Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Meteorologist for a day

A classroom/laboratory activity to calculate the mean daily temperature using hourly temperature data and to compare different statistical techniques for determining this value.

Students will use a given data set to calculate the mean daily temperature of a location, as determined by a meteorologist. They will also discuss weather events that might affect the value of the mean daily temperature.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. Given hourly temperatures over a 24-hour period for a particular location, calculate the mean daily temperature using different methods.
  2. Compare the results obtained from the different methods used (in 1.). Explain the reason for the similarity or difference in the calculated values of mean daily temperature.

About the Tool

Tool Name Meteorologist for a day
Discipline Statistics
Topic(s) in Discipline Mean, Median, Mode, Range, Inter-quartile Range
Climate Topic Climate Variability Record
Type of Tool Laboratory Activity
Grade Level High School
Location New Zealand
Language English
Translation
Developed by Lesley Mackintosh
Hosted at National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand
Link https://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/resources/climate/meteorologist
Access Online/Offline
Computer Skills Basic

meterology

(Image Credit: Meteorology and Air Quality Group – WUR, New Zealand)

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