This week we move from looking at weather reports to exploring long-term climate data.
Big Questions: | How do scientists look for evidence of climate change in long-term weather data? How can we can we compare data sets using center, shape, and spread? |
What is the difference between WEATHER and CLIMATE? Pick three words to describe this past winter, and last summer. In order for scientists to accurately determine if long term weather patterns are changing, they need to have objective ways to measure and compare weather data over time, using measurements and data. | When the weather changes, what does it mean? When the climate changes, what does that mean? How do we, as a class, feel about Boston weather? What does it mean to be objective? |
In this lesson we will use median and range to analyze data, and will make use of dot plots to see if there is evidence that climate patterns are changing in MA.
Your friend has been looking at the data from wonder.cdc.gov and presents you with the following argument:
People claim that the planet is warming up, but I’ve looked at the data and I don’t agree. In 1992 there was not a single heat wave day in Massachusetts but in 1991 there were 9 heat wave days just in Bristol County. How can you say the planet is warming up when it was clearly hotter in 1991 than it was in 1992?
How might you respond?
How could you use any of these in your response:
• data
• a dot plot
• discussion of median and range.
People claim that the planet is warming up, but I’ve looked at the data and I don’t agree. In 1992 there was not a single heat wave day in Massachusetts but in 1991 there were 9 heat wave days just in Bristol County. How can you say the planet is warming up when it was clearly hotter in 1991 than it was in 1992?
How might you respond?
How could you use any of these in your response:
• data
• a dot plot
• discussion of median and range.