Examining World Temperature Extremes 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
extreme high and low temperatures around
the world from a spatial perspective.
Level and Disciplines
This activity is written for upper
secondary/university level but can be used at
the university level or lower secondary level,
and can even be modified for primary level. It
can be used in formal or informal educational
settings and in an independent or whole-class
format. It can be used in geography,
environmental studies, biology, or earth
science courses.
Map of world temperature extremes in ArcGIS Online.
Examining this map is included in this activity.
Computer and Time Requirements
54 questions. Time estimated: 3 to 5 class periods of 50 minutes each. A one-class version of this
lesson may be run. Computer requirements: Web browser, Internet connection. Can be run in a
computer lab setting using equipment provided by the host institution or with students bringing their
own tablets/laptops/devices, or simply using 1 computer in front of the class with a projector.
Prerequisites
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; such as ““What factors are important in the climate and weather
of the world? What influence do seasons have on the location of and value of temperature extremes?
What influence does altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans have on temperature extremes?”
Associated Lessons and Maps
A helpful companion lesson to this one is the “USA Temperature Extremes” lesson, analyzing high and
low daily temperatures for the months of January and July 2011:
http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/lesson.cfm?id=730
With its associated map: http://bit.ly/NNh4Eo
Examining World Temperature Extremes Using ArcGIS Online - Page 1 of 7
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
Another companion lesson is the “USA State Historical Extreme Temperatures” lesson, analyzing
historical high and low extreme temperatures for the USA by state, on:
http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/lesson.cfm?id=731
With its associated map: http://bit.ly/WH2R0N
Data Description
The data were mapped from the list on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weather_records. Because it came from Wikipedia, caution should
be used in its interpretation and a discussion on data quality and sources is a core part of this lesson.
Introduction
Temperature, and the weather and climate that they reflect, is a spatial subject: Each temperature
extreme occurs in specific places at specific times of year and times of day for specific reasons, and most
of the reasons have to do with location. Therefore, GIS is the perfect tool to study and understand
temperature extremes. Temperature extremes are dependent on daily weather but also on the long
term climate of an area. Temperature extremes can be studied on a scale from local to global.
ArcGIS Online Investigation
This investigation uses ArcGIS Online (www.arcgis.com/home), a platform for creating, saving, and
sharing geographic data. To access the map for this lesson, access a web browser and go to ArcGIS
Online (www.arcgis.com/home). Using the search function, search for “World High and Low
Temperature Extremes owner:jjkerski” map and open the map that appears in the search results
window.
Alternatively, go to the map directly, on: http://bit.ly/RTyaPV
The map will open with the 25 minimum and 25 maximum temperatures as recorded in the
world, in degrees F. You can change it to degrees C by accessing the table of contents to the
left of the map, clicking on the right arrow next to the specific layer you would like to change,
selecting Change Symbols, and selecting the Temp_C field to map.
Examining General Patterns and Proximity to Coasts
1) Examine the map as displayed in ArcGIS Online. Do any of the locations showing high and low
temperature extremes surprise you? Why or why not?
2) What spatial patterns do you notice about the high temperatures of the world?
3) Give at least 2 reasons why these patterns may exist.
Examining World Temperature Extremes Using ArcGIS Online - Page 2 of 7
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
4) What spatial patterns do you notice about the low temperatures of the world?
5) Give at least 2 reasons why these patterns may exist.
6) Zoom to Hawaii. Did Hawaii experience any high or low temperature extremes? Does this surprise
you? Why or why not?
7) Did any islands of the world experience extreme high or low temperatures on this map?
8) Use the measure tool. What is the closest city to the ocean on this map that experienced an extreme
temperature? How far is it from the ocean?
9) What is the relationship of oceans to extreme temperatures? Why?
10) Does this extreme temperature map give enough information to give you an idea of a location’s
average year-round temperature? Why or why not?
Change the basemap to the National Geographic basemap.
11) Which continent contains the most high extreme temperatures? Which contains the least? Why?
12) Which continent contains the most low extreme temperatures? Which contains the least? Why?
13) Which country contains the most high extreme temperatures? Why?
14) Which country contains the most low extreme temperatures? Why?
15) Where on the planet did a high and a low extreme occur near each other? What are the cities, the
countries, and what is the distance between them?
The Most Extreme of All
16) Where was the highest temperature in this data set recorded, and when?
17) Where was the lowest temperature in this data set recorded, and when?
Considering Climate
18) Compare the high and low temperature extremes between countries that have a wetter climate
and countries that have a drier climate. What do you notice? Do you have any ideas why this might be?
Examining World Temperature Extremes Using ArcGIS Online - Page 3 of 7
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
19) How many of the high temperatures would you consider to have occurred in a desert? Name the
deserts where extreme temperatures occurred.
Considering Latitude
20) What is the influence of latitude on extreme temperature?
For the next few questions, you will consider latitude. The latitude is provided in the popups that
appear when each point is clicked, but you can also obtain latitude through the measure tool’s point
function, and then panning the map, as shown below:
21) How many of the low extremes are north of 60 degrees north latitude?
22) How many of the low extremes are south of 60 degrees south latitude?
Considering Altitude (Elevation)
Change the basemap to the topographic basemap.
23) What difference does altitude (elevation) have on temperatures? Cite specific examples to support
your point from your map.
Data Considerations
Think about the data for this map, from Wikipedia.
24) What are the pros and cons of using data from Wikipedia?
Examining World Temperature Extremes Using ArcGIS Online - Page 4 of 7
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
25) What factors do you think influences the temperature recorded by individual thermometers? What
steps could be taken to ensure that all of the temperatures were taken with uniform instruments and
placement of those instruments?
26) What is the influence of the fact that few weather stations exist in northern Siberia (northeast
Russia) and northern Canada to the pattern of low temperature extremes seen on the map?
27) Note that on this map projection, the South Pole is not visible. To make the extreme temperature
at the South Pole viewable, the author of this map moved the latitude from 90 degrees south to 85
degrees south. Does this “adjustment” of the location impact your understanding of the patterns of
temperature extremes?
28) Think about the accuracy of temperature recording instruments now vs. 100 years ago. How
confident are you in examining data over the past century or more on a single map?
Mapping Extreme Temperatures by Month and Year
You have been examining the data as mapped by temperature. Change the variable mapped for the
high and low extremes to the month. Do this by selecting the table of contents button, then selecting
the right arrow button for the low temperatures. Select Change Symbols, and select Month_Int for the
field (months as integer). Apply, and the map will show temperatures mapped by months (1 through 12
indicating January through December). Repeat for the high temperatures. Note that for many data
points, the month was not available in the data.
29) During what months is it Winter in the Northern Hemisphere? Indicate the months as text and also
as numbers.
30) During what months is it Winter in the Southern Hemisphere? Indicate the months as text and also
as numbers.
31) How many of the low temperature extremes occurred during winter in either the Northern or
Southern Hemispheres? What percentage of the low temperatures occurred during winter?
32) During what months is it Summer in the Northern Hemisphere? Indicate the months as text and also
as numbers.
33) During what months is it Summer in the Southern Hemisphere? Indicate the months as text and
also as numbers.
34) How many of the high temperature extremes occurred during summer in either the Northern or
Southern Hemispheres? What percentage of the high temperatures occurred during summer?
Examining World Temperature Extremes Using ArcGIS Online - Page 5 of 7
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
35) Map the high and low temperatures by year. Are the extreme temperatures more common now, or
more common in the past, according to this data set?
Actual versus “Felt” Temperature
36) Think about your own experiences outside. What factors make the temperature feel hotter or
colder than the actual temperature reading?
37) Of any of the hottest temperatures on your map, where do you think it actually felt hottest? Of any
of the coldest temperatures, where do you think it actually felt coldest? Why?
Cities and Extreme Temperatures
Examine large cities on your map. You may need to reference an external data set or map if you need
help in determining if a city has over 1,000,000 people.
38) Did any city over 1,000,000 people experience a high or low extreme temperature as recorded on
this map?
39) Would you say that more cities are located in areas where low temperatures occur, or are there
more cities located in areas where high temperatures occur? Why?
40) Name a city over 1,000,000 people that is close to a low temperature extreme location.
41) Name a city over 1,000,000 people that is close to a high temperature extreme location.
Your Personal Reflections
42) How would you classify the climate of the city in which you live?
43) What is the distance from your city to the nearest extreme high temperature and the nearest
extreme low temperature?
44) Have you ever experienced a "record temperature" day? What was your experience like?
45) Do you think the temperature extremes affect daily life to a greater extent or to a lesser extent
today than they did 100 years ago? Why? Be sure to support your answer.
46) Would you rather live in a cold climate or a hot climate? Why? Give at least 2 reasons.
47) Do you think living in a cold climate or a hot climate uses more energy per person? Explain.
Examining World Temperature Extremes Using ArcGIS Online - Page 6 of 7
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
48) Based on analyzing the distribution of cities on the map, do you think more people in the world live
where high temperature extremes occur frequently or do more people live where low temperature
extremes occur frequently?
49) Do you think that people living in cities that set a low temperature record ever experience hot days
during the year? Why or why not? Do you think that cities that set the high temperature record ever
experience cold days during the year? Why or why not?
50) Are there differences in the climate between the cities where the cold temperatures occurred? If
so, what are they? Why do these differences occur?
51) Are there differences in the climate between the cities where the high temperatures occurred? If
so, what are they? Why do these differences occur?
Synthesis
52) Name three things you have learned about temperature extremes through any of the above
investigations.
53) Name three things you have learned about GIS through these investigations.
54) How has the spatial perspective about temperatures influenced your understanding of it?
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 extreme temperatures. Give your
presentation to your peers, save it, and share it with others.
Additional Explorations
You have explored a few aspects of weather and climate from a spatial perspective, but much more
could be done. Write your own question about climate and weather, investigate it, and answer it!

Examining World Temperature Extremes Using ArcGIS Online - Page 7 of 7
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com