Students will make predictions about temperatures at higher elevations (over 3,000 feet) based on the surface temperature as compared to a point 3000 feet above the surface. Students will collect real data online at http://weather.unisys.com and graph temperature readings at varying altitudes. Students will then compare actual results with those predicted.
Students will understand that predictions made in a laboratory often do not resemble the actual phenomena in the field. They will recognize that data collected in the field can contain errors. They will learn about the technologies for collecting weather information, and that there is not a linear correspondence between altitude and temperature.
Basic internet use and graphing skills.
6 - 8
90 minutes (block period preferred)
Colorado State Standard: 4.2
Access http://weather.unisys.com
Thermometers, graphing paper, computer lab
Reserve the school computer lab. Visit the http://weather.unisys.com site and familiarize yourself with it.
Students should go outside and measure the ambient air temperature. You might want to have them use a Fahrenheit thermometer and then convert their temperatures to Celsius since that's what the website uses. Students should access http://weather.unisys.com and find the temperature 3000 feet above Earth's surface. They will need to click on constant height plots and then on 3000 feet. A lab equipped with a projector will make this task easier. Students should create a graph with temperature on the x-axis and altitude on the y-axis. Have them graph the temperature at the surface and at 3000 ft. Students may need to find temperature contour lines (in 5 degree intervals) to establish the temperature if they are not near a weather station. Have them make predictions about what the temperature will be at higher altitudes, for example, at 30,000 ft (jet plane altitude). Have them plot actual temperatures at all altitudes provided on the website. Were their predictions close to actual? Have students learn how the data is collected (see home page).
How high can birds and flying mammals fly? What is the potential temperature at these altitudes? What temperatures is the space shuttle exposed to?