Heavy Precipitation Days

About this Topic:

As climate change continues to impact our world, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common. Heavy precipitation events, whether in the form of rain or snow, can cause various challenges such as flooding and property damage. In urban areas, heavy rainfall can overwhelm storm drains and cause flash flooding, while in rural areas, it can drown crops, erode topsoil, and damage roads. Understanding the frequency and severity of heavy precipitation days (HPD) is crucial for developing strategies to adapt to and prevent the effects of these events

A Heavy Precipitation Day (HPD) is defined as a day on which at least 10 mm (or 20 mm) of rain or frozen precipitation falls, with frozen precipitation measured by its liquid equivalent.

Where is the data coming from?:

Here you can find a collection of all datasets used in the projects below. Click on each title to view the information for yourself, or download project-specific spreadsheets from each individual project

Create your own Data Visualization Project!

We’ve simplified the data above to make it more easy to understand! This simplified data is used to make the MakeCode for the sample projects below. You can use this simplified data to create your own projects too!

Science Spotlight Education Reference: 

Want to learn more about this topic? Check out some Science Spotlight Research papers written by Canadian Science Centres and Museums in collaboration with the GenAction Initiative!

Data Visualization Projects

NEOPIXEL GRID

Heavy Precipitation Days

Project Description:

This project will allow students to show the amount of heavy precipitation days in  their province or across Canada. This data is available over three different time periods: The Recent Past (1980 — 2000), the Immediate Future (2030 – 2050), and the Near Future (2060 – 2080), giving students the opportunity to observe trends over time. For the future time periods, the data is also available to be viewed as either a high carbon or low carbon scenario which allows them to see how human intervention could affect those future predictions.. A high carbon scenario is where emissions continue to rise throughout the twenty-first century, and a low carbon scenario is where we have met our goals set by climate policies like the Paris Accord.

This project utilises the 8×8 Neopixel grid to display this data, giving student a colourful way to show the amount of rainy days.

START BUILDING! Heavy Precipitation Days Instructions

Legend

The lights on the Neopixel indicate the amount of Heavy Precipitation Days predicted. Use the available legend bar on your project to mark out what these colours mean:

  • Red – very low amount of heavy rainy days
  • Orange – low
  • Green – moderate
  • Blue – high amount of heavy rainy days

Button A 

This will change the time period

  • The Recent Past (1980-2005)
  • The Immediate Future ( 2030-2050)
  • The Near Future (2060-2080)

Button B 

This will change the decade within the chosen time period

  • The Recent Past (1980,1990,2000)
  • The Immediate Future (2030,2040,2050)
  • The Near Future (2060,2070,2080)

Button A+B 

will change the carbon scenario (can only be changed when in either the Immediate Future or Near Future time period) between viewing data in a High Carbon  and Low Carbon scenario

Make Code: 

Electronic Kit: https://steamlabs.ca/data-visualization/free-kits/#activity

Neopixel Grid Setup:

Hardware Setup Support: https://steamlabs.ca/data-visualization/hardware/#activity

SERVO MOTOR PROJECT

Heavy Precipitation Days

Project Description:

This project will allow students to show the predicted average of annual precipitation in their province or across Canada. This data is available over three different time periods: The Recent Past (1980 — 2000), the Immediate Future (2030 – 2050), and the Near Future (2060 – 2080), giving student the opportunity to observe trends over time. For the future time periods, the data is also available to be viewed as either a high carbon or low carbon scenario which allows them to see how human intervention could affect those future predictions.. A high carbon scenario is where emissions continue to rise throughout the twenty-first century, and a low carbon scenario is where we have met our goals set by climate policies like the Paris Accord.

This activity uses a servo motor to represent the average annual amount of precipitation, on a scale of low to very high. Students can use the buttons on their micro:but to scroll through the different time periods to see just 

START BUILDING! Heavy Precipitation Days Instructions

Legend

Students will want to draw a ranged scale above the servo to indicate 5 possible scenarios

  • Very Low average amount of precipitation
  • Low
  • Average
  • High
  • Very High average amount of precipitation

Use your creativity to display this information

Button A

Moves users forward through the time periods

  • The Recent Past (1980,1990,2000)
  • The Immediate Future (2030,2040,2050)
  • The Near Future (2060,2070,2080)

Button B 

  • Allows users to scroll backwards through the years

Button A+B 

will change the carbon scenario (can only be changed when in either the Immediate Future or Near Future time period) between viewing data in a High Carbon  and Low Carbon scenario

  • Plus sign: High carbon Scenario
  • Minus sign: Low carbon Scenario 

Make Code: 

Electronic Kit: https://steamlabs.ca/data-visualization/free-kits/#activity

Servo Motor Setup:

Hardware Setup Support: https://steamlabs.ca/data-visualization/hardware/#activity

FAIRY LIGHTS

Heavy Precipitation Days

Project Description:

This project will allow students to show the predicted average of annual precipitation in their province or across Canada. This data is available over three different time periods: The Recent Past (1980 — 2000), the Immediate Future (2030 – 2050), and the Near Future (2060 – 2080), giving students the opportunity to observe trends over time. For the future time periods, the data is also available to be viewed as either a high carbon or low carbon scenario which allows them to see how human intervention could affect those future predictions.. A high carbon scenario is where emissions continue to rise throughout the twenty-first century, and a low carbon scenario is where we have met our goals set by climate policies like the Paris Accord.

 With the Neopixel Fairy Lights, this project relies more on the creative design of the students. Depending on the amount of precipitation predicted, the strip will light up and pulse similar to the splashing of a raindrop. As the average amount increases, the lights will change colour and begin to splash more rapidly. We built a raindrop using cardstock and tissue paper, and the pulsing Neopixel Fairy lights inside add a great visual effect!

START BUILDING! Heavy Precipitation Days Instructions

Legend

Add a helpful guide to your project so you can show off what your light patterns mean!

  • Orange, slow pulse – very low  amount of precipitation predicted
  • Light blue, medium pulse = moderate
  • Blue, quick pulse – high amount of precipitation predicted

Button A 

This will change the time period

  • The Recent Past (1980-2005)
  • The Immediate Future ( 2030-2050)
  • The Near Future (2060-2080)

Button B 

This will change the decade within the chosen time period

  • The Recent Past (1980,1990,2000)
  • The Immediate Future (2030,2040,2050)
  • The Near Future (2060,2070,2080)

Button A+B 

will change the carbon scenario (can only be changed when in either the Immediate Future or Near Future time period) between viewing data in a High Carbon  and Low Carbon scenario

Make Code: 

Electronic Kit: https://steamlabs.ca/data-visualization/free-kits/#activity

Fairy Light Setup:

Hardware Setup Support: https://steamlabs.ca/data-visualization/hardware/#activity