Environmental Science
STORE Calif Climate Change Lab Supplement – Users Guide to Climatology Data in Google
Earth
General Information about the Data Sets and Using Google Earth
• Data sets presented in Google Earth are in “layers.”
• Each data set or “layer” can be seen alone or superimposed on another layer.
• Some layers can be superimposed on others, but some types of data obscure other layers.
• For best results, select (turn on) only those layers you need to collect information. When
finished, deselect (turn one layer off) before viewing another.
• Data layers that you will use include:
a. 5 weather stations
b. California Study Area Boundary Current Land Cover
c. Current temperature and precipitation
d. 2050 projected precipitation
e. 2050 projected temperature
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When you open Google earth, the California Study Area is outlined and 5 weather stations can be
seen on the map. If you don’t see them, then select box next to “CA Weather Stations” and “Study
Area Boundary” and “Terrain Path through the Weather Stations” which will then show as a checkmark
inside the box indicate you are viewing it.
Zoom in until this area fills your screen. Double clicking on the “Study Area Boundary”
menu item should also zoom in. The “zoom in/out” feature of Google Earth is in the upper
right corner of the map and appears when you scroll over that area.
Note that current tolerance ranges for all vegetation types are found on page 1 of your STORE
Activity #2 Assignment Sheet. You will need to transfer this information to Data Tables 1 and 2.
T o find the Current Predominant Vegetation Types:
• Open the menu item titled “Recent Predominating Types of Land Cover,” then select the item
titled “The Actual Data Showing Recent Predominating Types of Land Cover.” A checkmark
should be present in the box to the left side.
• Fill in information about the three (3) most common types of vegetation near each of the five
(5) weather stations onto both Data Tables 1 and 2.
• Deselect the “The Actual Data Showing Recent Predominating Types of Land Cover” when you
are finished.
T o find the Vegetation Precipitation and Temperature Tolerance Range:
• Find the table located in the STORE Activity #2 Worksheet and transfer the values given
for “Annual Precipitation (Rain and Snowfall)” to Data Table 1.
• Transfer the value ranges for January and July Average Daily Low’ s and Highs,
respectively, to “Vegetation Temperature Tolerance Range” in Data Table 2
T o find Current Temperatures, Precipitation, January Lows and July Highs:
Important note: There are many different precipitation and temperature statistics, so be careful to
select the correct data. The biologically important values are: annual precipitation, average January
daily low (coldest average nighttime temperature, indicative of whether plants will freeze) and
average July daily high (average warmest days, indicative of whether plants will experience
photorespiration, wilting or sunburn effects)
Within the map, click on one of the five (5) weather stations shown in RED on image to the right.
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From the pop up window that
appears, record the Annual
Precipitation (AnnPrecip) in the
Current Annual Precipitation column
of Data Table 1.
Record the average January Daily Low
Temperature (JanAvgLow) and
average July Daily High Temperature
(JulAvgHigh), placing the information
in Data Table 2.
Repeat for the remaining four (4) weather stations.
T o find Projected 2050 Precipitation values:
• Expand the “2050 Precipitation Projections" layer from the left side menu in “My Places”.
• Select the “Shifted Ranges” box.
• Record the precipitation “Shifted Range” for each weather station in Data Table 1.
• Deselect the “Shifted Ranges” box when finished.
T o find Projected 2050 temperature values:
• Expand the “2050 Temperature Data Projections" button.
• Expand the “Fixed ranges” and select “January Average Daily Lowest Temperature” box, NOT
the “January Lowest Temperature” layer.
• Click on the “Legend” box and boxes for each temperature range shown, displaying all at once.
• Record the temperature range for each weather station in Data Table 2.
• Expand the “Fixed ranges” and select “July Average Daily Highest Temperature” box, NOT the
“July Highest temperature” layer.
• Turn off the temperature data layers by unclicking the boxes.
T o Finish the rest of the Data Table:
• Using the data obtained from the data layers; calculate the remaining columns either as a
range or a fixed value when appropriate.