High Temperature records by State

One way to gain an understanding about weather is to examine data. A spreadsheet is a powerful tool for examining data.
In the table below are the records highs for each state and territory as reported in 2006.

Here is the data in a downloadable spreadsheet.

1. This data is for temperatures through 2006. Perhaps a new record has been set since then.
Scientists work with accurate data.
Verify or update the data for your state or territory. (Double check each state that borders yours, too.)

2. Correct the appearance. Use the spreadsheet tools to make the data appear the same through out the columns.

In Temperature F° - make the alignment consistent.

Date - correct the appearance of the data in the Date column - Format - Cells - Date - Type.

3. Scientists work with data using the metric system.

Make the necessary conversions of temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius and the elevation from feet to meters.

4. Use the spreadsheet to "test" a hypothesis. The data in the spreadsheet is sorted alphabetically by state.

Form a prediction or hypothesis. For example: you might hypothesize that there is a relationship between elevation and temperature.

Hypothesis - The lower the elevation the lower the record high will be.

To see if your hypothesis this is true, use the Sort feature in Spreadsheet.
Highlight all the data in the spreadsheet starting with the data in the elevation column.

{It is important to highlight all the data so it all sorts while keeping the data in the rows intact (by state). If you highlight only a column or two, the data will sort in those columns. It will no longer be correctly related to its state. UGH!}

By the way - If I make a mistake I use the Undo feature to restore the original spreadsheet. Mac - ..z, or Edit .. Undo.

Go Data - Sort - Sort by - Select the data you want to test from the menu. In the hypothesis above I used elevation. I would select elevation.

Ascending means in order from least to most, alphabetical A-Z, coldest to warmest, oldest date to most recent date.
Descending means the opposite, of course.

What relationships do you find in the data?

Sources: U.S. National Climatic Data Center (last updated August 2006), USA Today, * Weather Underground

Lowest temperature records | North America Climate Extremes Monitoring | U.S. Climate at a Glance

NOAA | NESDIS | Temperature map USA - annual mean daily maximum | Weather Forecasting online meteorology

Challenge yourself - Weather Scope - An investigation of weather and climate

Location Conundrum - You are to set up a thermometer to measure outside air temperature for one year.

If you place it in an open area, how might that affect your results?

If you place it under/in a deciduous tree, how might that affect your results?

How would the effect be different if you placed the thermometer under a coniferous tree?

Where should a thermometer be placed outside for accuracy in measuring air temperature?

 

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Watch Google Docs video TAI - How could you use free, Google Docs to do a project? How would this facilitate group projects?