Abstract
Online and Desktop GIS Exercises for a Weather/Climate Course
Track: Teaching with GIS Across the Curriculum
Authors: Scott White
This presentation describes several GIS exercises that have been developed and tested over many years of teaching a sophomore-level Weather and Climate course at a four-year liberal arts college. Early in the semester, students investigate basic geographic concepts and weather map data, satellite and radar image overlays, kml/kmz files, and map services using ArcGIS Explorer (both Online and Desktop). In more advanced exercises later in the semester, students use ArcGIS Desktop to map isotherms, track hurricanes, analyze current and forecast weather data, and assess past, present, and future climate patterns. These GIS exercises have proven to be very effective in increasing students' knowledge of weather processes, patterns of climate change, and general forecasting. Through these exercises, visual learning and spatial analysis skills are emphasized. The students also learn valuable mapping techniques through the use of GIS software that can be applied both inside and outside of the classroom.