Linear Regression: The Breathing Hekla Volcano
This activity is part of the Teaching Computation in the Sciences Using MATLAB Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection.
HideSummary
This MATLAB computing lab assignment introduces students to linear regression using real geodetic data depicting the inflation and deflation of the Hekla Volcano in Iceland over two decades. Students use linear regression to estimate the line of sight displacement rate and corresponding 95% confidence bands.
CollapseLearning Goals
Students will learn how to load data into MATLAB, how to manipulate and plot it. Critical thinking includes interpretation of a evaluating a good fit vs. bad with the combine use of Pearson's coefficient and confidence bands. Assignment will require students to write a script to perform the analysis.
Context for Use
This is a computing lab assignment that requires the use of MATLAB and background knowledge of linear regression, including Pearson's coefficient and 95% confidence bands. In addition to the theory, students should have basic knowledge of MATLAB that includes scripting, plotting, and manipulation of data. The 95% confidence band requires the Statistics Toolbox to compute the critical two-tailed 95% confidence t-distribution value. However, this could be substituted with tables.
Description and Teaching Materials
Computing Lab: Linear Regression (Acrobat (PDF) 302kB Oct3 17)
Computing Lab: Linear Regression Data (Text File 1kB Oct3 17)