A classroom/laboratory activity to learn about linear slope, trends, confidence intervals, and Student’s t-distribution by calculating trends and uncertainties using hurricane data records over 40 years.
Using hurricane-related data for the Atlantic Ocean, students will plot graphs and determine trends by calculating linear slope. They will also calculate confidence intervals and trend values by using Student’s t-distribution.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- Calculate the trend and determine the confidence interval for the frequency of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean (from past records).
- Calculate the trend and evaluate the uncertainty for the intensity of hurricanes (from given data).
- What are the possible effects of climate change on the intensity and number of tropical cyclones/hurricanes?
About the Tool
Tool Name | Is There a Trend in Hurricane Intensity? |
Discipline | Statistics |
Topic(s) in Discipline | Linear Slope; Trend Lines; Confidence Intervals; Standard Deviation; Students t-distribution |
Climate Topic | Disasters and Hazards; Climate and the Atmosphere; Climate and the Hydrosphere |
Type of Tool | Laboratory Activity |
Grade Level | Undergraduate |
Location | Global |
Language | English |
Translation | |
Developed by | Todd Ellis, SUNY College at Oneonta |
Hosted at | Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College |
Link | https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hurricanes/activities/28276.html |
Access | Online/Offine |
Computer Skills | Basic |