1. Do Now (10 min)
Write in the title: “Weather: Temperature” Write in the objective: “Objective: Explain four factors that affect temperature, and demonstrate an ability to measure temperature.” Write down in your own words a definition for weather. Write down in your own words a definition for climate.

2. What is New Orleans’ weather like today?
Current Conditions
Cloud Cover: _______________
Temperature: _______ °F (________°C)
Humidity: _______ %
Wind Speed: ____ _____ G ____ mph
Barometer: ________ in ( __________ mb)
Dewpoint: ________°F (_________°C)
Visibility: _________ mi

3. Factors that Affect Temperature
Factors that exert a strong influence on temperature include: latitude, heating of land and water, altitude, geographic position, cloud cover, and ocean currents.

4. Heating of Land and Water Latitude
Altitude
Geographic Position
Factors that Affect Temperature
Heating of Land and Water
Latitude
Cloud Cover
Ocean Currents

5. Latitude
The angle of the light hitting a part of the Earth affects the amount of solar energy absorbed by it.

6. Altitude
As altitude increases temperature decreases. The higher the altitude of a location, the cooler temperatures it will experience. Even cities which are relatively close to each other can experience dramatic temperature differences based on elevation.

7. Land and Water
The heating of the Earth’s surface controls the temperature of the air above it. Different land surfaces absorb different amounts of solar energy. Since land heats and cools more rapidly than water, temperature variations are greater over land than over water.

8. Geographic Position
Geographic settings can influence temperatures at a specific location.
Mountains can act as a barrier for temperature. Some cities may experience a continental influence, and some a marine influence. Cities with a marine influence will typically be warmer in the winters, and cooler in the summers.

9. Ocean Currents
A location where winds blow from the ocean onto the land experience different temperatures than winds blowing towards the ocean.

10. Cloud Cover
During day hours, clouds reflect solar radiation back to space. At night, clouds absorb radiation from the land and reradiate some of it back to the Earth, increasing nighttime temperatures. Therefore, clouds during the day will decrease temperature but will increase temperatures at night.

11. Output:
Using the information from today’ forecast to create a weather report.
A successful weather report will include….
All of the weather data you recorded above
At least two factors that impacted today’s weather
A forecast for tomorrow (you can make this up!)