What Is the Weather Like in Different Regions of the United States?

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Lesley Cox
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1 Learning Set 1 What Is Weather, and How Is It Measured and Described? 1.3 Explore What Is the Weather Like in Different Regions of the United States? trends: patterns or tendencies you can see over a broad range of data. The United States is a large country with many different types of weather. The southeastern part of the country sometimes has heavy rainfall and hurricanes. The middle part of the country has violent thunderstorms and tornadoes in the summer. Northern areas often have blizzards in winter, with very strong winds and heavy snow. People who live in these areas know what kind of weather to expect at different times of the year. This allows them to prepare for the weather. The weather changes from day to day, but there are patterns, or trends, in the changes. If you record weather data for many years, you can find trends. In most places in the world, the weather is different in summer than in winter. At a particular place, a certain type of weather occurs every summer. A different type of weather may occur in winter, but it is similar from one winter to the next. Recall that these trends in weather over a number of years are called climate. Hurricanes are frequent in parts of the southern and southeastern United States and the Caribbean islands, particularly in the late summer. Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 36

1.3 Explore The climate of one part of the country can be very different from the climate of another part. For example, the climate in the Northeast is different from the climate in the Southeast.

2 1.3 Explore The climate of one part of the country can be very different from the climate of another part. For example, the climate in the Northeast is different from the climate in the Southeast. In the Southeast, winters are not as cold as in the Northeast. In this Unit, your class is investigating six cities in the United States. Each of these cities is in one of six United States climate regions, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A NOAA climate region is a region of the United States assigned to a NOAA Regional Climate Center. At each Regional Climate Center, meteorologists and climatologists collect and analyze weather data for the states in their region. They identify when severe weather is likely and examine how climate is changing over time. NOAA s climate regions are spread out across the country. However, some of NOAA s six regions actually include several different climate zones. In this Unit, you will use the term climate zone to describe an area of the United States that has particular climate characteristics. The six NOAA regions discussed in this Unit are High Plains, Northeast, Southeast, West, Midwest, and South. The West region includes all of the states along the west coast plus Hawaii and Alaska. Although they are in the same climate region, Hawaii and Alaska are in different climate zones. Hawaii is warm all year. In many parts of Alaska, the temperatures can be extremely cold even in the summer. climate region: a region of the United States assigned to a NOAA Regional Climate Center. climate zone: an area of the United States that has particular weather characteristics. In the Northeast and Midwest regions, blizzards are very common during the winter months. WW 37 WEATHER WATCH

3 Learning Set 1 What Is Weather, and How Is It Measured and Described? United States Climate Regions according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) A) Rapid City, South Dakota B) Burlington, Vermont C) Atlanta, Georgia D) Las Vegas, Nevada E) Minneapolis, Minnesota F) Dallas, Texas Using the maps and charts for your city, you will examine monthly and average climate data for your region. Then you will examine maps and data tables that show the weather near your city in two different seasons (summer and winter). As you analyze the data, you will compare the climate and weather data for your city to see how weather and climate are related. The maps in this section are similar to the maps you used earlier, but in addition, these maps show air pressure data. Notice the series of lines that form large loops and circles. These lines connect places that have the same air pressure. The numbers at the ends of each line show the air pressure. In the tables that you looked at in Section 1, the air pressure was given in inches of mercury. In other countries, air pressure is measured in kilopascals (kpa). The pascal (Pa) is the SI unit of measurement for pressure. (1 kpa = 1000 Pa.) Observe Examine your maps and tables to answer the following questions. Record your answers, and be prepared to share them with the class. When you finish analyzing the maps and charts, answer the Reflect questions and begin to prepare a poster for an Investigation Expo. Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 38

4 1.3 Explore 1. The two data tables and weather maps for each city show four days of data for summer and winter. For your city, what are two major differences between the summer weather and the winter weather? 2. Find the average temperature for your city on each set of four days. How do the average temperatures you found compare to the average monthly temperatures for your city for July and February? How do the average temperatures for the two periods compare to the average annual temperatures in the climate data for your city? 3. Find the average precipitation for each set of four days. What would the precipitation be for one month using this average daily value? (Hint: Multiply the daily average by the number of days in that month.) How does this projected monthly value compare to the average precipitations in the climate data for your city for July and February? 4. Now calculate how much precipitation your city would receive in a year according to the average daily value you calculated in Question 4. How do these projected annual values for the two periods compare to the average annual precipitation in the climate data for your city? Analyze Your Data 1. Write down any severe weather events that occurred during the days shown on the chart. 2. If you wanted to learn more about what it would be like to live in a certain city, which of these would be the most useful to know: The average temperature and precipitation for each week? For each month? For each year? Why did you select the time period you did? WW 39 WEATHER WATCH

5 Learning Set 1 What Is Weather, and How Is It Measured and Described? Average Climate Data for Cities in the Six NOAA Regions These two pages contain climate data for temperature and precipitation for one city in each region. Each column in the first six data tables lists the long-term average values for each month. The seventh table provides annual average climate data for the six cities. (A) High Plains: Rapid City, South Dakota, Climate Data Month J F M A M J J A S O N D Average high temperature ( F) Average low temperature ( F) Average precipitation ( of water) (B) Northeast: Burlington, Vermont, Climate Data Month J F M A M J J A S O N D Average high temperature ( F) Average low temperature ( F) Average precipitation ( of water) (C) Southeast: Atlanta, Georgia, Climate Data Month J F M A M J J A S O N D Average high temperature ( F) Average low temperature ( F) Average precipitation ( of water) Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 40

6 1.3 Explore (D) West: Las Vegas, Nevada, Climate Data Month J F M A M J J A S O N D Average high temperature ( F) Average low temperature ( F) Average precipitation ( of water) (E) Midwest: Minneapolis, Minnesota, Climate Data Month J F M A M J J A S O N D Average high temperature ( F) Average low temperature ( F) Average precipitation ( of water) (F) South: Dallas, Texas, Climate Data Month J F M A M J J A S O N D Average high temperature ( F) Average low temperature ( F) Average precipitation ( of water) Annual Average Climate Data City (A) Rapid City, SD (B) Burlington, VT (C) Atlanta, GA (D) Las Vegas, NV (E) Minneapolis, MN (F) Dallas, TX Average high temperature ( F) Average low temperature ( F) Average precipitation ( of water) WW 41 WEATHER WATCH

Dakota B) Burlington, Vermont C) Atlanta, Georgia D) Las Vegas, Nevada

7 Learning Set 1 What Is Weather, and How Is It Measured and Described? Summer Weather Maps: 6 Cities 4 Days in July A) Rapid City, South Dakota B) Burlington, Vermont C) Atlanta, Georgia D) Las Vegas, Nevada E) Minneapolis, Minnesota F) Dallas, Texas Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 42

8 1.3 Explore Map key Cold front Warm front Stationary front Occluded front Precipitation Hurricane WW 43 WEATHER WATCH

9 Learning Set 1 What Is Weather, and How Is It Measured and Described? Summer Data Tables: 6 Cities 4 Days in July Summer (A): Rapid City, South Dakota, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) 6 mph SE 7 mph SE 6 mph NW 8 mph NW Air pressure ( of mercury) falling falling rising steady Precipitation () 0.1 rain none 0.2 rain none Summer (B): Burlington, Vermont, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) calm calm 3 mph SE 3 mph NE Air pressure ( of mercury) steady steady steady rising Precipitation () 0.6 rain 0.6 rain none none Summer (C): Atlanta, Georgia, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) 4 mph NE 6 mph NE 25 mph SE 10 mph W Air pressure ( of mercury) rising steady falling rising Precipitation () none 0.1 rain 5.38 rain 1.48 rain Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 44

10 1.3 Explore Summer (D): Las Vegas, Nevada, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) 3 mph SE calm calm 8 mph SE Air pressure ( of mercury) rising rising rising rising Precipitation () none none none none Summer (E): Minneapolis, Minnesota, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) 3 mph SE 5 mph SE 7 mph SE 2 mph SW Air pressure ( of mercury) falling steady rising rising Precipitation () 0.4 rain none none none Summer (F): Dallas, Texas, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) 5 mph N 6 mph SE calm calm Air pressure ( of mercury) rising steady rising rising Precipitation () none none none 0.1 rain WW 45 WEATHER WATCH

11 Learning Set 1 What Is Weather, and How Is It Measured and Described? Winter Weather Maps: 6 Cities 4 Days in February A) Rapid City, South Dakota B) Burlington, Vermont C) Atlanta, Georgia D) Las Vegas, Nevada E) Minneapolis, Minnesota F) Dallas, Texas Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 46

12 1.3 Explore Map key Cold front Warm front Stationary front Occluded front Precipitation Hurricane WW 47 WEATHER WATCH

13 Learning Set 1 What Is Weather, and How Is It Measured and Described? Winter Data Tables: 6 Cities 4 Days in February Winter (A): Rapid City, South Dakota, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) calm 3 mph NW calm calm Air pressure ( of mercury) rising rising falling falling Precipitation () 0.5 snow 2 snow 2 snow 1 snow Winter (B): Burlington, Vermont, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) 5 mph W 9 mph NW calm 3 mph W Air pressure ( of mercury) rising falling steady rising Precipitation () none none 3 snow 16 snow Winter (C): Atlanta, Georgia, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) calm 4 mph E 4 mph W 10 mph NW Air pressure ( of mercury) steady rising steady rising Precipitation () none none 0.5 rain none Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 48

14 1.3 Explore Winter (D): Las Vegas, Nevada, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) 10 mph N 3 mph NE 8 mph N calm Air pressure ( of mercury) rising rising rising steady Precipitation () 0.1 rain none none none Winter (E): Minneapolis, Minnesota, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) calm 8 mph NW calm 12 mph NW Air pressure ( of mercury) steady rising steady falling Precipitation () none none none none Winter (F): Dallas, Texas, Weather Data High temperature ( F) Low temperature ( F) Wind speed and direction (mph) 4 mph SW 20 mph NW 18 mph NW 9 mph NW Air pressure ( of mercury) falling rising rising steady Precipitation () 0.1 rain 0.1 rain none none WW 49 WEATHER WATCH

15 Learning Set 1 What Is Weather, and How Is It Measured and Described? Reflect 1. What accurate information do you think would help you make better weather predictions? 2. Earlier in the Unit, you were asked to describe the difference between weather and climate. Now that you have compared weather data to climate data, how would you describe the difference between weather and climate? Communicate Investigation Expo Each group in the class examined data tables for only one city. To fully understand weather and climate, you need to know about patterns in many different places. Each group will share its data in an Investigation Expo. For your presentation, make a poster for your location. Your poster should include the following: your city s weather during the days you examined. your city s climate in the summer and winter. the relationship between weather and climate during the summer and winter days you examined. your weather predictions, the data that support your predictions, and how sure you are about each. The purpose of the Investigation Expo is to learn as much as you can about how weather factors and climate data can be used to analyze weather patterns. During your presentation, make sure you answer all the questions about your city. If there were details you did not understand about the climate and weather for your city, you should also report those to the class. As you listen to each group make its presentation, notice how weather differs across the continental United States. Think about the ways that climate and weather are related. Does the weather differ from the average climate data more in some regions than in others? Ask questions if you do not understand what is presented. Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 50

16 1.3 Explore As you listen, decide whether you agree with the conclusions of each group. If you do not think that a group s data support one of its conclusions, raise your hand and tell why. If you have identified a different conclusion, tell the class what you have concluded and give the evidence that supports your ideas. The purpose of the discussion is to learn as much as you can about how weather factors and climate data can be used to analyze weather patterns. Reflect 1. How do the climates of different regions compare to one another in summer with respect to precipitation and temperature? How do they compare in winter? 2. During the 2 four-day periods you studied, describe any severe weather events in the United States. How do you think the types of severe weather that occur in a region depend on climate? 3. What other data would you need to predict severe weather events? What s the Point? NOAA has defined six climate regions in the United States to help scientists organize and analyze weather data. Each NOAA region may contain one or more climate zones, which are areas of the country that have particular weather characteristics. The weather in one zone can be very different from the weather in other zones. You cannot predict what the weather will be like on a specific date without knowing what is happening in other zones. Short-term weather predictions can be made based on the direction in which weather is moving and changes in air pressure readings. Long-term averages allow you to predict the general type of weather that will occur in a region during a particular season. These long-term averages for weather data are used to describe the climate of a region. WW 51 WEATHER WATCH

WEATHER WATCH. As a Student Scientist, here is how you will use the Engineering Design Cycle

WEATHER WATCH. As a Student Scientist, here is how you will use the Engineering Design Cycle WEATHER WATCH As a Student Scientist, here is how you will use the Engineering Design Cycle Project-Based Inquiry Science WW 2 What s the Big Challenge? Develop a Plan for Responding to a Severe Weather