Activity 1: Understanding Climate and Weather
Q1) Describe the weather outside right now
(temperature, clouds, wind, etc.).
Q2) Describe the climate you live in (temperature,
precipitation, seasonal changes, wind, etc.).
Q3) What is the difference between climate and weather?
In this activity, you will distinguish the difference between climate and weather, identify two major climate
controls, and collect data on these climate controls to demonstrate how the controls work together to determine
the weather conditions and understand the climatology of a region.
Task 1: Recognize the difference between weather and climate. Go to http://arcg.is/14zXbg2.
- Take a few minutes to become familiar with the map, specifically using zoom to explore the map, click
layers on and off, and view the legend.
You will be working with four map layers:
 Average monthly temperature for selected cities,
 Basic Koppen climate classifications,
 NOAA current weather.
Review climate classes and climate controls.
-
Click the contents button
and turn on the “average monthly temperature” and “Basic Koppen climate
classifications” layers by clicking the box next to it.
-
Set the basemap to “topographic.” Click on the basemap button
to change it if needed.
Adjust the transparency of the “Basic Koppen climate classifications” layer by scrolling your mouse
over the “Basic Koppen climate classifications” to see an arrow
on the arrow
will appear to the right of it. Click
and select “transparency” from the menu.
-
Click the legend button
.
-
The bookmarks button
will automatically zoom and move the map. Click the bookmarks
button and select “North America”. Your screen should appear as:
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Read the legend. Note the climate types and where they are within North America. Pay extra attention
to the topography of the landscape and it relationship to climate types (click the layers off and zoom in
close to the basemap if needed to see the topography). Finally, think about latitude and the geographic
position of North America and the United States on the planet (the latitude and longitude are not labeled
on this map, but there so you can identify how they divide the planet; use the measurement tool if
needed to find specific coordinates).
Move around the map to examine each of the layers on the map. Click on the different cities to see a
pop-up that provides more information and compare that with the Basic Koppen climate classification
information available in the legend.
Examine how the climate types change from west to east across the United States. Think about why
these differences occur in preparation to answer the following question.
Use the map and your knowledge of climate and weather to answer. A climate control is a factor that influences
the type of climate in a region, like how hot or cold it gets and how much rain or snow is received. Based on
this definition, Q4) what limits how hot or cold a region is and how much rain or snow is received? Use
topographic evidence to support your answer.
Task 2: Examine two climatic controls: latitude and topography. Your web map should look just as it did in the
image above. Re-visit the previous instructions if you changed any layers or features or re-open the web map
with the link http://arcg.is/14zXbg2.
- Review the map to answer the following questions:
Q5) The sun is the primary source of energy for the Earth’s climate system. Explain the seasonal relationship
between the sun, the Earth, and latitude (hint: the answer is not in the map).
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Q6) Examine the pattern of climate types between the equator and the Arctic Circle. Use specific examples
from the map to help answer this question. Based on your examination, how does latitude influence climate?
Look around the world and study the relationships between topography and climate type.
Q7) Share two observations that explain the relationship between topography and climate.
1.
2.
Task 3: A weather station model is symbolic illustration showing the weather occurring at a given weather
reporting station. Local weather information is constantly gathered and compiled into models such as this
weather station model. It is helpful in knowing how to read a weather station model when working with real
data, because often only the model is included. A full weather station model can look like this:
(Source: http://regentsearth.com/Illustrated%20ESRT/Page%2013%20(Weather%20Map%20Symbols)/Station%20Model.htm)
The basic weather station model you will be using looks like this:
A climatology report is a written description of the average and seasonal conditions of a place. Complete a
basic climatology report and weather report for Minneapolis, Minnesota, as shown below (use labels F, etc.).
Note in the image above, that wind vanes may have multiple feathers to report the current wind speed; a whole
vane is equal to 10 knots and a half vane is equal to 5 knot, add up the feathers to find the wind speed. The
radar color scheme is blue for clouds and storm, yellow and green for moderate intensity storms, and red for
intense storms.
- To make the climatology report:
o Use the “Basic Koppen climate classifications,” “average monthly temperature,” and “latitude
and longitude” layers. Turn the layers on as needed.
o Use the “Minnesota” bookmark and fill in the table below.
- To make the weather report:
o Use the “NOAA current weather” layer, found under ‘Content.’ Turn it on and adjust the layer’s
transparency if needed to see the base map or layer information more clearly.
o Use the “Minneapolis” bookmark to analyze the weather station data and the “Minnesota”
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bookmark to examine the current radar in the region.
o Fill in the table below (you may have to use information from the whole area); if no information
can be found, write “No information currently available.”
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Climatology Report
Average temperature in
January
Average temperature in July
Climate classification type
Approximate latitude
Description of regional
topography (use information
on basemap to describe, not
current weather layer)
Weather Report
Current temperature
Current wind speed
Current sea level
pressure
Current visibility
Description of current
radar (radar will show
clouds or rain, if none are
present, report none)
Compare the information in the weather report with the information in the climatology report for differences
and similarities. Reflecting on what you have learning in this activity, answer:
Q8) Define climate.
Q9) Define weather.
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