Student 'Climate Crusaders' to research Windsor weather extremes
Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips tells students about high precipitation levels
Students across Windsor-Essex are teaming up to learn more about climate change.
It's part of a new program by the Catholic school board, called 'Climate Crusaders.' About 1,500 Grade 8 students will be gathering precipitation data which will be analyzed by STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Academy students in cooperation with University of Windsor science students.
On Tuesday, students heard a special presentation from one of Canada's most trusted weather experts.
"95 per cent of the worlds scientists agree that the world is warming up faster and greater now than it has in a long time," Environment Canada climatologist Dave Phillips said to students, gathered at Holy Names Catholic High School. "It's real science."
He also told the kids about living through a deadly tornado with his family many years ago in Essex County.
Phillips said he was excited about the program because it energizes students to get involved with climate science.
"I think it's very unique, I've never seen something like this before," he said.
Rising precipitation numbers
Phillips also noted it's a good time for the initiative because of the intense amount of rainfall the region has seen in recent years.
"We don't have really proper measurements to be able to understand why we're seeing so much and where it's falling," he said, adding that the density of networks set up by students will be a valuable asset.
The average rainfall has increased by 23 per cent over the last 10 to 15 years, Phillips said. The observations at the Windsor airport offer excellent insights into those numbers, because data has been collected there for more than 80 years with no gaps, he added.
"That rainfall record has taken off since these kids were born," he said. "We know the rainfall climatology has changed, but we don't know why."
Students also heard from Chris Houser, dean of science at the University of Windsor.
The Windsor Essex District Catholic School Board said the program will help scientists by providing them with more comprehensive data about precipitation in the area.
They hope to break a Guinness World Record for the largest group of environmental data collectors.