Joe’s Pond Ice Out

https://isenseproject.org/projects/1665

Data derived from:

http://www.joespondvermont.com/iceout.php

Objective:  Introduce students to basic yearly changes in local weather and look for a trend over time.

Standard: Grade 8 MS-ESS1-1b: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun system to explain the cyclical pattern of seasons, which includes the Earth’s tilt and differential intensity of sunlight on different areas of Earth across the year.

Directions: Students will use the data on Joe’s Pond Ice Out website to record the data for the year and date that the ice goes out (melts enough for the sensor to drop into the water.) Students will need to calculate how many days from January 1st it took. (For example, January 13th is the 13th day of the year.) If needed, there are Julian calendars available for both regular/leap year at http://www.calendarlabs.com/julian-calendar.php

Guiding Questions:

1. Are the ice out dates consistent from year to year? How do you know?

2. Using Tools, add a line of best fit. On average, has it taken less time or more time for the ice to melt in the last 15 years?

3. Go to the summary page: What is the shortest amount of time it has taken for the ice to melt? Longest?

4. What would you guess for ice out for next year?