Lake Erie Partnership - Education and Outreach


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Principle 1 – Great Lake, Many Features

Principle 2 - Natural Forces Formed

Principle 3 – Effects weather and Climate

Principle 4 - Freshwater Sustains Life

Principle 5 – Diverse Life & Ecosystems

Principle 6 - Humans and the Watershed

Principle 7 - Exploration is Ongoing

Principle 8 - Great Significance





Literacy Contacts:


ODNR

Office of Coastal Mgmt

Brenda Culler


419.626.7980



ODNR

Old Woman Creek NERR

Heather Elmer


419.433.4601



Ohio Lake Erie Commission

419.245.2514



Ohio Sea Grant

Lyndsey Manzo


614.789.0850

Jill Jentes Banicki


614.292.8949

Melinda Huntley


419.609.0399


This Lake Erie Literacy Principle is aligned with the National Science Education Standards. Go there now

Lake Erie Literacy Principle 3

Lake Lake Erie influences local and regional weather and climate.


This Lake Erie Literacy Principle is aligned with the National Science Education Standards.
Go there now


    a

    Lake Erie affects weather and climate by impacting the region’s energy and water cycles. Changes in Lake Erie’s water circulation, water temperatures and ice cover can produce changes in local weather.



    b

    Lake Erie warms by absorbing solar radiation. Lake temperatures are also affected locally by the temperature of inflowing rivers and the warm water discharge of power plants and other industries located along the shore. Lake Erie loses heat by evaporation and by warming the overlying air when the atmosphere is cool. After water vapor is released into the atmosphere, it condenses and forms precipitation, some of which falls within the Lake Erie basin.



    c

    Lake Erie modifies the local weather and climate because water temperatures change more slowly than air temperatures. Lake water absorbs heat in summer and releases heat during cooler months. This results in cooler springs, warmer falls, delayed frosts and lake effect snow.



    d

    Lake Erie has a significant influence on regional climate by absorbing, storing and moving heat and water. Lake effect precipitation can occur downwind when weather systems move over the lake and absorb moisture from Lake Erie.

    • In the winter, the weather systems often deposit absorbed moisture as snow in a regional snow belt along Lake Erie’s south shore that extends from Cleveland through Buffalo.



    e

    Lake Erie is influenced by global climate change affecting North America and the world. The climate in the Great Lakes region is changing with warmer temperatures and more variable precipitation patterns. The observed patterns of temperature increases and precipitation changes are predicted to continue. Winters are likely to become wetter and summers drier, increasing the frequency of floods and droughts.




    The Lake Erie Literacy Principles and Concepts were finalized in the spring 2011.

 


Lake Erie Literacy Concepts aligned with
National Science Education Standards Elements


Principle 3: Lake Erie influences local and regional weather and climate.




National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e
All Grades 1. Systems, Order and Organization x x x x x
2. Evidence, Models and Explanation x x x x x
3. Change, Constancy and Measurement x x x x x
4. Evolution and Equilibrium x x x x x
5. Form and Function x        




National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
EARTH AND SPACE 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e
Grades K-4 6. Properties of Earth Materials          
7. Objects in the Sky x x   x  
8. Changes in Earth and Sky x x x x x
Grades 5-8 9. Structure of the Earth System x x x x x
10. Earth's History x   x   x
11. Earth in the Solar System   x      
Grades 9-12 12. Energy in the Earth System x x x x  
13. Origin and Evolution of the Earth System          
14. Origin and Evolution of the Universe          
15. Geochemical Cycles x x   x  




National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
LIFE SCIENCE 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e
Grades K-4 16. Characteristics of Organisms          
17. Life Cycles of Organisms          
18. Organisms and Environments         x
Grades 5-8 19. Structure and Function in Living Systems          
20. Reproduction and Heredity          
21. Regulation and Behavior          
22. Populations and Ecosystems         x
23. Diversity and Adaptations of Organisms         x
Grades 9-12 24. Interdependence of Organisms          
25. Behavior of Organisms          
26. Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems          
27. Biological  Evolution          
28. Molecular Basis of Heredity          
29. The Cell          



National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
PHYSICAL SCIENCE 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e
Grades K-4 30. Properties of Objects and Materials          
31. Position and Motion of Objects          
32. Light, Heat, Electricity and Magnetism   x x x  
Grades 5-8 33. Properties and Changes of Properties in Matter          
34. Motions and Forces          
35. Transfer of Energy x x x x  
Grades 9-12 36. Structure of Atoms          
37. Structure and Properties of Matter          
38. Chemical Reactions          
39. Motions and Forces          
40. Conservation in Energy and Increase in Disorder   x x    
41. Interactions of Energy and Matter x x   x  



National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e
All Grades  42. Science as Human Endeavor K-12         x
43. Nature of Scientific Knowledge 5-12          
Grades 5-8 44. History of Science          
Grades 9-12 45. Historical Perspectives         x



National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e
All Grades 46. Personal Health K-8         x
Grades K-4 47. Characteristics and Changes in Populations          
48. Types of Resources          
49. Changes in Environments     x   x
50. Science and Technology in Local Challenges         x
Grades 5-8 51. Populations, Resources and Environments   x     x
52. Natural Hazards     x x x
53. Risks and Benefits          
54. Science and Technology in Society         x
Grades 9-12 55. Personal and Community Health         x
56. Population Growth          
57. Natural Resources          
58. Environmental Quality          
59. Natural and Human-Induced Hazards     x x x
60. Science and Technology in Local, National & Global Challenges         x



National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e
Grades K-4 61. Abilities to Distinguish Between Natural Objects & Objects Made by Humans          
62. Abilities of Technological Design K-4          
63. Understanding About Science & Technology K-4          
Grades 5-8 64. Abilities of Technological Design 5-8          
65. Understanding About Science & Technology 5-8         x
Grades 9-12 66. Abilities of Technological Design 9-12          
67. Understanding About Science & Technology 9-12         x



National Science Education Standards Lake Erie Literacy Concepts by Letter 
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e
All Grades 68. Abilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry K-12          
69. Understanding About Scientific Inquiry K-12 x x x x x