Background

Earth’s atmosphere, the great layer of gases that surrounds our planet, causes various phenomena that directly interfere with our lives, including the climate. A region's climate is determined by the set of climate conditions determined by the average values and variations in temperature, moisture, pressure, winds, and precipitation. These factors are affected by geographical characteristics such as latitude, elevation, ocean proximity, distance from the ocean, vegetation, and relief.

On a larger scale, a particular region's climate affects diverse socioeconomic and cultural aspects, ranging from agricultural production, typical clothes, and the region’s very architecture. Hence the importance of understanding the factors that affect the Earth's various climates. Imagine how critical it is for a farmer to know when and where to plant a certain product or, for preventing natural catastrophes, how critical is the accurate forecast of extreme climate events.

Climate factors have intricate relationships among them and this complex web of interactions is what makes meteorology and climatology such compelling sciences. In our project, we will delve into understanding this relationship by studying and mapping various climate factors and by observing how they can affect one another. Such understanding, besides expanding our comprehension of the natural world, allows us to have a better informed view on climate change, such a present and urgent topic in our times.

Contextualizing this topic is a constant task, after all, the climate interferes in our routines daily. Simple activities, such as deciding what clothes to wear on a particular day or planning an outdoor trip, to complex ones like defining the best location for a new plant or evaluating the impact of a new wind farm on energy production are, in some way, related to climate.

To deepen the subject matter, you may use the General and Brazil Geography bibliography of João Carlos Moreira and Eustáquio de Sene and IBGE’s National Atlas of Brazil. As far as digital sources, SIMEPAR (Paraná Meteorology System) website possesses a great interactive collection and the Climate Tempo website always features current reports on the subject matter.

Hands-on activity: "Modeling the Climate"

Project Goal

Understand the main factors that influence climate and how they interact by building a three-dimensional model and a climate map.

Detailed Description of Project

The students are to be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people.  Each group will be responsible for choosing a continent and studying its main climate drivers:  latitude, altitude, maritime influence, continental influence, vegetation and relief. They must then construct a three-dimensional model of such continent in a shoe box including all studied climate drivers. Lastly, they are to create a climate map of their chosen continent.

Required Materials

1. Shoebox
2. Model clay
3. Paint and paint brushes
4. Cardboard
5. Physical and political maps of the chosen continent
6. Color pencils
7. Markers
8. Glue
9. Scissors

Detailed Step by Step

1. Research the main climate drivers of your chosen continent.
2. Build a three-dimensional model of the continent in a shoebox using modeling clay. Indicate mountainous areas (elevation), coastal areas (maritime influence), inland areas (continental influence) and such.
3. Paint and decorate the model according to the studied factors, for instance, use different colors to represent different vegetative areas.
4. Craft a climate map on cardboard indicating different climate zones of the continent.
5. Create a map legend explaining what each color represents.
6. Present the model and the map to the class explaining the climate factors and how they interplay.

By project end, the students must hand in:

1. The three-dimensional model

2. The climate map

3. An essay which must include:

   • Introduction: Contextualization of your chosen continent, the importance of the climate factors studied and the project intent in addition to the methodology adopted.
   • Development: A detailed discourse on the climate factors of the continent, how they were represented in the model and the map and how they interact. It must also include the challenges faced in the project and how they were overcome.
   • Conclusions: A reflection on what was learned during the project, on the significance of understanding the climate factors and their potential uses. Additionally, the students must express their own assessment of the project and how it affected their general comprehension on climate. - Sources consulted: References of all information sources used during the project execution.

The report must be written clearly and orderly with a strong link between the practical and theoretical parts of the project. In addition , the students must demonstrate a broad grasp of the concepts covered throughout the project and how they apply to real life.