I need to develop a program, but I am unable to condense my idea so I have "coughed it all up!" Sorry guys!


Eel River Investigation

1. Link to Eel River Stage Height and Precipitation Data
o Commonwealth of Massachusetts Riverways Program
o http://www.rifls.org/detail.asp?siteId=14

While studying changes in stream height of the Eel River, students will download data from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Riverways Program showing stage height data for the years 2003 – 2005. They will also download data from the National Climatic Data Center. They will massage this data using an Excel spreadsheet to show only the precipitation data for 2003, 2004. Students will then look for patterns and relationships between stage height and precipitation.

2. A simple set of instructions.
o Download the stage height and precipitation data.
o When you go to the website request “Chart Data” for 10/1/2003 – 10/1/2004
o Request precipitation
o This opens an Excel spreadsheet
o Highlight the October data
o Click on the Chart Wizard
o Choose the “Custom Types” tab
o Choose “Lines on 2 axes”
o Click “Next”
o Click “Next”
o Chart Title
o Stage Height vs. Precipitation 10/2003
o Category (X) axis
i. Dates
o Category (Y) axis
i. Stage Height (ft)
o Leave Second value (x) blank
o Second value (y)
i. Precipitation (in)
o Place chart “As a new sheet”
o Repeat for Nov. 2003
o Repeat for Dec. 2003
3. Students should then describe any patterns they see between the stage height and precipitation by month.
4. Students should then make a hypothesis about the relationship between stage height and precipitation.
5. Different groups of students should then analyze different months of data, and report their results back to the class.
6. Students should then revise their hypotheses.
7. Students then predict what the 2006 data will show.

I have attached the Excel spreadsheet described in my first post. Thank you, Sean, for the idea!

Hi Judy,

You have given us some more sources for collection of data on precepitation and streamflow. I think this is a neat way of discussing the variables that Nick had brought out in his Sudbury case. I have not yet downloaded your data and worked it in the excel spreadsheet but I plan to do it this weekend. I am going to extend it to Charles river too, if the data is available.

Jayanthi Rangan

Hi Judy,

I worked with your site and data and was very happy with the ease with which it worked. Here are my comments:

1. The data of October lists the dates till 10/9 and the next recorded date is 11/1. This gives you an opportunity to talk about incomplete data. I am sure you are thinking of bringing to their attention that even though the dates are missing,the data still is very meaningful.

2. You also mention the "national climatic data center" in your summary. Are you providing them with that web site address as well.

Thanks for giving us this data to work with and good luck with the lesson. It will work very well.

Jayanthi Rangan