so, how do i cite and reference appendix...

So, how do I cite and reference Appendix A? Appendix A was written by Chris Jackson and published on January 27, 2020 by the University of Northern British Columbia. Appendix A is part of the lab manual for ENSC 201. However, in 2020 we did not print and distribute the front pages of the lab manual, so students did not receive the following information about it. So, the lab manual:

• Title is: ENSC 201 Weather and Climate Laboratory Manual Winter 2020 • Is written by: Chris Jackson (Geography Program) & Peter Jackson (Environmental Science

Program) • Is published by: University of Northern British Columbia

The next pages have Appendix A

ENSC 201: Weather and Climate Winter 2020

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Appendix A WEATHER OBSERVATION & ANALYSIS PROJECT (Wx Proj)

A.1 OBJECTIVE:To experience using a case study research model to describe and explain Prince George’s weather during a specified, continuous four-day period. The project includes experience:

x observing and recording weather data using a variety of instruments and techniquesx converting your measurements into standard weather observations (data rationalization)x reasonably dealing with data problems to get a useable data set (data rationalization)x skillfully presenting, graphing, and analyzing data to interpret the weather patternx integrating your collected data with synoptic and local weather data in order to create

a concise, well written report that describes, interprets and explains the weather thatoccurred over the observation period.

METHOD: You will monitor Prince George’s weather for a specified 4-day period, and gather synoptic and local data from the variety of sources indicated below to create a case study. Monitoring will involve a combination of group and individual work. Once the data are compiled, each student must produce a concise, original, individually written*, evidence-based report using their data. Your report will interpret and explain the observed weather pattern that occurred over the specified 4 days in terms of the local and synoptic conditions. The observation period and due dates for each project component are given on the Course Schedule.

During the four-day weather observation period you are responsible for collecting the following types of data: Roof-top weather observations, personal weather diary, and information from specified local and synoptic electronic sources. All this information will be used to characterize and explain the weather that occurred. Here are the details:

1. Roof-top Data Collection: During each lab prior to the data collection period, you will learnhow to observe weather and use necessary meteorological equipment. The example datacollection sheet at the end of this appendix indicates the observations you will make, and asynopsis of the entire data collection process follows in Section A.2 Weather ObservationProcedures.Here is how the roof-top data collection works: Once per day, at an assigned hour (8 am,noon, or 4 pm), you and your data collection partner(s) will make a series of weatherobservations using assigned instruments from a particular Stevenson screen on the roof of theTeaching Lab Building. Your observation time and who you work with are determined inlabs several weeks before the observation period starts and are based on personal schedulingneeds /availability. Your team’s observations (in combination with those made by otherstudent teams who are observing roof-top weather at the other times each day) form yourcase study’s roof-top dataset.

* As should be expected, submitting a copied report (full or partial - even if from your own prior participation in this course) orother forms of plagiarism is academic misconduct that will result in an automatic failure and university sanctions.


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These quantitative, local weather measurements and observations are recorded on your team’s assigned data collection sheet which is always kept on the Teaching Lab roof (in the weather patio’s observation room). This means that you will have to use your own paper to record two roof-top observations that must be made on the 2nd floor of the Teaching lab and then transfer these values to the data collection sheet once you get to the roof. Once the observation period is over, your data collection sheet will be made available in three ways: On the course website; in the UNBC Library ENSC 201 course reserve shelf; and in your lab, the week after data collection.

2. Personal Weather Diary: To successfully complete the Wx Proj, you must pay attention tothe weather that occurred in Prince George throughout the observation period. This is done inthe form of a personal diary. Consequently, during the four-day data collection period, youmust record your own local qualitative weather and sky condition observations.Your diary will help you better observe and understand the weather pattern, and noteconditions when you are not making measurements at your roof-top Stevenson screen. Itindicates your impressions of the weather as it happens, and provides qualitative data thatcomplements the quantitative observations made on the roof. Having evening observationsmakes you notice weather changes that occur outside of our roof-top measurement times.Realize it is not an alternate set of measurements or best guesses at a senor’s measuredvalues. Each entry does not need to contain the same set of observations; however,over the course of the day, it should include multiple observations that indicate the:

x date /time and locationx dominant sky condition /weather condition /feature (main cloud type/visibility)x relative warmth or coldx precipitation (rain or snow and when they started or stopped if possible)x wind (strength, approximate direction) andx interpretive comments about the weather. This includes anything you found

interesting (fog, ground frost, lightning, etc.).So, make your diary observations when you can. Try to notice weather changes throughout the day and night. At minimum, you must have at least four observations per day, spread over day and night. Each entry must note the time and your location.

At the end of each day you must use your diary observations to summarize the day’s weather pattern in a sentence or two. At the end of the four days, you must write a summary paragraph representing the weather that occurred during the entire observation period.

Your original hand-written weather diary is marked and submitted right after the data collection period (see schedule). It will be incorporated into your report (in its original form) as your report’s Appendix 1 so plan how you will record this information in advance. It must be clear, easily readable, written on paper and possible to attach to your report.

3. Local and Synoptic Electronic Data: Synoptic (or large scale /regional) informationexplains why Prince George experienced the weather that occurred. You need this


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information to complete your report. Unfortunately, we never know what information is most useful until after the weather has occurred (i.e. our observation period is over). This is why weather case studies gather as much relevant local and synoptic weather data as possible while the weather is occurring. During lectures and labs you will learn how to collect, interpret, and use a wide range of local and synoptic weather information from publically available website resources. The following weather products are required sources of such information and each must be properly cited and referenced when you use them in your report:

a. UNBC Weather Station (UNBC Wx Stn) Graph: Located on top of the Research Labroof, the UNBC Wx Stn is directly across from your roof-top observation site, andprovides 24-hour tracking of similar or complementary weather observations. It, yourStevenson screen data, and your diary tell you the weather conditions that occurred.The UNBC Wx Stn graph complements but does not replace your roof-top weatherobservations. Collect one graph at the end of the observation period so that all 4days are on the same image; that way you can see the entire period at once. TheUNBC Wx Stn graph is available on the course website. Viewing this graph as theweather is happening can improve your understanding of the weather patterns as theyoccur.

b. Synoptic weather maps allow you to understand weather events and their evolution at alarger or regional scale. Synoptic maps provide information about the spatial extent ofweather systems. Using a sequence of them shows you the evolution of storms overtime. For this case study the Surface Analysis and 500 hPa Analysis maps are mostuseful. You are required to collect all four Surface maps and the one of the 500 hPamaps that are produced by Environment Canada each day.Find Environment Canada weather maps at: http://weather.gc.ca, select Analyses &Modelling; then under Analyses, select Surface Analysis. Select the Complete (NorthernHemispheric coverage) maps as they have been reviewed and analyzed bymeteorologists; they contain fronts and other useful weather analysis data.The 500 hPa maps are also found at the previous link. Go to Analyses & Modelling; thenunder Analyses select Upper Air Analyses. Use the Upper Air Analysis list to select 500hPa: Geopotential height, 1000-500 hPa thickness.You must collect all four Surface maps each day in order to follow the sequence ofchanges that occur over our time period. Your instructors will show you how toefficiently collect all these maps at just one time per day.

c. Satellite Images show the cloud patterns associated with storms. A sequence of 8infrared (IR) satellite images per day (one every 3 hours) is required; 4 of your 8images must match each of the daily Surface Analysis weather maps, the other 4images represent times that are in between weather map times. So, for a 24-hourday, each satellite image is 3 hours apart. This enables better interpretation ofsynoptic-scale storm evolution.Satellite images complement weather maps by showing the actual weather indicatedon the Surface Analysis and other maps. Because satellite images are produced at a

http://weather.gc.ca/


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much higher frequency than weather maps, they can “catch” weather details that are missed by maps when the weather changes quickly. Environment Canada posts satellite imagery at http://weather.gc.ca (specifically http://www.weather.gc.ca/satellite/index_e.html); use the GOES West links show our area. The USA’s National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Alaska satellite images are also great for showing synoptic weather in our area. See https://www.goes.noaa.gov/ak1.html

Electronic Data Collection: Key Tips Primary versus Secondary Sources of Website Information - using cirrus.unbc.ca:

In this course you will learn that weather information is repackaged and available for longer periods of time on the computer server that hosts your course materials (cirrus.unbc.ca -- see the Weather Viewer (WX Viewer) part of the site at http://weather.unbc.ca/wxv). To find NOAA data on cirrus, select SATELLITE and view the IR (infrared) links. The Goes-10 Alaska link (which provides a good view of the weather approaching northern BC) and the Goes-W W-Canada (which relays the Environment Canada IR satellite data) or Goes-W N-PAC links are useful.

When you use these satellite images from cirrus.unbc.ca realize that cirrus is a secondary source for this information and that this affects your referencing. Ask for help from the UNBC Academic Success Center https://www.unbc.ca/academic-success-centre if you are not sure how to reference and cite such material.

Collecting and organizing weather maps and satellite images: Times can be confusing. All weather products are identified by their times at 0 longitude which is located in Greenwich, (a suburb of London) England. So, look for times in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Zulu (Z) or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and convert them to local time. Generally, the providers of weather maps and images (Environment Canada, NOAA) overwrite their products as newer ones are produced. So, gather these products in “real time” once-a-day, at the same time each day. This is the most efficient way to collect your images. Save images in as high a resolution as possible so that later as you enlarge and crop parts of your images they are clear. Make sure to include type, date and time labels on your saved maps and satellite images so you know what each one is. Finally, as you save your weather materials, create a file naming system that easily organizes the collected electronic materials by date, time, and type. This makes finding useful material much easier later.

You will be busy during the data collection week: Practice finding, saving, and organizing your electronic weather resources from their original source and from cirrus.unbc.ca before the weather project data collection period starts. Part of the project evaluation is based on how well you select and use your local and synoptic data in your report.

Extra Resources: If you want to look for other relevant websites for your report, carefully evaluate the type and quality of information. Remember, forecasts are not useful for this report. The report is only about documenting and explaining what actually happened; it is not about weather predictions.

http://weather.gc.ca/

http://www.weather.gc.ca/satellite/index_e.html

https://www.goes.noaa.gov/ak1.html

http://weather.unbc.ca/wxv

https://www.unbc.ca/academic-success-centre

https://www.unbc.ca/academic-success-centre


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A.2 WEATHER OBSERVATION PROCEDURES:Observation techniques and procedures will be learned during labs that precede the observation period. A practice-run of the entire data collection process will occur before the data collection week. As indicated, students work in groups to collect weather measurements from an assigned Stevenson screen at a scheduled time; however everyone must write their own original, independent, individual case study report. During the 4-day data collection period, students will work in groups of three (or two). Each group will record their roof-top weather observations at one of these set times: 8 am, noon, and 4 pm (plus or minus 30 minutes). For consistency, you make your observations at the same time each day using the same set of instruments. Each pair/threesome is responsible for their time slot’s data collection. Group members are expected to work together when taking measurements. Exchange cell phone numbers and email addresses, and make prior contingency plans so you can compensate for each other if problems arise. There are significant mark deductions for groups/team members that miss assigned observations. To collect the complete 4-day data record (i.e. cover all the set times), three different pairs/threes will form a larger team of six to nine students. The Senior Lab Instructor (SLI) will organize data collection teams in the labs preceding the data collection period to create a feasible observation schedule. Priority is given to having all group members participate in all of their observation times. Once the schedule is finalized, copies are posted on the website, at the door to the roof, and beside the UNBC Weather Display. Observations must be completed within 30 minutes of the set data collection times. As your group becomes more efficient, 10-15 minutes will be long enough to complete all the observations. All Stevenson screen weather observations are recorded on assigned roof-top data collection sheets that are attached to clipboards and kept in the Weather Observation room on the roof of the Teaching Lab Building. Observations are recorded by date and time with earlier data preceding later observations. These data collection sheets always remain on the roof. At the end of the data collection period they go on reserve in the UNBC Library. Accurate instrument reading techniques, care of equipment, observation punctuality, and neat, accurate, legible record keeping are the keys to successful data collection. Having quality data to analyse will make report writing much easier and more efficient for everyone. Students should also keep a personal copy of their roof-top data in time order (8, noon, 4) for all your screen’s data. We recommend you review and record the other observations for your Stevenson screen on a personal copy of the data collection sheet after making your daily roof-top observations. To avoid data entry errors always copy data from the roof-top sheet onto your personal copy, not the other way around. Remember to leave space on your personal data sheet, as you must write your Stevenson screen’s observations in time-order (starting with the 8 am timeslot each day). As you copy, check for observation consistency (e.g. maximum temperatures should be greater than minimum values for a reading; wet-bulb temperatures are lower or equal to air temperatures; snow or rainfall data makes sense according to what you recall occurred). If values seem questionable, try to determine what the error is; ask an instructor to confirm the problem. If there is a problem with someone else’s observations talk to one of the instructors on the roof to make sure your understanding of the issue is correct. They may be able to alert the other observers to the problem and try to correct it before it reoccurs. If you are correct about a data collection problem, annotate the issue on your personal copy of the


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data collection sheet, clearly note correct values and their times; but do not change any datasheet values. After the data collection week is over, there will be lab time to review the quality of your team’s data (called data rationalization), and these notes may be helpful. See the project data collection table at the end of this section for an example of a completed data recording sheet. To make sure any weather maps you’ve collected are comparable with your roof-top data you must interpret chart symbols, and convert the map’s time from Z (Zulu), UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) or GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) – to Pacific Standard Time (PST). Information on how this is done is given in the labs before the project starts.

Observation Details: The following summarizes key information for using each roof-top instrument and shows how to efficiently sequence your observations. Demonstrations and summary handouts are provided during labs preceding the data collection period (see the Lab Schedule). These handouts form the later pages of this Appendix. They are also available on the roof, attached to the data collection clipboards. Refer to these pages to recall specific details while making your weather observations. Start data collection by obtaining the Lab Building roof key from the Security Desk. They know the Weather Project Observation Schedule and will sign out a key to you or your partner(s) at your assigned time. Bring your student card or other photo identification. Only scheduled students are allowed on the roof. You must return the key to the Security Desk within half an hour of obtaining it.

Stop at the second floor on your way up to the roof; record the UNBC Weather Station Display wind, and mercury barometer readings. Note the time you start taking readings. Write these on a separate piece of paper and transfer them to your screen’s data collection sheet when you get to the roof. [You will be most time efficient if you record this information on your personal data collection sheet (already organized in time-sequence for the 4-day observation period). However, to minimize transcription errors, ensure that your later observations are recorded first on the roof-top data collection sheet.]

x Wind Speed and Direction: These are observed using both visual and instrumentedmethods.x Measured Wind – UNBC Weather Station: Measured wind data are displayed in table

form on the second floor UNBC Wx Stn display during the data collection week. Thesemeasurements come from the anemometer located on the Research Building roof withdata displayed on http://weather.unbc.ca/wx/index.html. Record numerical wind speed,(m/s) and azimuth direction (degrees from north) to the nearest 10 minutes of yourobservation time. Try to make your visual wind observations on the roof within the same10 minutes. Accurately transfer this data onto the roof-top data sheet for your screen.

x Visual Wind Observations: When you get on the roof, use the aviation wind sock, andother visual cues to report the Beaufort number (wind speed), and use the anemometermounting arm or Library building orientation to report the wind direction as an 8-pointcompass reading (N, NE, E, SE, S…etc.). Remember that wind is reported as the

http://weather.unbc.ca/wx/index.html


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direction it is coming from, and that the anemometer mounting arm and Library are aligned north-south.

x Atmospheric Pressure: Before leaving the second floor, read and record the mercurybarometer’s atmospheric pressure in millimeters (mm) of mercury. Also record thebarometer’s temperature. Ensure this information is accurately transferred onto yourscreen’s roof-top data collection sheet. To minimize calculation errors, students willindividually convert all their barometer readings to corrected pressure values (in hPa) so donot report a converted value on the roof-top data sheet. Information showing how toconvert these readings is presented with the pressure lab and accompanies the barometer.

Walk up to the roof and use the key to get onto the weather observation deck. Close the door behind you. When making your roof-top observations, propping the door open affects the thermometers in the nearest Stevenson screens. Open your Stevenson screen only when you are making measurements. Ensure your Stevenson screen is closed when you are not actually reading the instruments inside as leaving it open affects the thermometers. Psychrometer temperature equilibration: To remain liquid, water for the psychrometers is stored inside the weather equipment room. Psychrometers work by measuring the temperature change due to evaporation using the difference between the wet and dry-bulb thermometers. Since evaporation varies for frozen and unfrozen conditions, depending on the air’s temperature, different measuring procedures are used (see Relative Humidity Determination below). If you will use your +50 to -5 oC psychrometer and it is warmer than the outside temperatures when you arrive, properly wet its wet-bulb sock and put your psychrometer in your Stevenson screen (i.e. a shaded place). This will give it time to adjust to outside temperatures before taking your readings. Make your other observations while waiting for it to equilibrate. If you bring equipment (a water bottle/sling psychrometer) outside, return them indoors before you leave to prevent them from freezing solid and possibly cracking.

x Air Temperature and Max/Min Temperature: Stevenson screens protect thethermometers from direct sunlight striking them, as this would elevate their temperaturevalues. Air temperature is always defined as the temperature taken in the shade. Open yourStevenson screen, leave the thermometers inside, and take the readings as quickly aspossible to avoid such problems. Read and record the present air temperature from themercury level on either the maximum or minimum side of the max/min thermometer (bothsides should be within a degree of each other). Record the present air temperature readingin the correct column. Read the maximum and minimum temperatures at the bottom oftheir respective pins and record their values in the correct columns. Properly reset bothpins. Close the Stevenson screen door.[Tip: Once you have your humidity measurements, check the psychrometer’s dry-bulbtemperature is within 2 degrees of the present air temperature on the max/min thermometer.They should be consistent with each other at each observation time, and discrepancies largerthan 2 oC should be reported to your instructor and possibly noted in the commentscolumn.]


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x Relative Humidity Determination, instructors will advise about which psychrometer touse:x For non-frozen temperatures, use your screen’s sling psychrometer by wetting the wick,

letting the temperatures equilibrate outside, and then aspirating the psychrometer byrotating it until temperatures are stable (this may take 3-5 minutes). Read dry-bulb andwet-bulb thermometers. Report these temperatures in their correct columns on the datasheet. (Remember: The present air temperature from the dry-bulb thermometer should beno more than 2 oC different than the current temperature from the max/min thermometer. Ifthey are not, check you are reading these correctly. Report problems to your instructor.)

x For temperatures well below 0 oC, a cold-air sling psychrometer (reading to -30 oC) will beused. Instructors will assist with making a wet-bulb ice film and reading this psychrometerwhen it is required. There is only one of these instruments. As it is very delicate use itcarefully. With each use, the formation of a thin ice film over the wet-bulb thermometersock is required. Once this film is formed, it measures humidity in the same way as a non-frozen psychrometer. If weather allows, we will demonstrate this procedure in advance ofthe data collection week.

Each student must calculate their RH values and report these only on their personal data collection sheet. As demonstrated in the Humidity Lab, use wet and dry-bulb thermometer measurements to determine the relative humidity (%) using the psychrometric equation. For non-freezing conditions use: Ȝover water = 66 Pa oC-1. For frozen conditions use: O over ice = 58.2 Pa oC-1. Only calculated %RH values are used in your project report. (Estimates of % RH from psychrometric tables or equipment will not be used for our dataset.)

x Precipitation Data: Observe and record any rainfall collected in your rain gauge asmillimeters of water. AFTER taking the measurement (and checking it!) your rain gaugeMUST be emptied. The scale on your rain gauge converts the collected volume (milliliters)of rainfall into its depth (millimeters) of equivalent rainfall. In addition to measuring theamount of rainfall, check that the rain gauge opening is not obstructed and that the gauge isproperly put into its holder. If rain freezes in the rain gauges during our observation period,specific instructions will be given on how to melt it and take accurate measurements.For snow, use the provided ruler to record the depth of new snowfall in millimeters (mm)from your screen’s assigned section of the snow bench. Take 3 measurements and recordtheir average value as the depth of snowfall on your data sheet. Use an undisturbed, non-wind affected area of your section of the snow bench. Remember to only clear away thesnow from your section of the snow bench, so you don’t affect someone else’s readings.Once cleared, the next reading represents newly accumulated snow. Each student mustconvert their average measured mm of snow depth (from using their ruler) to its precipitationvalue or mm of equivalent water by dividing by 10 (as demonstrated in the lab).

x Sky Condition and Cloud Observations: Record sky condition, then dominant cloud typeand amount in 8ths for each layer (high, middle, and/or low). Use the provided informationsheets (in the booklet attached to your clipboard), posters, and/or cloud charts as referencematerials. Use standard abbreviations to report cloud types on the roof-top data sheet.


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Record low, middle and high cloud amount as eighths of covered sky. Be consistent with your sky condition observation. As demonstrated in the labs, imagine grouping the cloud as a single mass for each height and then estimate the amounts by layer (divide the sky into halves, then quarters, then eighths to get an estimate). As lower cloud layers will obstruct your view of what is above them, report only what you can see. Indicate double dashed lines (--) for the layers you can’t see. When there are no clouds, report the amount as zero (0) eighths for all layers and list the type as double dashed lines (--). Our cloud amounts arereported in 8ths to be consistent with Environment Canada standards as this is what isreported on weather maps. If you are using hourly data from airports notice that aviationobservation report cloud amounts in 10ths. Use 8ths for our roof-top observations and don’tconfuse these two forms of cloud observation.

Comments, Weather and Special Observations: In the Comments column note current weather phenomena that may aid in interpretation of the data (i.e. currently occurring precipitation, special conditions such as fog, hoar frost, wind affected by roof-top structures, etc.). Also note any instrument problems or instrument damage here. MAKE SURE TO ALSO REPORT DAMAGE OR PROBLEMS TO INSTRUCTORS IMMEDIATELY.

Leave the roof-top data collection sheet and clipboard on the roof and return the keys: After recording all your observations, ensure your screen’s data sheet is on the clipboard and returned to the table in the roof-top weather equipment room. RETURN THE KEY TO THE SECURITY DESK AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED YOUR OBSERVATIONS!! During the observation period instructors will be available to assist with questions about procedures or data.

A.3 SECURITY & SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS:Weather observations take place on the roof of the Teaching Lab Building. UNBC Security must be contacted for a key to access the weather instruments on the roof. Security will have a list of observing times and the students who are authorized to access the roof at those times. Only ENSC 201 students who are completing their assigned observations are permitted on the roof. You must return the key within 30 minutes of your observation time. The person signing out the key remains responsible for it until Security receives it back again. Do not keep keys, or be late returning them. Missing keys will result in mark deductions and billing of any related lock replacement costs to those responsible.

STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED BEYOND THE RAILINGS ON THE ROOF. All of the observing equipment can be accessed and read from the area within the railings. People on the roof can be observed. Anyone reported or observed acting in an unsafe manner while on the roof will face severe consequences including removal from the project, failure of the project component, and university sanctions.

Being on the building roof requires additional safety awareness especially regarding STRONG WINDS OR THUNDERSTORMS WHEN NO ONE SHOULD BE ON THE ROOF!! If either of these events occur during your observing time, only when the wind has diminished, or the thunderstorm has passed can you access the roof. So, if there is strong wind, thunder, or lightning you CAN NOT conduct your observations. This may mean that you miss that observation time. If such an extreme weather event were to occur, instructors will indicate


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what to do. However, note it on your personal data recording sheet. This precaution is very important, as on the roof you are one of the highest points around and you could attract a lightning strike or be blown off the roof in extreme weather.

A.4 REPORT REQUIREMENTS:Your report will be written as a case study that presents, describes, and explains the local and synoptic weather conditions that occurred over our four-day observation period in up to 2000 words (~8 typed double-spaced pages using 12-point font text, and not including figures or appendices). The report should relate observed conditions to their major controlling factors such as storm systems, frontal activity, air mass type when relevant, regional air circulation, and when relevant, local factors such as aspect, moisture, elevation, etc.. Under some weather patterns, local weather factors can play a larger role than synoptic conditions. Remember, weather forecast information is NOT relevant to your report.

The report must use your collected roof-top weather data (as a time-series graph), the UNBC Weather Station graph, and an appropriate number of relevant weather maps and satellite images to demonstrate your understanding of what occurred and how the local and synoptic situation affected the weather Prince George experienced over the 4-day observation period. Use your analysis to substantiate your explanation, and refer to specific data, patterns, or trends that support your interpretations. As with all report writing, all maps, graphs, images, diagrams, and appendices must have captions and be referred to in the body of your report. These should be used as evidence for your explanation and to clarify and condense your report writing. Making best use of your resources usually involves generating your own diagrams, graphs, or maps from the information that you collected so that you can show what you want to explain. Do not hope that a reader will synthesize graphical information from poorly organized pre-existing material, or lengthy word descriptions.

All non-original material must be properly cited (in the report body) and referenced (at the end) using the CSE Name-Year system (ASC 2016). For sources that are longer than 20 pages, you must include page numbers in the in-text citation. Animations cannot be accepted in the report. If you use websites that host weather information from other sources, ensure that your reference indicates the original source of the information. This arises if you use material (weather maps, satellite images, etc.) from Environment Canada or NOAA that is hosted by cirrus.unbc.ca. Your writing style must be professional. There is no requirement to follow a specific report style but you must use headings and subheadings to organize the report. Report organization must enhance report objectives and make the work easy to follow. Include a title page, table of contents, introduction, your appropriately titled report body which both presents and discusses the data, conclusion, references, and the two required appendices. The required appendices provide information that is cumbersome in the report body. Appendix 1 is your original weather diary. Appendix 2 is your original roof data collection sheet and your final, rationalized data set indicating tracking of the needed data corrections and how you made them.

The final document must be corner-stapled with a title page (i.e. no binders, portfolio covers, etc.). You are required to submit both a paper copy of your complete report and an electronic version of your report text. Do not worry about scanning non-electronic


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components (hand-produced graphs or appendix items) in the electronic submission. The electronic copy must be less than 10 MB in size and uploaded to BlackBoard by the assignment deadline. Only the paper copy of your work will be graded. If you have questions or are unsure about report writing, discuss it with your instructors well in advance of project deadlines.

Things to keep in mind: x This is a case study: an original, concise, individually written description, interpretation,

and explanation of the observed weather in terms of the synoptic and local conditions forthe observation period.

x It is based on your analysis of the data that is presented in accompanying graphs, charts,maps, and images that display your data and enhance your explanation. Each figure musthave a caption, be numbered, and be referred to in the body of your report. Figures thatare important for your report should be in the report body near the corresponding text (notall at the back or buried in an appendix).

x Part of your evaluation is based on how you choose to present your material. Remember,figures are there to make it easy for the reader to absorb your information, to see andprovide evidence for the relationships indicated by your data, or to demonstrate specificphenomena. Be selective and careful to use only weather information that describes thecurrent weather patterns and how they are changing. This often means that you create,annotate or redraw your own variations of original images that better express the idea youare discussing; it usually also means that many of your collected images are not used. So,do not include every collected map, image, or piece of data in your report. We want youto analyze and interpret maps or data sets, extract relevant information, and report onlywhat assists your report. Use a map or image if you feel referring to it will enhance yourinterpretation and discussion. A bunch of maps with little discussion or no relevantinterpretation detracts, rather than adds to the quality of your report. Note, that neat hand-drawn diagrams are better than computer-generated graphics that do not show the pointsyou are trying to make. We prefer you focus on report content and not on manipulatingcomputer graphics for this report. Unless the figure is something you produced yourself,you must cite the original source for the figure in the caption, and list this in the referencesection of your report.

Appendices: All appendices must have titles, and a brief introductory summary (like a caption for the appendix). These can be on a separate title page or at the top of the appendix. Look at your textbook for examples of how this is properly done. x Appendix 1: your original hand-written weather diary. But realize that you should use this

information in the report body by extracting relevant observations that support yourinterpretation and put them in a summarizing table (or other creative form of datapresentation - graphs, diagrams, etc.).

x Appendix 2: your raw data sheet showing the information that was collected in its originalform, and your final (rationalized) data sheet, neatly presented for easy reading(conversions and corrections etc. done, problems and errors noted/corrected). Here you


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must also clearly indicate the details of any quality control measures you may have had to use in order to make sense of your data.

x If there are other non-essential images / maps / graphics, etc. that you think may be ofinterest to a reader but they are not necessary to explain your report points, you may includethem in appropriately labeled and captioned additional appendix/appendices. However,think very carefully about whether to include additional items in appendices; often they arebetter left out or included in the report body. Ensure you are not padding your report withpoorly related or unneeded information. We encourage you to ask an instructor for adviceif you are not sure how to use appendices.

A.5 REPORT EVALUATION:The Weather Observation and Analysis Project is worth 30% of the course grade: Pre-report data collection /analysis work is worth 10%; the written report is worth 20%. A detailed mark breakdown will be given during the course. The 10% pre-report mark is based on the quality of your: x Data collection during the observation period: Roof top observations (2%), personal weather

diary (2%), electronic data sources (1%), teamwork evaluation (1%). [ total 6%]A ziplock bag (provided in the lab) containing your: Teamwork evaluation form, personalweather diary, and electronic data sources organized on a USB key, are due in your drop boxright after the observation period (submission deadline on the course schedule).

x Data quality control /data rationalization: Review your data for errors, report them, rectifythem wherever possible and indicate how you resolved your data problem(s). This formsAppendix 2 of your report and will be done in lab following the observation period. [1%]

x Stacked time series graph, based on your final dataset (done in lab). [1%]

x Report Outline Meeting: Meet with an instructor to verbally review your analysis andexplanation of the weather that occurred over the observation period and your reportorganization. [2%]

The 20% report mark is based on the quality of your: x Analysis: Manipulating and displaying your data in a way that aids your explanation (e.g.

your time series graph, annotated synoptic maps /drawings /photos, data summarized incharts, tables, or graphs, etc.).

x Explanation and interpretation of the weather that occurred. Use your data and analysis tosupport your interpretation. Indicate your understanding of the weather that affected PrinceGeorge over the four-day observation period and why it occurred.

x Presentation and organization of your report (e.g. having required report elements; using themappropriately, organizing them to make the report easy to follow and meet the report’sobjectives, writing quality; grammar; spelling).

x Referencing and citations (e.g. in-text citations in the report body, references cited list at theend of the report, using the CSE Name-Year system, including page numbers for longer works).


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x 5HSRUW�Work: It is possible to earn up to 2% in bonus marks for excellence or originality in your�analysis, presentation, and/or explanation. Impress us!

A.6 SUGGESTIONS FOR REPORT WRITING:Titles, a table of contents, page numbers, headings, subheadings, and appendices help to organize a report and make it more coherent. All non-original information must be cited using in-text citations and an end-of-document reference list that follows the CSE Name-Year system as documented in the UNBC Academic Success Centre handout (ASC 2016), and practiced in the lecture assignment. If you are missing data, speak to an instructor as soon as possible to see what can be done. As this is an individual report, copying another student’s data, figures, graphs, etc. in your report is not allowed and will be considered cheating – an academic offense that will get you into trouble. Plagiarism is another academic offense to be avoided. Electronic submission is required to check for these issues. You should use text, tables and figures (e.g. graphs, diagrams, maps, charts, and illustrations) to describe and explain the observed weather pattern and relate it to the synoptic situation. Often a well-placed, annotated, and captioned figure describes or explains a concept much better than a lot of text. Graphs also condense a lot of information and provide a pictoral representation of data relationships. Remember, the report writer’s job is to provide information and explanation for the reader in the most accessible way; use the most appropriate format(s) for your objective. Review the following graph-related concepts and questions, to help you decide how, when, and where to use graphs in your project.

x What are your reasons for graphing data?

x What are the advantages and disadvantages of a particular style of graphing (i.e.multiple graphs, multiple categories of data, time series, selecting only particular data,etc.)? Does it aid your interpretation of the weather? How?

x How do you choose axis dimensions, and their placement and orientation on the page?

x How do you represent gaps in your data (i.e. when there are no data overnight?Sometimes authors use dashed lines to represent interpolated data, or data gaps along anaxis.). Pay close attention to the time axis when representing gaps in time.

x How should you distinguish different data points on your graph?

x Should you place multiple graphs or images on a single page? Which ones go together?What are the advantages and disadvantages?

x How should figure labels, titles, captions, and citations be used to properly representyour diagrams and graphs?

Make sure all figures, graphs, and tables are numbered and accompanied by captions with sources cited and listed in the references section. All figures and tables must be referred to, discussed, and/or explained within the body of the report; sometimes you can do this for a group of related figures to streamline your writing. When using figures, graphs, and tables, rather than describe what the reader can see (this makes them redundant) highlight what you want the reader to remember after viewing the image.


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Data quality control is a required component in any data-driven report. When presenting your data, you must consider sources of error that would affect your interpretation of the weather that occurred. Major data reliability issues and human or instrument errors should be discussed briefly in the report body. Otherwise, it is not necessary to discuss errors in great detail in the report body because you must assess, resolve, and document in Appendix 2, the specific details of your error issues in a data rationalization (quality control) process. The data rationalization process will be discussed and demonstrated in detail in the lab after you have collected your data. This is a graded component of the project with the grades specified in your course syllabus. As developing writers, we encourage you to discuss your writing questions with your instructors. To aid in this dialogue, you will meet with a course instructor and verbally outline your report - the story of the weather that occurred over the observation period; review the supporting information you plan to use in your report; and discuss how you plan to organize and write it. Lab time is made available for this; we have allowed about 15 minutes per person. This meeting is a required, graded report element (see schedule). Instructors have found that this discussion helps students organize and clarify/confirm their thoughts early in the writing process, and helps students write their reports more efficiently and correctly. Finally, remember to leave time to edit and critically review your report before turning it in. You want to ensure that you have met the report requirements, organized the material well, expressed yourself in easily understood ways, and eliminated typographical and grammatical errors. Use this document to check you are meeting report requirements. Make sure to leave enough time to ask for instructor advice should you have questions. Note that instructors will meet and discuss any aspect of the project with you, including answering specific writing or content questions; but they will not review or edit your report for you prior to turning it in.

A.7 REFERENCES & OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES:In addition to the websites discussed here and handouts given in class, these resources are useful: Ahrens CD, Jackson PL, Jackson CEJ. 2016. Meteorology Today: An introduction to weather,

climate and the environment. 2nd Canadian Edition. Toronto: Nelson Education. (Appendices, Cloud Chart at the back of the text, Chapter 11, 12 and 15 – content on air masses, fronts, storms, and weather forecasting. Use the index for other relevant pages).

[ASC] Academic Success Centre. 2016. CSE Style. [accessed 2018 January 25]. https://www.unbc.ca/sites/default/files/sections/academic-success-centre/csestyle2016.pdf

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so, how do i cite and reference appendix...

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