NAME:__________________________________
Earth Systems
Standards and Elements Included in this Assessment:
SES1. Students will investigate the composition and formation of Earth systems, including the
Earth’s relationship to the solar system.
e. Identify the transformations and major reservoirs that make up the rock cycle, hydrologic cycle,
carbon cycle, and other important geochemical cycles.
SES5 Students will investigate the interaction of insolation and Earth systems to produce weather
and climate.
a. Explain how latitudinal variations in solar heating create atmospheric and ocean currents that
redistribute heat globally.
b. Explain the relationship between air masses and the surfaces over which they form.
c. Relate weather patterns to interactions among ocean currents, air masses, and topography.
d. Describe how temperature and precipitation produce the pattern of climate regions (classes) on
Earth.
e. Describe the hazards associated with extreme weather events and climate change (e.g., hurricanes,
tornadoes, El Niño/La Niña, global warming).
Description of the Task: You and two of your colleagues have been hired by NOAA
to construct a diagram and an analysis on the effects of La Nina and El Nino on two
major cities. You have decided to pick Atlanta, Georgia and Los Angeles, California
for the focus of your investigation. Your analysis must include the changes in
weather and climate that occurs during these events for the two cities. You will
present your findings to NOAA using a power point presentation that must include
the answers to the following questions:
1) What types of climates are normally in your cities? Be sure to describe them in
terms of temperature and precipitation throughout the year.
2) What causes the ocean’s temperature to change during an El Nino and La Nina?
3) How do ocean temperatures differ during an El Nino and La Nina?
4) What types of air masses impact the weather in your cities during an El Nino?
5) What types of air masses impact the weather in your cities during a La Nina?
6) How would El Nino effect Earth's geochemical cycles?
7) Predict what general effects El Nino and La Nina have on the United States?
8)What type of winter occurs during an El Nino and La Nina for Atlanta and your
city?
9) What type of summer occurs during an El Nino and La Nina for Atlanta and your
city?
Steps for Completing the Task:
1) Go to http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/preview_lesson.php?&passid=57 and complete the lab
activity. This is to be turned in separately.
2) Using the knowledge you gained from the lab and the internet as a resource , construct
your power point answering the questions above.
3) Use the rubric as a guide to make sure you have all the information in your presentation.
Title: Cycles, Weather and Climate
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION
Lab Report
Poor - 1
Fair - 2
Good - 3
Lab is incomplete.
An entire section (i.e.
graphs, maps, or
questions) are
missing. Lab does
not indicate an
understanding of the
investigation.
Lab is incomplete.
Some graphs or
maps are left
undone. Questions
are incomplete or
complete with 50%
accuracy.
Lab is complete.
Graphs, maps,
and questions are
complete with
80% accuracy.
Excellent - 4
Lab is complete,
including appropriate
graphs, and maps. All
questions have been
correctly answered.
POWERPOINT
1) What types of
climates normally
exist in your
cities? -include
temperatures and
precipitations.
Poor - 1
Fair - 2
Good - 3
The question has
been partially
addressed. Answer
is inaccurate.
Scientific evidence
was not used.
The question has
been addressed, but
may be incomplete
or in accurately.
Scientific may have
been incorrectly
used.
The question has
been addressed, but
may be incomplete
or in accurately.
Scientific may have
been incorrectly
used.
The question has
been completely
and accurately
addressed.
However, scientific
evidence may be
lacking
The question has
been completely
and accurately
addressed.
However, scientific
evidence may be
lacking
The question has been
completely addressed
with relevant scientific
evidence used to
support the answer.
Excellent - 4
2) What causes
the ocean
temperatures to
change during El
Nino and La
Nina?
The question has
been partially
addressed. Answer
is inaccurate.
Scientific evidence
was not used.
3) How do ocean
temperatures
differ during El
Nino and La
Nina?
The question has
been partially
addressed. Answer
is inaccurate.
Scientific evidence
was not used.
The question has
been addressed, but
may be incomplete
or in accurately.
Scientific may have
been incorrectly
used.
The question has
been completely
and accurately
addressed.
However, scientific
evidence may be
lacking
The question has been
completely addressed
with relevant scientific
evidence used to
support the answer.
4) What types of
air masses
impact your
cities during El
Nino?
The question has
been partially
addressed. Answer
is inaccurate.
Scientific evidence
was not used.
The question has
been addressed, but
may be incomplete
or in accurately.
Scientific may have
been incorrectly
used.
The question has
been completely
and accurately
addressed.
However, scientific
evidence may be
lacking
The question has been
completely addressed
with relevant scientific
evidence used to
support the answer.
5) What types of
air masses
impact your city
during La Nina?
The question has
been partially
addressed. Answer
is inaccurate.
Scientific evidence
was not used.
The question has
been addressed, but
may be incomplete
or in accurately.
Scientific may have
been incorrectly
used.
The question has
been completely
and accurately
addressed.
However, scientific
evidence may be
lacking
The question has been
completely addressed
with relevant scientific
evidence used to
support the answer.
6) How will El
Nino effect
Earth's
geochemical
cycles?
The question has
been partially
addressed. Answer
is inaccurate.
Scientific evidence
was not used.
The question has
been addressed, but
may be incomplete
or in accurately.
Scientific may have
been incorrectly
used.
The question has
been completely
and accurately
addressed.
However, scientific
evidence may be
lacking
The question has been
completely addressed
with relevant scientific
evidence used to
support the answer.
The question has been
completely addressed
with relevant scientific
evidence used to
support the answer.
7) Predict the
general effects of
El Nino and La
Nina on the
United States.
The question has
been partially
addressed. Answer
is inaccurate.
Scientific evidence
was not used.
The question has
been addressed, but
may be incomplete
or in accurately.
Scientific may have
been incorrectly
used.
The question has
been completely
and accurately
addressed.
However, scientific
evidence may be
lacking
The question has been
completely addressed
with relevant scientific
evidence used to
support the answer.
8+9) Conclusion:
According to
your research,
what types of
winters and
summers s
should be
anticipated in
your cities? Will
there be an
increase in sevire
weather as a
result? How
should residents
prepare?
Graphics
The question has
been partially
addressed. Answer
is inaccurate.
Scientific evidence
was not used.
The question has
been addressed, but
may be incomplete
or in accurately.
Scientific may have
been incorrectly
used.
The question has
been completely
and accurately
addressed.
However, scientific
evidence may be
lacking
The question has been
completely addressed
with relevant scientific
evidence used to
support the answer.
Student uses
superfluous
graphics or no
graphics
Student
occasionally uses
graphics that rarely
support text and
presentation.
Student's graphics
relate to text and
presentation.
Student's graphics
explain and reinforce
screen content and do
not distract from it.
Mechanics
Student's
presentation has
four or more
spelling errors
and/or grammatical
errors.
MLA format not
used. Not all
sources are cited.
Presentation has
three misspellings
and/or grammatical
errors.
Presentation has
no more than two
misspellings
and/or
grammatical
errors.
All sources except
one are correctly
cited using the
MLA format.
Presentation has no
misspellings or
grammatical errors.
Bibliography
MLA format is not
used, but all
sources are cited.
All sources are cited
correctly using the MLA
format.
TOTAL:
Grading:
This counts as a major test grade! Meeting the standards, which is the minimum expectation for all
students, is reaching level 3 on all dimensions of the rubric.
Plagiarism:
If it is found that you have cut and paste from the internet or directly copied form any other source, points
will be deducted or you will be asked to redo your project for a maximum grade of 70%, depending on the
severity of the infraction.