The Return of El Nino

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In this activity related to climate change and data analysis, learners examine temperature and precipitation data to determine if climate variations are due to El Niño. Using data from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center and NOAA's National Hurricane Center, learners will monitor winter temperature anomalies and winter precipitation anomalies for three areas of the United States as well as the total number of hurricanes formed in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific in 2002. Learners track and analyze this information on a data table.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
1 to 2 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:
free per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 14 - 18
Resource Types:
Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth Processes
      • Weather and Climate
    • Earth Structure
      • Oceans and Water
      • Atmosphere
    • Earth, Moon and Sun
      • Seasons
  • Life Sciences
    • Ecology
      • Human Impact
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
      • Data Representation
    • Measurement
      • Rate
    • Number and Operations
    • Representation
  • Physical Sciences
    • Heat and Thermodynamics
      • Heat and Temperature
    • States of Matter
      • Liquids
      • Gases
      • Changes of Phase
  • The Nature of Science
    • Science and Society
    • The Scientific Process
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results

Informal Categories

  • Nature and Environment

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • read
  • use keyboard
  • use mouse
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Ayers Lawrence, Lisa

Rights:

Funding Sources:

  • NOAA Sea Grant
  • National Marine Educators Association