Soil Moisture Versus Temperature

Goals/Outcomes

1. Use information at the identified website to explore possible connections between soil moisture and temperature.
2. Write a lab report that identifies the pertinent question and contains data and conclusions found at the website that answer the question.

Teacher Preparation

Visit the website to identify which items will be of the most use to the students.

Activities

1. Preliminary discussion
• What relationship between soil moisture and temperature would you expect to find?
• What sort of data will support your prediction?
2. Go to
   
   http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/scan/
   
   Look under “TK Formatted Historical Files for this site (FTP Server)” option. Use the 2005 record.
3. Write and submit at the next class meeting a short (no more than 2 pages) lab report to answer this question? Your report should contain the following four sections:
• Introduction – a paragraph or two reviewing the background on the drought; where, when, cause as stated in the article
• Statement of Issue – the question
• Data Source – describe the data you used to answer the question
• Results and Conclusions – include your answer with data (plots) supporting your answer
4. Alternative
• Go to the website
  
  http://space.hsv.usra.edu/TRESTE/papers/06workshop_drought_files/
  drought_case_study.ppt


• Display the graphs on slides 23-27.
• Ask students questions about what the graphs show and what conclusions can be drawn from the graphs.

Assessment

1. Written report including the items listed under #3
2. Revisit the problem sheets to make additions, corrections, deletions.

Information To Look For In The Report

1. Relationship between precipitation and soil moisture – rains soil moisture increases
2. Compare 2” versus 4” moisture – 2” dries out more
3. Compare of 2” versus 4” temperature – 2” warmer (more energy, conduction slow process)
4. Relationship between moisture and temperature – trend lines of surface temperature increasing as soil dries
• Linear fit not probably best for temperature, why not?
5. Relationship between moisture and temperature – trend lines of surface temperature increasing until mid July
6. Not so sure of relationship with soil moisture
7. Relationship between moisture and temperature – trend lines of surface temperature increasing as soil dries