It's Our Air - 2-2 Model to Predict Ground-Level Ozone
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
What are some of the important factors that contribute to a high-ozone day?
How can we predict which days will have high concentrations of ozone pollution
How can data be used to examine and solve real-world problems?
TIME NEEDED: This activity will take close to 90 minutes for AP classes and honors earth science classes. Academic earth science classes may need more time (see Teacher Tips for ways of modifying the activity).
MATERIALS:
Excel files containing ozone data (included)
Graph templates (included)
Calculators
Worksheets (included)
Computer lab (optional)
Video 2-3: Forecasting Air Quality (optional)
TOPICS: air pollution (North Carolina), air quality forecasting, Air Quality Index, forecast models, ozone (ground-level)
TYPES: critical thinking, data analysis, graphing, graph analysis
NC ESSENTIAL STANDARDS for Earth/Environmental Science:
EEn.2.5 Understand the structure of and processes within our atmosphere.
EEn.2.5.5 Explain how human activities affect air quality.
If you are only doing this activity, and not the others in Module 2, you may want to show the 2-3 Forecasting Air Quality Video to your students after they do this activity.
MAKING A SIMPLE PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR GROUND-LEVEL OZONE ACTIVITY
In this activity, students will use ozone and weather data to explore the relationship between ground-level ozone pollution and (1) maximum daily temperature, (2) average daily solar radiation, (3) average daily wind speed, and (4) daily precipitation. Students will make a simple predictive model based on the data. This activity will give students a window into the world of forecasting and a chance to engage in data analysis with real-world examples. Some previous knowledge of meteorology is recommended.
MAKING A SIMPLE PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR GROUND-LEVEL OZONE - TEACHER TO TEACHER TIPS
The quick video below has tips for doing this activity from Mark Townley, an award-winning, North Carolina high school teacher. Mark helped develop It’s Our Air and has used each of these activities with his students.
OTHER MODULE 2 (PREDICTING AIR POLLUTION) ACTIVITIES AND VIDEO
2-1 What's an Air Quality Index
2-2 Making a Simple Predictive Model for Ground-Level Ozone (this activity)