Costa Rica Rainforest Experiment:
"Temperature . . .
It's Everywhere"

- Equipment
- Data Collection Procedure
- Conclusions and Extensions

PASPORT Temperature Sensor
(PS-2125)

Purpose

To observe how location across a region affects temperature.

Overview

In this activity, students will use a Temperature Sensor to measure the temperature differences in many locations across the region and determine how aspects of these locations, such as the shade provided by the canopy or proximity to water, affect the temperature of the surrounding area.

Background Information

Because Costa Rica is a tropical country with a complex topography, weather conditions vary across the country.

There are no great temperature variations between the rain and dry summer seasons.  The average temperature varies only 10 degrees from one season to the other.  The most important annual variation is that of the precipitation level, which is mainly due to the interaction of the different wind systems that affect the country.  Even though Costa Rica exists in the Northern Hemisphere, its weather more closely models that of the Southern Hemisphere.  Summer begins in December and lasts until March, while the rainy season lasts from May until August.

Temperature variations in Costa Rica are more defined by altitude.  In regions located between sea level and 3,000 feet, temperatures will range from 80 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.  In regions located from 3,000 feet to over 8,000 feet, the temperature varies between 55 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  Higher elevations experience temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Equipment

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Data Collection Procedure

GLX Setup:

1. Plug the PASPORT Temperature Sensor into the port on top of the GLX.

2. Press I to access the Sensors display. Press F to switch to Manual sampling mode.


Record Data:

1. Press s to begin recording data.

2. Take the temperature at each of the following locations by pressing f.

      a.     A surface exposed to direct sunlight
      b.     Air exposed to direct sunlight
      c.     A surface in dark shadow
      d.     Air in dark shadow
      e.     In the water of a shallow pond
      f.     The ground next to the pond

3. When the keyboard data prompt appears, use the keyboard to type in the location.

4. When you have finished collecting data, press s to stop recording data.

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Conclusions and Extensions

1. Where was the maximum temperature?  Where was the minimum temperature?  What major factors contribute to these variations in temperature?

2. What surprises, if any, did you observe in measuring temperature at different locations?  Which environment will show greater stability in temperature?

3. Which plants and animals in the rainforest environment might be more susceptible to temperature variation?  Which are likely to be less susceptible?  Keep their life cycles in mind!

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