ESA21: Environmental Science Activities
Activity Sheet

The Weather

Student Name:

Professor Name:

Point Value: 100 points

The Weather – Activity Sheet

The objective of this exercise is to have you observe atmospheric conditions as well as develop your understanding of major atmospheric concepts. For this exercise, you are asked to observe and record weather conditions for four days. In addition, you are asked to answer questions about your observations, as well as respond to a series of questions on general atmospheric characteristics. In the second part of the exercise, you are asked to perform a number of calculations relating to atmospheric conditions and characteristics.

Part One – Weather Observation

Please read the exercise completely before you begin. Also, printing this exercise before you begin will help you in carrying out the exercise.

1. (16 points) Keep a log of atmospheric conditions for 4 days and record the following information. Find out information from any one of the following sources such as local newspapers, television news, the Weather Channel, or Weather Underground.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Date

Location

High Temperature (°F)

Low Temperature (°F)

High/Low Difference

Air Pressure (AP)

AP Rising or Falling?

Wind Direction

Wind Speed (mph)

Time of Sunrise

Time of Sunset

Length of Daylight

Answer the following questions with regards to the atmospheric observations you made and then complete the temperature conversions below.

2. (10 points) Describe the overall four-day temperature trend. (Remember that a trend is not an average but a qualitative statement of value over a time period (e.g., increasing, decreasing, oscillating, etc.)

3. (10 points) Describe the overall four-day pressure trend.

4. (10 points) Was the wind direction consistent over the four-day period? What pattern did you observe?

5. (10 points) Was the wind speed consistent over the four-day period? If not, what pattern did you observe?

6. (10 points) What pattern did you observe with regards to the amount of daylight over the four-day period? Are the days getting shorter or longer? Relate your answer to the hemisphere and season you are currently in.

7. (10 points) What does the study of weather have to do with environmental science? What ways can you think of weather data being used in an environmental study?

Part Two – Temperature Conversion

Temperature can be measured in different scales. In the U.S. we use the measure temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (F). Most other countries and many scientists use the Celsius (C) scale. In the Celsius scale, water boils at 100°C and freezes at 0°C. The formulas for converting from one temperature scale to the other are as follows:

°F = (9/5 x °C) + 32 and °C = (5/9) x (°F – 32)

8. (24 points) Complete the following calculations and place your answer in the center column below. Keep track of positive and negative values:

15 degrees Fahrenheit

degrees Celsius

75 degrees Fahrenheit

degrees Celsius

32 degrees Fahrenheit

degrees Celsius

31 degrees Celsius

degrees Fahrenheit

13 degrees Celsius

degrees Fahrenheit

0 degrees Celsius

degrees Fahrenheit

5