Quick questions, big ideas
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Questions
What’s the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is what the air is doing right now: today’s rain, wind or warmth. Climate is the pattern over many years. One hot afternoon is weather; years of temperatures tell us about climate.
Why measure weather in your own neighborhood?
Trees, buildings, pavement and nearby water can change conditions from one block to the next. Measuring the same way, at the same times, lets you compare places and ask good questions.
How do I start a weather journal?
Pick a safe spot, write down the date, time, clouds and any numbers you can measure, and add one question. After two weeks, look for patterns. See the steps.
How do I read the “Pick a day” calendar?
Each square is one day. Its color shows the day’s high temperature, from blue (cold) to orange (hot). A drop means rain, a little book means a journal page, and striped squares mean the station didn’t record enough that day.
What do high, low and average mean?
The high is the warmest reading of the day and the low is the coldest. The average is all of the day’s readings added up and divided by how many there were.