Geography 311U - Climatology

World Wide Web Exercise #1

Climate Data - Sources and Interpretation

Federal Level: Climate data and information are disseminated by a wide range of agencies and for many
different purposes. However, the primary responsibility has, for many years, been with the federal government
through the National Climate Data Center (NCDC), a branch of NOAA. The NCDC was created by the National
Climate Program Act of 1979. However, just to confuse us, the NCDC has recently been blended into the National
Centers for Environmental Information. Take some time to dig into this site to get a sense of the vast array of
climate information therein. In particular, go to Climate Information tab near the top of the page.

State Level: The Climate Progam Act also led to the establishment of state and regional climate offices to
facilitate data availability at a more local scale. The best way to access state climate programs is through the web
page of the American Association of State Climatologists. Please browse this page and look at some of the state
programs. Please note that when you click on a state, the page that comes up will have a link in the listing on the
left side of the page; click that to get to the actual state climate office. Try it; you'll like it. You should see that
there are some very interesting and comprehensive programs (Arizona, for example, and many others).

Regional Level: Regional Climate Centers are really good, probably the most useful for our purposes. These
were established for the obvious reason that it shortcuts the national site and collates data for a group of states that
have more climate homogeneity. Or, as you look at the map, you may feel there is more homogeneity in a cultural
and/or political sense. Whatever! Take a look at some of these regional centers, especially the Western Regional
Center.

Condensing all of the above into a short list, I would think that the most useful sites for your work as a "climate
scientist" in the Pacific Northwest are the following:

o National Centers for Environmental Information

Western Regional Climate Center
Oregon Climate Service - still in transition maybe
Washington State Climatologist
National Weather Service - Portland

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assignment is to allow you the opportunity to familiarize youself with these important
sources of climate information. I suggest you begin as follows:
 1. Print out this page!
2. Enter the web sites into your bookmark list so that you will have them forevermore.
3. I strongly suggest that you spend a good amout of time with these sites; dig deeply; see what's there. You
never know what might capture your interest and/or be useful in your future professional and personal
endeavors.
4. Proceed with the assignment as described below.

Grading: You will be graded on the quality of your work; that includes both content and the professionalism of
the writing and the presentation.

Part 1: National Centers for Environmental Information

There are three tasks I would like you to undertake using this massive site:

Climate Change

Go to the "Climate Information" tab on the top of the NCEI page. Take some time to look at all the material under
this section: data, articles, etc. After you have filled your brain with all the data and analysis that is available to
you, go specifically to "Statistical Weather and Climate Information." Peruse the graphs and maps that you find in
the "Temperature, Precipitation, and Drought" section. Make up your own assignment; for example you may
decide to study long term temperature trends in Nebraska. Do so! And then write a scientifically literate summary
in which you describe your purpose, your technique and your findings. This essay should be a minimum of 200
words (no wasted words). Describe your purpose, your sources of information, and your analysis/findings.

Climate of 2015

Go to another NOAA page titled State of the Climate in 2015: Highlights This report is utterly fascinating and
you may get lost in it for days. OK, don't really get lost, but do spend a good amount of time reading about the
intesting events of the past year. Then write an essay in which you summarize a few of the events that most caught
your attention. Again, this should be a scientifically literate summary and should also be a minimum of 150
words (no wasted words).

Thirdly
Please go to Climate of the United States . You will see six categories of data. Take a quick look at each; decide
which holds the most interest for you. In a short essay - minimum of 150 words (no wasted words) - explain
what it is that you find so interesting. And if you think it is all boring, well just fake it!

Baseball, Steroids & Climate Change (just in case you're interested)

 Part 2: Western Regional Climate Center

A. Portland Climate Summary

After you have thoroughly picked your way through the many, many layers on this site, do the following:
1) Select "Climate Summaries" found under the Historical Data tab along the top of the page.
2) Select "Western U.S. Climate Summaries - NOAA Coop Stations."
3) Using the map tool, select Portland WSFO and view the page of data: print and retain for future reference.
4) Write a summary of a minimum of 150 words in which you describe the annual cycle of monthly
precipitation and temperature as monitored at the Portland site. Don't worry about the underlying causes, just
describe clearly what the typical climate year looks like. Tell me, what period of record (what years) do these data
represent? Is this period of record a true representation of the climate of Portland. Think about that, speculate,
and tell me what you think.

B. Precipitation Anomalies

Now, go to a very interesting presentation of historical data known as the Standardized Precipitation Index
(SPI). This table leads you to a variety of national maps that represent precipitation for any interval over the last
72 months. Be sure to read the link at the top of the page that explains "What is the SPI?" This material
makes for great quiz questions.

We pay very close attention to precipitation here in the Pacific Northwest. Look at the maps for recent years (e.g.,
12 months, 24 months, 72 months, etc. etc.) and consider how wet or dry it has been compared to normal and
compared to the rest of the country. The "Percentage of Average" maps are probably the easiest to
comprehend. Write another clear and concise report of no more than 150 words (no wasted words) in which
you describe the precipitation situation in the Northwest over the last 12 months, 24 months, and 72 months. Do
the data for these recent years match with your perception of precipitation in your life?

Part 3: Northwest State Climate Offices

OK, I'm not done with you yet. Let's put this precipitation into a long-term context. Unfortunately, the Oregon
Climate Service web site is still "in development," so is of little help to us (athough it is making good
progress). On the other hand, the state of Washington has a very good climate web site, one of the best in the
country. From the front page of the Washington site, go to "N.W. Temperature, Precipitation and SWE Trend
Analysis." Now, if you can figure out this tool, see if you can construct a graph of precipitation and/or
temperature for Portland or any other location in the Northwest that you choose. Finally, write a great little
scientific essay in which you explain to all your friends what you have learned. This essay should be a minimum
of 150 words (no wasted words).
Note: Be sure that you use a citation anytime you use specific information in your essays. To keep it simple for
you - if you are citing one of the web sites that I have provided in the assignment, you need only name the site. If
you are citing another web site, please use a complete citation. If you are not familiar with the proper citation of
internet sources, please go to the link below.

Dixie State University Library

Note: Simply listing the URL of a web page is not, I

repeat, not an appropriate citation. Learn how to
do this properly or you will never get through
college and never get a job, and your whole life will
be a shambles.