1) An El-Nino occurred during the years of 1982-1983 and 1991-1992;
a La-Nina occurred during 1988-1989. Based upon the information in
the tables, what happens to the average daily temperatures in the cities
of Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and New Orleans during these times?
2) Find the (approximate) average daily temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit)
for the three cities between the given months:
| - |
|
|
|
| Winter 1982-83 (Nov.-Mar.) | _ | _ | _ |
| Winter 1988-89 (Nov.-Mar.) | _ | _ | _ |
| Winter 1991-92 (Nov.-Mar.) | _ | _ | _ |
3) Find the normal average daily temperature for each of the three cities
during the months of November through March.
| Minneapolis: | Los Angeles: | New Orleans: |
4) Based on the above information, how
does an El-Nino and/or a La-Nina affect average daily temperatures during
these months in the three cities?
5) Find the (approximate) average daily
temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) for the three cities between the given
months:
| - |
|
|
|
| Summer 1983 (June-Sept.) | _ | _ | _ |
| Summer 1988 (June-Sept.) | _ | _ | _ |
| Summer 1992 (June-Sept.) | _ | _ | _ |
6) Find the normal average daily temperature for each of the three cities
during the months May through September.
| Minneapolis: | Los Angeles: | New Orleans: |
7) Based on the above information, how
does an El-Nino and/or a La-Nina affect average daily temperatures during
these months in the three cities?
Extension Exercises:
1) On a separate sheet of paper (or on the computer), create a line graph. The horizontal axis of the graph should represent the months of the year, the vertical axis should represent the average daily temperature in degrees Fahrenheit. Choose one city: either Minneapolis, Los Angeles, or New Orleans. Graph either the average daily temperature amounts for each month in problem #2 (November through March) or #5 (May through September). Also graph the normal average daily temperatures for each month. There should be four lines on each graph.
2) Check to see how the average daily temperatures in each of these cities fared during another El-Nino or La-Nina. Your teacher has the web site addresses for the years of other El-Nino and La-Nina occurrences. See if your answers to problems #4 and #7 hold true during other El-Nino and/or La-Nina occurrences.
3) Check to see how the average daily temperatures in other cities fared during an El-Nino or a La-Nina. The links on the bottom of the Monthly Temperature and Precipitation Totals page contains this information for several weather stations across the United States.