Analysing weather data

WOW resource
Science/Maths/ICT

Overview
This mini project aims to develop students’ scientific skills in collecting, displaying and analysing
data. It is designed for students who have access to the internet and those who have some
previous experience using spreadsheet software like Excel. It can be adapted for students without
computer access but teachers will need to supply their students with the data required.
It is more suited for KS4 pupils but a high ability KS3 class could probably cope with its content.
It focuses on using the Weather Observations Website (WOW) website to gather information on
past weather measurements taken from various observation sites. This data is then analysed to
look for outliers, produce averages and graphs for interpretation.
This resource also aims to teach pupils knowledge on how aspects of the weather can change over
time (over 24 hours, or over a year) and some simple reasons for this.
Cross curricula links can be made with maths for the data analysis and IT for using spreadsheets
and producing graphs on computers.

Objectives
 To develop essential scientific skills such as researching meteorological websites, recording
data clearly, simple analysis and processing of data.
 To gain experience of handling large amounts of data and presenting it clearly and
appropriately.
 To think about and be able to identify outliers in data, how to deal with outliers so they do not
skew average results and to think of possible explanations for them.
 To build on the use of graphs to display information, focussing on how to use range bars on
scatter graphs and assessing the reliability of the data based on the size of the range bars.

Introduction
Note: it is advised that teachers spend some time familiarising themselves with the WOW website
before starting this project with pupils. (http://wow.metoffice.gov.uk/)
Explain to students that they are going to collect and record data on the weather from a location in
the UK using the WOW website; they will do this for a period of time that they (or you as the
teacher) can decide upon. Once they have collected the data they will then analyse it using
statistical techniques (such as calculating averages and ranges), and produce graphs to display
their data.
It is advised that pupils focus on temperature changes in their study but other aspects of the
weather, such as wind speed or air pressure, can be used if preferred.
Ask students to choose a location in the UK to work on, some students will want to choose
particular cities/areas because of their favourite football teams or TV programme. Your students will
need to decide the time period over which they will collect their data, here are some suggestions:
 Every hour over a 24 hour period
 Every day for a month*
 Every month for a year*
*If students decide on one of the last two options, it is important that they always collect
the data at the same time of day e.g. at 12pm every day. To make things easier, ask
students to collect data at 12pm on the first day of each month.
Discuss with your class why this is important, emphasising that this makes it a fair test.
Analysing weather data
WOW resource
Science/Maths/ICT

Highlight that in an investigation only one variable should be changed to ensure

valid results, and other variables must be controlled.
In this case the only variable changed should be the date. Changing the date and the
time of day would be changing two variables, making the results less valid and harder to
compare.
Students will need to be able to record their data in their exercise books or directly into a
spreadsheet. Make sure that pupils get this information recorded clearly in tables as this
will help them later on.
Using the WOW website, ask students to record data from at least six different
observation sites all close to the location they have chosen. See below for more detail on
how to do this.

Extracting weather data

1. Open the WOW website and zoom in on the chosen location e.g. Manchester.
2. Pick at least six different observation sites close to the location chosen.

Changing the date

3. Slide the time slider to the left to enter a specific date.

4. Select the required date or month.

5. Enter the desired time of day and press update.
6. Record the updated observations.
7. Repeat the process from step 3 until all the data has been collected.
Analysing weather data
WOW resource
Science/Maths/ICT

Analysing data
Once students have collected their data, they can calculate an average value using the
measurements from the different observation sites for each date.
Date Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Av.
and
Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp
Time
(°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)
st
Jan 1
3 3 2 1 3 3 2.5
12pm
st
Feb 1
2 2 2 0 2 2
12pm
st
Mar 1
5 5 5 0 5 4
12pm

Graph skills
Students can plot their data to produce scatter graphs, plotting average temperature on
the y-axis and date on the x-axis. This is a great opportunity for students to draw their
graphs on graph paper. Teachers will need to assess the ability of their students as this
might be tricky for some students. It is also an excellent opportunity for students to use IT
to draw graphs using computer software like Excel.

Extension tasks
Plotting other people’s data
Students can share their data with each other and plot their friend’s data (taken from a
different location) on their own graph. This enables them to compare two different
locations in the UK and works particularly well if the two locations are quite a distance
apart.
Note: when sharing data make sure observations are from the same date and time to
make sure it is a fair test.

Outliers
Outliers are results which do not fit in with the trend of a set of measurements. Outliers
can skew average calculations making them inaccurate.
Ask students to check their data and highlight any outliers. Explain why any outlier
identified should not be used in the average calculation as it makes their results
inaccurate. Below are some examples of how outliers can change results.
Analysing weather data
WOW resource
Science/Maths/ICT

An average of 10 is calculated when the outlier is included.

Date Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7 Av.
and
Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp
Time
(°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)
1 Mar
8 8 8 9 16 8 8 10
12pm

An average of 8 is calculated when the outlier is removed.

Date Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Site 4 Site 5 Site 6 Site 7 Av.
and
Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp Temp
Time
(°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)
1 Mar
8 8 8 9 16 8 8 8
12pm

Explaining outliers
Usually it is difficult to find an explanation for outliers; it can be down to many factors such
as human error, faulty equipment or poor quality/inaccurate equipment. Outliers with
weather observations can sometimes be explained by the equipment being placed in
locations which are not ideal, for example sheltered or shaded spots.
Explaining outliers can make a good starting point for a discussion with students.
The WOW website enables pupils to find out information on individual observation sites.
This can sometimes explain any outliers. This information can be included in pupils’ work
to justify/explain outliers. See below to see how this can be done.

1. Click on the square to get the observation site data.

Analysing weather data
WOW resource
Science/Maths/ICT

2. Click on site details.

3. Explanation for outliers can sometimes be found.

Range bars
Range bars are a way to graphically represent the range of measurements at each data
point.
Having already plotted the averages on their graphs students can plot the highest and
lowest value they recorded for each date. A line can then be drawn connecting the
highest and lowest values for each date, running through the average.
Students can add range bars to their graphs and discuss their implications as an
extension task. Large range bars decrease confidence in the reliability of data and small
range bars increase confidence.