Learning About Rivers Using ArcGIS Online
Your Name: _____________________
Summary
This activity uses ArcGIS Online, a
Web-based Geographic Information
System (GIS) (www.arcgis.com) as a
tool for analyzing the geography and
science of water from a spatial
perspective. This activity focuses on
rivers.
Detail
This activity is written for upper
secondary/university level but can be
used at the lower secondary level, and
can even be modified for primary
levels. It can be used in formal or
Map of the Nile River flowing through Egypt in ArcGIS Online.
informal educational settings and in an
Examining this map is included in this activity.
independent or whole-class format.
Time estimated: 1 class period of 50 minutes. No previous experience with GIS is necessary but (1) the
geographic perspective is important, and (2) a background in the topic investigated would be helpful; at
a minimum, a short discussion on the processes and phenomenon studied in each investigation should
be held at the beginning; such as “How do rivers shape the landscape? How did rivers influence the
location and development of cities, and how do they continue to affect cities today?”
Computer requirements: Web browser, Internet connection. Can be run in a computer lab setting, with
dedicated lab computers or with students bringing their own tablets/laptops/devices, or with 1
computer in front of the class with a projector.
Introduction
Water is a spatial subject: It can occur in solid, liquid, and gas phases on our planet and can easily move
between these three states. It moves through oceans, rivers, wetlands, and glaciers, and through the
hydrologic cycle at different rates. It is affected by long-term climate, everyday weather, hurricanes,
landforms, and air pressure. It has been channeled into settling ponds, water treatment plants, fields,
irrigation ditches, drainage ditches, canals, reservoirs, and through many other means by humans. It
acts as a change agent above, on, and below the surface of the Earth, affecting such phenomena as crop
yields, aquifers, erosion, floods, stream sediment, soil chemistry, weathering, and much more. It
operates on a scale from local to global. Because water exists, moves, and acts at different scales and
Learning About Rivers Using ArcGIS Online - Page 1 of 4
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
affects so many other phenomena, the geographic perspective is critical to understanding it. And, GIS is
a very useful tool in which to study water in all of its forms, processes, and aspects.
Watch the movie “geographic reflections on water”: http://youtu.be/ntJvY4LixqQ
Name 3 connections between water and geography.
Because of these and a whole host of other factors, the geographic perspective is critical to
understanding water. GIS allows the geographic perspective to be applied to the study of water, and
ArcGIS Online provides a toolkit and rich set of data that allows you to study water right away.
ArcGIS Online Investigation
This investigation uses ArcGIS Online, on http://www.arcgis.com.
Investigating Rivers
At ArcGIS Online (http://www.arcgis.com), click on “map.” Change the basemap to Light Gray Canvas.
Find the following rivers: The Amazon, the Nile, and the Yangtze.
On what continents are these rivers?
Use the measure tool to measure the approximate length of each, indicate what direction(s) they flow
(using both the from direction and the to direction, and indicate what body of water each flows into.
Do some research on the volume of water flowing in each river. Which of the three rivers has the most
volume of water flowing through it? Why?
How important is each river to the countries it flows through? Why?
How important is each river to the historical and current economic development of each of the
countries it flows through? Why?
The Nile flows through several countries during its course. Which country do you think values the Nile
more than any other? Why?
Change the base map to Bing Maps Aerial. Describe the types of terrain that each river flows through.
Use Add , search for “ecoregions” and add a global ecoregions map. Describe the types of ecoregions
that each river flows through.
Change the base map to topographic. List at least 3 major cities that each river flows past.
Learning About Rivers Using ArcGIS Online - Page 2 of 4
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
Name at least two reasons why major cities often exist on rivers.
Do some research on world rivers. Would you rank the three rivers you have been investigating among
the top 10 most important rivers in the world? Why or why not?
Name at least two other rivers that you would consider as part of the top 10 most important rivers in
the world. Describe these two rivers, including the location, flow length, direction, major cities, terrain,
and ecoregions, using the above techniques you have been using in ArcGIS Online.
Watch the following movies filmed at the following two rivers:
St Croix River at Scandia, Minnesota:
http://youtu.be/zhzUCs1ysWQ
The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, Missouri:
http://youtu.be/73EFBbhLTDg
Name at least three differences between what you observe about these two rivers.
Differences exist, but the two rivers are connected: The St Croix flows into the Mississippi River and
eventually flows past Cape Girardeau.
In ArcGIS Online, determine the following using the measure tool: How far apart are the locations
where these two movies were filmed? If the water flows at 20 mph, how long would it take for water
to move from Scandia to Cape Girardeau?
Using the city names in the search box, zoom to each location. Use the measure tool to measure the
width of the rivers.
Using the “real time water data for the nation” site:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt, find a USGS gaging station near each location and determine the
gage height and the flow (in cubic feet per second) flowing past each point.
Is it higher or lower than normal right now?
Synthesis
Name three things you have learned about rivers through any of the above investigations.
Name three things you have learned about GIS through these investigations. Be specific.
How has the spatial perspective about rivers influenced your understanding of it?
Learning About Rivers Using ArcGIS Online - Page 3 of 4
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
If time permits, use the presentation mode in ArcGIS Explorer Online to create a presentation of your
own choosing where you explain what you have learned about a specific aspect about rivers. Include at
least 5 slides in your presentation.
Give your presentation to your peers, save it, and share it with others.
Additional Explorations
You have explored a few aspects of rivers from a spatial perspective, but much more could be done.
Write your own question about rivers, investigate it, and answer it!
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Learning About Rivers Using ArcGIS Online - Page 4 of 4
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com