Name________________________________________ Date_______________ Period_____

The Unofficial Student Activity for
Bob Ryan's 1997 Almanac & Guide for the Weatherwise

by Walter Sanford
Earth Science Teacher, Fairfax County Public Schools

By completing this activity, hopefully you will become more familiar with weather in general, and Washington, D.C. weather in particular. You will also learn a little about how the weather in Washington, D.C. compares with the weather in other parts of the United States and the world.
  1. What is the Internet address (also known as the Uniform Resource Locator or URL) for WeatherNet4?

  2. Define the following weather terms:

  3. Complete the "Weather Word Search" on page 9 of the almanac. (Teacher's note: You may want to provide students with a photocopy of the word search.)

  4. For the DAY THAT YOU WERE BORN (e.g., August 14th), record the following:

    Temperature & Precipitation - What's Average
    and What's Unusual?

  5. In the following data table, record the duration of insolation (number of hours of daylight) in Washington, D.C. for the 21st of each month. To calculate the number of hours of daylight, subtract the time of sunrise from the time of sunset (times should be expressed in 24-hour format). Construct a line graph.

    Data Table - Duration of Insolation

    Month | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC 
------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
# Hrs |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |

    Line Graph: Duration of Insolation & Average High Temperature
    Washington, D.C.

    H  16 --|
O      -|
U  15 --|
R      -|
S  14 --|                                               |-- 90  T
       -|                                               |-      E
D  13 --|                                               |-- 80  M
A      -|                                               |-      P
Y  12 --|                                               |-- 70  E
L      -|                                               |-      R
I  11 --|                                               |-- 60  A
G      -|                                               |-      T
H  10 --|                                               |-- 50  U
T      -|                                               |-      R
   09 --|-----------------------------------------------|-- 40  E
        | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
                          MONTHS OF YEAR

  6. In the data table below, record the average high temperature in Washington, D.C. for the 21st of each month. Construct a line graph (using the graph in Question #5).

    Data Table - Average High Temperature

    Month | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC
------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
Temp. |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |

  7. In Washington, D.C., on average, which month is the COLDEST? The HOTTEST?

  8. When/where/what was the lowest temperature ever recorded in the U.S.? (Hint: This record-setting temperature was observed during the average coldest month of the year in Washington, D.C.)

  9. What are the world's records for temperature extremes? 
    Highest__________ Location______________________________
    
Lowest___________ Location______________________________

  10. In Washington, D.C., on average, during which month does the MOST precipitation (average rain) fall?

  11. Calculate the average ANNUAL precipitation (rain) in Washington, D.C. by adding the monthly average rain amounts.

  12. Which U.S. city receives the LEAST average annual precipitation?

  13. Which U.S. city receives the MOST average annual precipitation?

    Washington Winters

  14. For each month listed in the data table below, record the average snowfall for Washington, D.C. Construct a bar graph. (Note: "Trace" equals less than .1 inch.)

    Data Table - Average Monthly Snowfall

    Month    | OCT | NOV | DEC | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR |
---------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|
Snowfall |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |

    Bar Graph: Average Snowfall - Washington, D.C.

       7"--|                                          
      -|                                          
S  6"--|                                          
N     -|                                          
O  5"--|                                          
W     -|                                          
   4"--|                                          
A     -|                                          
M  3"--|                                          
O     -|                                          
U  2"--|                                          
N     -|                                          
T  1"--|                                          
      -|                                          
   0"--|------------------------------------------
Months | OCT | NOV | DEC | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR |

  15. On average, during which month does the MOST snowfall typically occur in Washington, D.C.?

  16. List the name/date/snowfall amount for the GREATEST recorded snowstorm in Washington, D.C. (Hint: This event occurred in January.)

  17. To determine the average ANNUAL snowfall, add the monthly average snowfall amounts (from the data table in Question #14).

  18. At Dulles Airport (IAD) in suburban Washington, D.C., the Winter of 1996 was the snowiest ever recorded. What was the total annual snowfall? (Hint: This information is listed under "Strange Weather, Events, and Happenings" for March.)

  19. For the following U.S. cities, list the average ANNUAL snowfall:
    1. Buffalo, NY:
    2. Dallas, TX:
    3. Kansas City, MO:
    4. San Francisco, CA:

  20. If we assume that 1 inch of liquid precipitation equals approximately 10 inches of snow, then what percentage of the average annual precipitation in Washington, D.C. (refer to Question #11) falls as snow? [Hint: To solve this problem, the first step is to convert the average annual snowfall (refer to Question #17) to its liquid equivalent.]

    Washington Summers

  21. List AT LEAST THREE potentially harmful effects of overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

  22. On average, during which two months do we have the GREATEST number of thunderstorms in Washington, D.C.?

  23. What is the HOTTEST temperature ever recorded in Washington, D.C.? (Hint: This record-setting temperature occurred on 6 August, but is listed under "Strange Weather, Events, and Happenings" for 9 August.)

  24. List the five stages in the evolution of a hurricane.
    1. TROPICAL WAVE



  25. In 1997, what will be the FIRST named Atlantic hurricane?

  26. In 1998, what will be the LAST named Atlantic hurricane?

  27. Hurricane tracking using latitude and longitude:
    1. On 1 September 1996, Tropical Storm Fran was reclassified as a hurricane when average winds topped 75 mph. What was Fran's position (latitude and longitude)?

    2. What was the position of Hurricane Fran when it came ashore near Cape Fear?

  28. In a hurricane, what is the "STORM SURGE?"

    Global Climate Change

  29. Contrast the terms "weather" and "climate."

  30. Cite evidence for climate change:
    1. in Washington, D.C.

    2. globally

    Sky Awareness (including Astronomy)

  31. When is "Sky Awareness Week?" (Don't forget to mark your calendar!)

  32. The Sky is Falling!
    1. What is a meteor?

    2. What is the most famous of annual meteor showers? On which date does this shower peak?

    3. Why are you likely to see more meteors after midnight?

  33. For the MONTH IN WHICH YOU WERE BORN (e.g., August), list THREE astronomical phenomena that you may observe in the night sky in 1997.
    1. MONTH ____________________


  34. What is astronomically significant about June 21st, 1997 at 4:20 a.m.?

  35. What is "The Harvest Moon?" (You know, "Shine on, shine on Harvest Moon, up in the sky.")

  36. For the month of FEBRUARY, record the dates of the phases of the moon.

  37. Every year, Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Spring (or Vernal) Equinox.
    1. What date is the Spring Equinox?

    2. On what date is the NEXT Full Moon AFTER the Spring Equinox?

    3. What date is Easter Sunday? (If necessary, refer to a calendar.)

  38. If the distance around the Capital Beltway (I-495/95) is 66 miles, and the distance to the moon is approximately 240,000 miles, then how many times would you have to go around the beltway to "travel to" the moon?

  39. Most days, how many high tides occur? Approximately how many hours apart?

  40. Most days, how many low tides occur? Approximately how many hours apart?

  41. Approximately how many hours pass between one high tide and the next low tide?

  42. The greatest tidal range (difference between high and low tide) occurs during the New and Full Moon phases. For the month of May, on which dates will the tidal range be greatest?

  43. Assume that you would like to go fossil shark tooth collecting along the Potomac River near Colonial Beach, VA, and you know that the best time to go collecting is during low tide. Use the "Tide Correction Table" on page 2 of the almanac to find the best time to go collecting on 4 July 1997.

    Careers in the Atmospheric Sciences
    (including Women in Meteorology)

  44. In 1972, what percentage of professional atmospheric scientists were women (approximately 250 women out of 10,000 professionals)?

  45. To prepare to become an atmospheric scientist, what should you study in school?

Copyright (c) 1996 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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