Module 13 | Scenario 1: Exploring Our Changing Climate

  • Due Apr 13 at 11:59pm
  • Points 10
  • Questions 10
  • Available after Mar 31 at 12am
  • Time Limit None
  • Allowed Attempts 2

Instructions

Overview

Global temperatures are climbing, although the rate of increase varies regionally. After completing this learning activity, you will be able to access and monitor temperature trends globally and in your favorite ski region.

Instructions

Utilize the https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/ webpage to answer the questions located in this activity. You may refer to your textbook and notes to help you work through the assigned questions if desired. You will have two attempts to complete this activity. The highest grade will automatically be recorded. Once you have submitted your activity for a second time, you will be able to see the correct answers. Discuss with your instructor if you have questions about your answers or feedback.

  • Activity is due Sunday, by 11:59 p.m. MT

Submission and Assessment Guidelines

  • You will complete the quiz associated with this scenario within Canvas. For help on how to take a quiz in Canvas, review How do I take a quiz.
  • This learning activity is worth 10 points toward your final grade.

Scenario

You are an engaged citizen with a passion for snow and an interest in knowing how the climate is changing in your favorite ski region.

Key Concepts

The National Center for Environmental Information provides access to past and current global, regional, state, climate division, county, and even city temperature trends based on surface weather observations since the late 1800s. All of this information is available at the Climate at a Glance website. I typically use this page for accessing time series.

The image below summarizes how to access information at that link.

  1. At the top, you pick your area of interest and the type of plot:
    • For this assignment, we will focus on State and Statewide Time Series, so select those. You can also select other areas such as Global to access trends for the entire Earth, Nation for the contiguous US, Region for subregions of the US, Division for climate divisions (areas within states with similar climate characteristics), County for counties, and City for cities. In addition to time series you can examine maps, rankings, and other graphs and plots.  
  2. After making your selections for State and Statewide Time Series, specify what to plot in the area I've enclosed with a black rectangle. It's very important this be set correctly, including the time scale, start and end years, and state, and month. For annual average temperatures, set the Time Scale to 12-Month and the Month to December.  Note that these can reset if you change the area of interest, so be sure to check them if you make a change. 
  3. On the right, select the Display Base Period, which will either add a line for the long-term average between the years specified (1901-2000 is the 20th century). Also, select Display Trend to show the long-term trend between the years specified.
  4. Once everything is specified, click "plot."  If you make a change, click "plot" again.

In the example provided below, Utah's annually averaged temperature from 1895–2024 is displayed. During that period, temperatures increased on average 0.2ºF per decade, and in the 20th century (1901–2000), the average temperature (also known as mean) was 47.6˚F.  

Example climate at a glance web page with navigation information
Webpage location: here.

 

Citations

Key Concepts:

  • Climate at a Glance: Global Mapping
    • Citation: NOAA National Centers for Environmental information, Climate at a Glance: Global Mapping, published March 2025, retrieved on March 20, 2025.
  • Climate at a Glance: Statewide Time Series
    • Citation: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance: Statewide Time Series, published March 2025, retrieved on March 20, 2025.

Images:

Key Concepts

Quiz

 
 
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