Weather Data
Purpose: To use spreadsheets to collect and analyze weather data.
To do:
You will search the internet for weather statistics for four cities from around the U.S. Choose four cities from the four corners of the U.S.
You must enter high and low temperatures for each month. You also must enter precipitation statistics for each month. Enter this data into a NeoOffice spreadsheet. Use formulas to figure out totals, averages, and percentages. You will make three line charts.
Content requirements:
Part One:
- Choose four cities from around the U.S. Enter weather data accurately into a spreadsheet. You must have monthly HIGH, LOW, and PRECIP for each city entered into your spreadsheet.
- Calculate the AVERAGE yearly HIGH, LOW and PRECIP for each city.
- In another area of the spreadsheet, enter each city's high temp for each month. Do the same for the LOW and PRECIP.
- Create three LINE graphs of these results. Make sure you label the Y axis.
- Answer the following questions:
- Which city has the highest average temperature?
- Which city has the lowest average temperature?
- Which city has the LOWEST average precipitation?
- If you were going to take a vacation, which city would you choose? Why?
- If you were going to build a new golf course, which city would you choose? Why?
Use the following link to find weather statistics:
Part Two:
In another area of the spreadsheet, place the HIGH and LOW temps for each individual city next to each other. For example, in each area, you will have three columns: one for MONTH, one for HIGH, and one for LOW. Do this for each city.
Calculate the AVERAGE temperature for each month.
- Assume that the ideal temperature is 70 degrees.
- In the fourth column for each city, calculate the difference between the average and the ideal. (use a formula and then fill down)
- In the fifth column, use the abs(absolute) function to make all numbers positive.
- Finally, in order to maintain the ideal temperature inside, for every degree a city is away from the 70 degrees, it will cost them $7.26 to heat/cool their homes. (For example, if the January average for Holland is 32 degrees, that's a difference of 38 degrees. Multiply 38 X $7.26 and you will get the cost.)
- In the 6th column, calculate how much it will cost the homeowner each month to keep their home at the ideal temperature. Make sure you express this in CURRENCY.
- At the bottom of this column, total the YEARLY cost.
- Answer the following questions:
- Compare the heating/cooling cost from a northern city with a southern city. Which costs less?
- Which city has the highest cost?