Climate station data
Learning objective: As a result of completing this assignment, you will be able to find, download, display, and interpret publicly available climate data. Note: the results of this assignment will be inserted in the Tree-Ring project report.
The purpose of the assignment is to understand and characterize the climate experienced by people living at the La Botica site.
Assignment directions:
1. Find the climate station nearest the La Botica archaeological site. See Canvas, Files, La Botica Site Location, document. The station should be in a climatically similar location and have at least 30 years of historical climate data. There are many sources of climate station data -- use whatever you like. I use the Western Regional Climate Center, Historical Climate Information site: https://wrcc.dri.edu/CLIMATEDATA.html
2. Identify Monthly Average Total Precipitation (inches) for the period of record of the station. Create a figure with precipitation in inches on the y axis and months on the x axis. Label all axes.
3. Identify the Monthly Average Maximum Temperature and the Monthly Average Minimum Temperature for the period of record of the station. Create one figure with temperature min/max in F on the y axis and months on the x axis. Label all axes.
4. Include a map showing where the climate station data is from and the location of the La Botica site.
5. Describe in a paragraph how the precipitation data informs your understanding of resource productivity at the La Botica site. The Van West and Dean article will help you think through this.
6. Describe in a paragraph how the temperature data informs your understanding of resource productivity at the La Botica site. The Van West and Dean article will help you think through this.
7. Using the International Tree-Ring Data Bank (ITRDB) https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/paleoclimatology-data/datasets/tree-ring to identify the tree ring station closest to the La Botica site and most climatically similar. Defend your selection.
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Present your results in the form of a coherent narrative, of the type you could share with your roommate and they would understand what you did and what you found. Since spaced, a couple of pages, is fine.
The report should be well referenced and you will need a references cited section at the end. See citing your sources here (click).
You may help each other with the project but please complete it individually. Bring a copy of your report to class on Friday for circulation and comment.
The purpose of the assignment is to understand and characterize the climate experienced by people living at the La Botica site.
Assignment directions:
1. Find the climate station nearest the La Botica archaeological site. See Canvas, Files, La Botica Site Location, document. The station should be in a climatically similar location and have at least 30 years of historical climate data. There are many sources of climate station data -- use whatever you like. I use the Western Regional Climate Center, Historical Climate Information site: https://wrcc.dri.edu/CLIMATEDATA.html
2. Identify Monthly Average Total Precipitation (inches) for the period of record of the station. Create a figure with precipitation in inches on the y axis and months on the x axis. Label all axes.
3. Identify the Monthly Average Maximum Temperature and the Monthly Average Minimum Temperature for the period of record of the station. Create one figure with temperature min/max in F on the y axis and months on the x axis. Label all axes.
4. Include a map showing where the climate station data is from and the location of the La Botica site.
5. Describe in a paragraph how the precipitation data informs your understanding of resource productivity at the La Botica site. The Van West and Dean article will help you think through this.
6. Describe in a paragraph how the temperature data informs your understanding of resource productivity at the La Botica site. The Van West and Dean article will help you think through this.
7. Using the International Tree-Ring Data Bank (ITRDB) https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/paleoclimatology-data/datasets/tree-ring to identify the tree ring station closest to the La Botica site and most climatically similar. Defend your selection.
**********
Present your results in the form of a coherent narrative, of the type you could share with your roommate and they would understand what you did and what you found. Since spaced, a couple of pages, is fine.
The report should be well referenced and you will need a references cited section at the end. See citing your sources here (click).
You may help each other with the project but please complete it individually. Bring a copy of your report to class on Friday for circulation and comment.