Exploring Microclimates
012-10970 r1.04
Exploring Microclimates
Introduction
Journals and Snapshots
The Snapshot button is used to capture the
screen.
The Journal is where snapshots are stored
and viewed.
The Share button is used to export
or print your journal to turn in your
work.
Each page of this lab that
contains the symbol
should be inserted into your
journal. After completing a
lab page with the snapshot
symbol, tap
(in the
upper right hand corner) to
insert the page into your
journal.
Note: You may want to take a
snapshot of the first page of
this lab as a cover page for
your journal.
Exploring Microclimates
Lab Challenges
• Can you detect minor
variations in weather and
climate at your school?
• Can you identify things in the
environment that may cause
changes in weather and
microclimate?
Exploring Microclimates
Background
• Microclimates are small areas
that have a different climate
than the area around it.
• They may be warmer or
colder, wetter or drier, or
more or less prone to frost.
Exploring Microclimates
...Background
Microclimates can be created by a number of factors:
• bodies of water and amount of vegetation
-moisture
-shade
• buildings, paved surfaces, and urban areas
-retain heat and reflect sunlight
-buildings can affect wind and cause rain shadows
-downspouts and low lying areas where water can collect
Exploring
Microclimates
Self Check
Self Check
1. True or False?
Buildings can cause fluctuations in temperature
and humidity in localized areas.
This image is a reminder to
tap
to take a snapshot
of the page after you have
entered your response.
Exploring Microclimates
Safety
•
•
•
•
Follow all common lab safety procedures.
Do not go into restricted areas or near moving vehicles.
Do not touch or approach animals because they may bite.
Keep your voice quiet so you do not disturb other classrooms.
Exploring Microclimates
Materials and Equipment
Collect all of these materials before beginning the lab.
• Fast Response Temperature Probe
Note: Many variables can be reported in weather forecasts
(temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.). Only temperature will
be investigated in this activity.
Exploring Microclimates
Sequencing Challenge
A. Choose the
locations you are
going to measure.
B. Set up your
equipment.
C. Obtain your
current local
weather conditions.
D. Take
measurements at
various locations.
The steps to the left are part
of the procedure for this lab
activity. They are not in the
right order. Determine the
correct sequence of the
steps, then take a snapshot
of this page.
Exploring Microclimates
Setup
1. Obtain your current local weather conditions from
your teacher.
2. Choose several locations around the campus that
may display different microclimates. Suggestions
include:
- Shaded/sunny grass area
- Shaded/sunny concrete area
- North, south east and west sides of buildings
- Areas that are very dry or very moist
- Areas with a lot of vegetation
Q1: Record your current local
weather conditions in the
box below and then take
a snapshot of this page.
Exploring
Microclimates
Collect Data
Collect Data
1. Connect your fast response temperature probe to
your SPARK.
2. Go to your first location.
3. Place the end of the temperature probe near an
area of interest.
Note: The sensing element is at the end of the probe. Keep
your hands away from the tip so you do not measure your
body temperature.
4. Begin your data set collection
to the next page.
and move forward
Q2: Will the temperature vary
much from the average
local temperature reported
in the news at the various
locations on your campus?
Exploring Microclimates
5. Enter the location and
physical description of the
location into the table.*
6. Keep the data point at the
first location.
Continue to the next page.
*To Enter Data into a Table:
1. Tap
to open the Data
Table toolbar.
2. Tap
then tap a cell in the
data table to highlight it in
yellow.
3. Tap
to activate the text
editor.
Exploring Microclimates
7. Go to the next location,
enter the information into
the table* and keep the data
point.
8. After all locations, stop
your data run.
*To Enter Data into a Table:
1. Tap
to open the Data
Table toolbar.
2. Tap
then tap a cell in the
data table to highlight it in
yellow.
3. Tap
to activate the text
editor.
Exploring Microclimates
Analysis
1. What happened to the temperature at each location?
Exploring Microclimates
Analysis
2. Compare your predictions with your results. Were your predictions accurate,
or did your results show something other than what you expected? Explain
any differences.
Exploring Microclimates
Synthesis
1. If your temperature data showed a change from location to location, what
environmental factors do you think influenced these changes?
Exploring Microclimates
Synthesis
2. What physical structures in your school yard, identified in your locations,
might influence the data changes that you observed?
Exploring Microclimates
Synthesis
3. What effect do plants have on the microclimate?
Exploring Microclimates
Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following do not affect
microclimates?
a) sunlight
b) wind
c) animals
d) plants
Exploring Microclimates
Multiple Choice
2. All of the weather conditions that prevail in a
particular region are called:
a) weather
b) climate
c) microclimate
d) abiotic factors
Exploring Microclimates
Multiple Choice
3. In what way can buildings affect a microclimate?
a) increase temperature
b) decrease temperature
c) act as a rain shadow
d) all of the above
Exploring Microclimates
Multiple Choice
4. Which of the following is NOT one of the three
main constituents of weather?
a) temperature
b) humidity
c) air pressure
d) altitude
Exploring Microclimates
Congratulations!
You have completed the lab.
Please remember to follow your teacher's instructions for cleaning-up and submitting
your lab.
Exploring Microclimates
References
Images are taken from PASCO documentation, public domain clip art, or Wikimedia Foundation Commons.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Electricity_substation_danger.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:100_0293edit.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Massasauga_rattlesnake.jpg
http://www.openstockphotography.org/image-licensing/chicago/Chicago_river_night.jpg BY BRETT GUSTAFSON
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lassen_meadow_caldera.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KCMOSkyline.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Blue_Marble.jpg