n Find stream records for last fall's flooding.  Follow the instructions that appear here.
 

• Compare the stream hydrographs for the gaging stations along the Chicago River North Branch              OR        Compare the stream hydrographs for the gaging stations along the Des Plaines River.          • Compare the drainage areas of the various gaging stations.  What does this tell you about their "downstream order"?         • Compare the gage datums (data!) of the various gaging stations.  What does this tell you about their "downstream order"?         • Calculate the elevation of the water surface for each gaging station:   Elevation of the water = Gage Height + Datum of Gage         • Find elevation of the water for the historical median, and also for the peak elevation during the flood.         • Look at the topographic maps for each gaging station.  For each one, using the data from your table of values, estimate how high the water rose during the flood.  (This part is the hardest, mainly because of the need for detail on the maps.)

WEATHER FORECASTING

Examine the weather maps we have been collecting, and based on what you see there, answer these questions.  Each person should create their own worksheet for this exercise, but the final question should be answered as a group. 
 

1) Locate the colored lines; they represent fronts.  Determine which kind of line represents a warm front and which kind represents a cold front. 2) Examine all the warm fronts over a period of a few days and note which side of the line the teeth are on.  For each one, compare the temperatures on either side of the front.  Which side do the teeth usually fall on--the warmer side, or the colder side?  Record your observations. 3) Examine cold fronts over a period of a few days and note which side of the line the teeth are on.  For each one, compare the temperatures on either side of the front.  Which side do the teeth usually fall on--the warmer side, or the colder side?  Record your observations. 4) Look at all the warm fronts over the whole period (Apr 1-23).  For each warm front, record the direction the teeth point (use N, S, E, W, NW, NE, etc.) 5) Look at all the cold fronts over the whole period (Apr 1-23).  For each cold front, record the direction the teeth point (use N, S, E, W, NW, NE, etc.) 6) Now focus on HIGHS and LOWS.  Using the USA map that appears at this link (for best printing, switch to landscape page format and print at 135% of the original size), record the positions of the highs and lows over a period of several days.  Show in what direction they move. 7) Look at the cold and warm fronts.  Record how many times you see a LOW connected to a warm or cold front (count each front separately), and record how many times you see a HIGH connected with a warm or cold front. 8) Find a series of 3-4 days of maps where you can "follow" the same LOW as it moves.  Pay special attention to the fronts associated with the low.  Describe their motion as the low moves (you may find it helpful to draw this on a map)..  Find another series of 3-4 days where you can follow a different low.  See if it follows the same pattern. 9) Look at the areas that show precipitation (snow or rain).  Record the number of times precipitation occurs in association with LOWS, and the number of times precipitation occurs in association with HIGHS. 10) Next step: In a group, come up with a series of "rules" or patterns that the weather seems to follow.  Consider warm fronts, cold fronts, highs, lows, precipitation, and temperatures.

HOMEWORK #9: Presentations on your "Rock Your State" area