Driving Question: How does precipitation vary with elevation?

Introduction

This lesson will use the same tools in Google Earth and many of the same methods to now explore the relationship between precipitation and elevation. Again, your challenge is to see if you examine data in New York and California that help you discover the important relationship between precipitation and elevation.

Pre Lab Question #1
What do YOU think is the relationship between the elevation of a location and the amount of precipitation it gets?

Part A: New York

  1. Google Earth should be open with Western New York Study Area file ready. If not, your teacher will help you open the files needed for this activity.
  2. Turn on the Recent Average Annual Precipitation Totals layer.
  1. Right click on theTerrain Path through the Weather Stationslayer in the table of contents to pop open a menu. Choose the Show Elevation Profile feature to look closely at the relationship between changes in the elevation of the land across terrain path and the changes in precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc) shown in the data.
    OBSERVE the changes in elevation along the path shown in the window at the bottom of the map. Move your arrow (cursor) along the elevation profile window and see the large arrow showing the exact location on the path in the upper portion of the map.
    Take note of the range in elevations across this path.
    Lowest elevation = ______feet Highest – lowest = Elevation difference
    Highest elevation = ______feet Elevation difference = ______feet

NY Terrain Path Data / Lowest elevation on your transect line / Middle elevation on your transect line / Highest elevation on your transect line
Weather Station Name
Elevation value
(feet)
Annual Precipitation (inches)
Annual Snow (inches)
  1. Move your cursor to the lowest elevation along the path. CLICK in the upper part of the map close to the lowest elevation location and near one of the weather stations. A pop-up window will appear that contains elevation and precipitation data (AnnPrecip and AnnSnow).
    Record data belowfor three locations along the path.
    REPEAT for middle and highest elevation areas along the terrain path near weather stations.
    NEW YORK Results: (Write at least two sentences that tell about the relationship you see between precipitation and elevation in New YorkState)
    Part B: California
  1. Close the Elevation Profile window.
  2. Expand the California Study Area Data file to show its sub layers.
  3. Turn on the Recent Average Annual Precipitation Totals layer.
  1. Right click on the Terrain Path through the Weather Stations layer in the table of contents to pop open a menu. Choose the Show Elevation Profile feature to look closely at the relationship between changes in the elevation of the land across terrain path and the changes in precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc) shown in the data.
    OBSERVE the changes in elevation along the path shown in the window at the bottom of the map. Move your arrow (cursor) along the elevation profile window and see the large arrow showing the exact location on the path in the upper portion of the map.
    Take note of the range in elevations across this path.
    Lowest elevation = ______feet Highest – lowest = Elevation difference
    Highest elevation = ______feet Elevation difference = ______feet
  1. Move your cursor to the lowest elevation along the path. CLICK in the upper part of the map close to the lowest elevation location and near one of the weather stations. A pop-up window will appear that contains elevation and precipitation data (AnnPrecip and AnnSnow).
    Record data belowfor three locations along the path.
    REPEAT for middle and highest elevation areas along the terrain path near weather stations.

CA Terrain Path Data / Lowest elevation on your transect line / Middle elevation on your transect line / Highest elevation on your transect line
Weather Station Name
Elevation value
(feet)
Annual Precipitation (inches)
Annual Snow (inches)

CALIFORNIA Results: (Write at least two sentences that tell about the relationship you see between precipitation and elevation in California)
Use YOUR data tables to answer the following questions:

1. Which data were most helpful to you in thinking about how precipitation is related to elevation?

2. How do the mountains affect the precipitation amounts and types in the California Study Area?
3. List at least two other variables (geographic, climatic, etc.) that you think are affecting the relationship between elevation and precipitation? For each variable, include WHY you think they affect the relationship.

Variable 1: ______How does this variable affect the relationship?

Variable 2: ______How does this variable affect the relationship?

Page 1