Exploring Elevation and Temperature in NY and CA
Activity 1
Name: ___________________
Period: __________________
Date: ____________________
Driving Question: How does temperature vary with elevation?
Introduction
Everyday we think about what the temperature and precipitation (rain or snow) are like outside. We probably
even have some idea about what it is like in other places in general too. When trying to understand HOW
Earth’s systems interact, temperature and precipitation are two important variables to look at along with
elevation (how high the Earth’s surface is).
In this lesson you will look closely at how temperature changes as elevation changes to see if there is a
relationship between the two. Google Earth will let you look at New York State’s average temperatures across
the state and help you see how the elevation of the land changes too. Then you will look at California and
investigate how temperature varies with elevation. In California you will see much larger changes in elevation
as compared to New York. While you explore in Google Earth, keep thinking about how the temperature and
elevation are related.
Pre Lab Question #1
What do YOU think is the relationship between the elevation of a location and its average temperature?
Instructions
Follow your teacher’s directions on how to open the Google Earth activity
files on your own computer. The files contain important information
related New York's and California’s climates (monthly temperatures
and precipitation) and each state’s terrain (the shape of the land and
elevation data).
Part A: New York
1) Find the Western New York Study Area file in the file list
shown in Google Earth on the left of the map.
2) Click the check box to turn on the NYS 250m Hillshade model
so the hills and mountains across the state can be seen easily.
OBSERVE the shape of the land across New York State and how
it varies. Look for mountains, flat, valleys, and other features.
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Google Earth File List
3) Turn OFF the NYS 250m Hillshade layer and turn ON the Western NY Weather Stations, Study Area
Boundary, and Terrain Path though the Weather Stations layers by clicking their boxes on. This will
show the weather stations we are using that have been recording long term temperature data.
4) Turn ON the January Average Temperature layer. A new very light orange and yellow layer should
appear across the study area. CLICK the + symbol to expand the list of layers. Click on and off the two
temperature range sub folders to find out which color goes with the temperature ranges.
Fill in the legend info below:
Light Orange = _____________F
Yellow = _____________F
5) Turn ON the July Average Temperature layer. A new orange and red layer should appear across the
study area. CLICK the + symbol to expand the list of layers. A color code LEGEND will now be shown.
Fill in the legend info below:
Orange = _____________F
Red = _____________F
6) Right Click on the Terrain Path though the Weather Stations layer in the table of contents. A new
menu will open. Choose the Show Elevation Profile feature (near the bottom of the menu). We will
now to look closely at the relationship between elevation across and average temperature.
OBSERVE the changes in elevation along the path shown in the window at the bottom of the map.
Move your arrow (cursor) along the elevation profile window and see the large arrow showing the
exact location on the path in the upper portion of the map.
7)
Move your cursor to the lowest elevation along the path. CLICK in the upper part of the map close to
the lowest elevation location and near one of the weather stations. A pop-up window will appear that
contains elevation and temperature data. Record data below for three locations along the path.
REPEAT for middle and highest elevation areas along the terrain path near weather stations.
NY Terrain Path Data
Lowest elevation on
your transect line
Middle elevation on
your transect line
Highest elevation on
your transect line
Weather Station Name
Elevation value
(feet)
JANUARY Avg
Temperature (F)
JULY Avg Temperature
(F)
NEW YORK Results: (Write at least two sentences that tell about the relationship you see between
temperature and elevation in New York State)
 Close the Elevation Profile window now
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Part B: California
8) Find the California Study Area Data file in the file list shown in
Google Earth on the left of the map and expand to show all of its
sub folders. DOUBLE CLICK on the laye’s title to “Fly” to
California.
9) Turn ON the CA Weather Stations, Study Area Boundary, and
Terrain Path though the Weather Stations layers by clicking their
boxes on. This will show the weather stations we are using that
have been recording long term temperature data.
10) Turn ON the January Average Temperature layer and expand it to
show its sub layers. A light orange to darker orange layer should
appear across the study area. Turn on the Legend to show the
temperature ranges of this layer.
11) Turn ON the July Average Temperature layer. A new darker orange to red layer should appear across
the study area. CLICK the + symbol to expand the list of layers and check the color code LEGEND.
12) Turn OFF the temperature LEGENDS in January and July to remove them from the map area.
13) Right Click on the Terrain Path though the Weather Stations layer in the table of contents. A new
menu will open. Choose the Show Elevation Profile feature (near the bottom of the menu). We will
now to look closely at the relationship between elevation across and average temperature.
14) Move your cursor to the lowest elevation along the path. CLICK in the upper part of the map close to
the lowest elevation location and near one of the weather stations. A pop-up window will appear that
contains elevation and temperature data. Record data below for three locations along the path.
REPEAT for middle and highest elevation areas along the terrain path near weather stations.
CA Terrain Path Data
Lowest elevation on
your transect line
Middle elevation on
your transect line
Highest elevation on
your transect line
Weather Station Name
Elevation value
(feet)
JANUARY Avg
Temperature (F)
JULY Avg Temperature
(F)
CALIFORNIA Results: (Write at least two sentences that tell about the relationship you see between
temperature and elevation in California)
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Questions:
1. a) What DATA did you work with?
b) What did the data look like? DESCRIBE!
c) Which data were most helpful to you in thinking about how temperatures are related to elevation?
Why?
2. Looking at your Part A data table, describe the relationship you found between elevation and temperature
in New York State.
3. Did your Part B data table for California give the same results as New York? Explain how it is similar and
how it is different.
4. The relationship between temperature and elevation is hardly ever perfect across all areas you might
choose to look at. What other variables (factors) might have an affect on the temperature and elevation
relationships that you observed.
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