many different purposes. However, the primary responsibility has, for many years, been with the federal government through the National Climate Data Center (NCDC). In addition, the National Climate Program Act of 1979 led to the establishment of state and regional climate offices to facilitate data availability. The best way to access these state programs is through the web page of the American Association of State Climatologists. Please browse this page and look at some of the state programs; also, note the link at the top of the page to the Regional Climate Centers.

Ultimately, you will find that the most useful sites for your purposes as a climate scientist in the Pacific Northwest are the following:
Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize you with these important sources of climate information. Browse at your leisure and do (at a minimum) what is required.  I suggest you begin as follows:
  1. Print out this page!
  2. Enter the web sites into your bookmark list so that you will have them forevermore.
  3. Spend some time exploring these sites; see what is there. See what you like, what you don't like, what might be useful to you in future classes and research.
  4. Proceed with the assignment as described.

Grading:  You will be graded on the quality of your work; that includes both content and the professionalism of the writing and the presentation.

 

Part 1:   National Climate Data Center

There are two tasks I would like you to undertake using this massive site:

Global Climate Change

Go to the "NOAA Climate Services" in the upper left-hand corner; this is a dynamic site stuffed with contemporary information and articles on climate change. Hit all the tabs along the top row and see what you see.  In particular, perurse the "Climate Dashboard."  Play with slider to see different time periods. Select one or more of these time series for elements and time periods that are of interest to you and write a summary of what you observe from the graphs. This little essay should be on the order of 100 words.

Climate of 2010

Return to NCDC homepage and go to "Monitoring" under Climate Info. Here you will find access to a veritable blizzard of maps and graphs and narratives.  You will find that a lot of this information is current, while a lot of it is more of an historical nature. Explore all the sections:  State of the Climate, U.S. Products, Global Products, etc.

Click on "Climate at a Glance" (under U.S. Products) and you are given the option of generating a variety of maps. Use the drop boxes to select "Mean Temperature - 2010 - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall" - observe the national patterns for the seasons. Then do the same with "Precipitation - 2010 - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall."  Write a neat little scientific essay in which you describe the climate of the USA for the year 2010, based on what you observed on these maps. To flesh out your essay, refer back to "State of the Climate - Monthly State of the Climate Report."  

See what else you can find on these pages related to climate of 2010.  If you wish to include a few key maps and/or graphs, feel free.  Write this essay in a style you might use to present to a group of bright and reasonably well-informed PSU students.Your essay should be on the order of 250 words.

 

Part 2:  Western Regional Climate Center

A.  Portland Climate Summary

After you have thoroughly picked your way through the many, manylayers on this site, do the following:
1)    Select "Western U.S. Historical Summaries" (under Historical Climate Information)
2)    Select Local Climate Data (LCD) Summaries - under "Western U.S. Historical Summaries"
3)    Select Portland - print and retain for future reference.
4)    Write a 150 word summary in which you describe the annual cycle of monthly precipitation and temperature as monitored at the Portland site.  Don't worry about the underlying causes, just describe clearly what the typical climate year looks like.  Tell me, what period of record (what years) do these data represent?   Is this period or record a true representation of the climate of Portland.  Think about that, speculate, and tell me what you think.

B.  Precipitation Anomalies

Now, go back to the Western Regional Climate Homepage and go to "Current Observations, Forecasts and Monitoring." From there, go to "Select Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)."   This table leads you to a variety of national maps that represent precipitation for any interval over the last 72 months.  Be sure to read the link at the top of the page that explains "What is the SPI?" This material makes for great quiz questions.

We pay very close attention to precipitation here in the Pacific Northwest.  Look at the maps for recent years (e.g., 12 months, 24 months, 72 months, etc. etc.) and consider how wet or dry it has been compared to normal and compared to the rest of the country.  The "Percentage of Average" maps are probably the easiest to comprehend.  Write another clear and concise report (no more than 150 words) in which you describe the precipitation situation in the Northwest over the last 12 months, 24 months, and 72 months. Do the data for these recent years match with your perception of precipitation in your life?

Part 3:  Northwest State Climate Offices

OK,  I'm not done with you yet.   Let's put this precipitation into a long-term context. Unfortunately, the Oregon Climate Service website is still "in development," so is of little help to us.  On the other hand, our neighbor to the north has a very good climate website, one of the best in the country.  Follow the links to "Trend Analysis" and you will find maps that allow you to long at long term trends of precipitation and temperature. Explore these trends for the Portland area and write a great little scientific essay in which you explain to all your friends what you have learned. This essay should be a minimum of 150 words.

Note:  Be sure that you use a citation anytime you use specific information in your essays.  To keep it simple for you - if you are citing one of the web sites that I have provided in the assignment, you need only name the site.  If you are citing another web site, please use a complete citation.   If you are not familiar with the proper citation of internet sources, please go to the link below.

Research and Documentation Online
by Diane Hacker - Beford St. Martin's

Citation Styles for Research Papers
Long Island University

Note:   Simply listing the URL of a web page is not, I repeat, not an appropriate citation.  Learn how to do this properly or you will never get through college and never get a job, and your whole life will be a shambles.