Introduction
The purpose of this assignment is to explore current trends in temperature and precipitation patterns for your region.  This will be accomplished by using weather data collected for a particular location and comparing this analysis to Indigenous Knowledge.
Assignment (total 20 marks)
For your hometown (or another location of your choosing), obtain annual temperature and precipitation values for the past 30 years. For Canadian locations, this data can be found at http://climate.weather.gc.ca/advanceSearch/searchHistoricData_e.html. Information on how to use this site can be found using the link “How to Use – Search by Province” found on the top right of the box. For other countries, you can search the Internet or talk to your instructor. Make sure to download at least 30 years of data (does not have to include the current year, and can be more than 30 years).

1. Analyze trends in temperature and precipitation for the location you have chosen.  Trend analysis should include average temperature over the 30-year period, median precipitation for the period, simple ranges of annual values, standard deviation, as well as correlation analysis for each climate parameter over time.  Correlation analysis will determine if statistically significant changes in the climate parameters have occurred over the time period.
   1. Present the trends for both annual temperature and precipitation in a table and explain what these values indicate.  (5 marks);
   2. Comment on the trends you have observed for both variables.  What does this mean with respect to current climate change? What are the implications of this change on the physical/biological environments? (5 marks)
2. Discuss with an Elder their impression on recent temperature and precipitation changes at this location.  An Elder can be a parent, grandparent, or someone else in the community.  If you cannot find an elder, you can use published Indigenous Knowledge.  Summarize their impression of the recent changes and how these are similar and/or different to the trends you calculated above.  This summary should be no more than 700 words (6 marks)