Objective:

The objective of today's field exercise is to explore how temperature changes in the vertical.  We are also interested in becoming more familiar with the three temperature scales that earth scientists typically work with.
 
 

Background:

As you walk over the ground on a typical sunny, summer afternoon, you have probably noticed (observation) that the ground is warmer than the air above. Perhaps you have wondered (question) how this phenomenon affects the temperature of the overlying air.

* (We'll work in pairs)
 

Tasks:

• Derive a hypothesis that addresses the above question.


Hypothesis: We hypothesize that the temperature will decrease with height above the surface.
 

• Design a series of careful observations to test your hypothesis.


Design: We will measure the temperature of the air above the ground at the following heights: .5m, 1m, 1.5m, and 2m.  We will make these measurements at three locations, however, each will location will have similar surface cover.

• Make your observations and record them in a table (see the below table as an example).

• Analyze and summarize your data using statistics and graphs.

• Calculate the average temperature at a given height for each location

• Plot a graph of average temperature versus height (y-axis is height; x-axis is temperature)
• Draw conclusions from your data (do your observations support your hypothesis?)

• Convert your average temperature at each height to both Celsius and Kelvin

For three different (but similar in surface cover) locations (all out in the open) measure the ambient air temperature at four levels: .5m, 1m, 1.5m, 2m. Make certain to give your thermometer sufficient time to adjust to the new temperature at each level.
 

Observations