Learning About Weather and Streamflow Using ArcGIS Online
Your Name: _____________________
Summary
This activity uses ArcGIS Online, a Webbased 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 weather and
streamflow.
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 informal
educational settings and in an
independent or whole-class format.
Map of weather and streamflow using ArcGIS Online. This is
Time estimated: 1 class period of 50
one of the maps investigated in this activity.
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 “What is streamflow? How can it be measured? Why is it important? What factors
affect local streamflow? What is the relationship between current weather and streamflow?”
Computer requirements: Web browser, Internet connection. Can be run in a computer lab setting, with
dedicated lab computers or 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
Learning About Weather and Streamflow Using ArcGIS Online - Page 1 of 4
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
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
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 Weather and Streamflow
At ArcGIS Online, use the “Find Maps and applications” box in the upper right to find a map. Find “gages
precipitation winds owner:jjkerski” exactly as written inside the quotes. Specifying an owner or author
of a map is a convenient way to narrow the search results, and you can use it on your own content that
you author in the future.
Open the resulting found map in the
ArcGIS.com map viewer. The map will
appear similar to the map shown at right.
Turn off all layers except the RIDGE
precipitation Radar. Describe the current
precipitation pattern across North America.
Turn the Web map surface analysis and/or
the USA wind speed and direction layers on
to see the current wind speed and direction.
These 2 layers have different ways of
portraying the same data. Which do you find
most useful, and why?
Describe the pattern of current wind speed
and direction across North America.
Learning About Weather and Streamflow Using ArcGIS Online - Page 2 of 4
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
Describe the pattern of current wind speed and direction related to precipitation events occurring right
now.
Zoom to where you live. What direction do you predict the wind will be blowing from right now based
on your map observations? Do you predict it will be precipitating right now?
Go outside and determine the sky conditions and speed and direction of the wind. Does it match the
predictions based on the WebGIS map you have been examining?
Based on the map you have been examining, what do you predict the weather will be like tomorrow
where you live?
Do some research on air flow around high and low pressure systems. Which direction do winds flow
around a High pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere—clockwise or counterclockwise?
Which direction do winds flow around a Low pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere—clockwise
or counterclockwise?
Which direction do winds flow around a Low pressure system in the Southern Hemisphere—clockwise
or counterclockwise?
Knowing that you are examining areas in the Northern Hemisphere, determine the location of at least
one high pressure system and at least one low pressure system.
Turn on the temperature layer. Are these values in degrees F or degrees C?
Describe the current temperature pattern across the continental USA. What is the highest temperature
currently and where is it located? Why is it located there?
What is the lowest temperature currently and where is it located? Why is it located there?
What is the current temperature listed for your community?
Based on the precipitation and temperature pattern that you see, can you determine the possible
location of any warm or cold fronts in the USA at this time? Where are they located?
Find a weather map online showing fronts and pressure systems. Does this map confirm your answer to
the previous question?
Turn on the USGS Stream Gages and weather stations. Zoom to an area where the current precipitation
is severe. What do you predict the height of the water will be in streams in this area? Click on one of
the gaging stations and examine the stream height. Some gaging stations have a “more information”
Learning About Weather and Streamflow Using ArcGIS Online - Page 3 of 4
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com
link that places you on the website for the real-time hydrograph for the gaging station at that location.
Are the streams in this area flowing higher due to the rainfall that is now occurring?
Other factors are important in influencing the amount of water flowing at any given time in a river. For
example, in the mountains of Colorado, streamflow is typically highest in May and June, when mountain
snows are melting, when the meltwater finds its way into nearby rivers. Therefore the streamflow in
these rivers is more dependent on the snowpack from the previous winter than on current weather.
Name at least 2 other factors that influence how much a stream is flowing at any particular time.
Would you expect a river to be higher near its headwaters or near its mouth?
Compare the gauge height of a point on the Mississippi River near St Paul, Minnesota, versus that on a
gaging station at St Louis, and then at Baton Rouge. Do your results confirm your hypothesis above?
Synthesis
Name three things you have learned about weather and streamflow through any of the above
investigations.
Name three things you have learned about GIS through these investigations.
How has the spatial perspective about weather and streamflow influenced your understanding of them?
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 weather and
streamflow. Give your presentation to your peers, save it, and share it with others.
Additional Explorations
You have explored a few aspects of weather and streamflow from a spatial perspective, but much more
could be done. Write your own question about water quality, investigate it, and answer it!
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Learning About Weather and Streamflow Using ArcGIS Online - Page 4 of 4
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – jkerski@esri.com
Copyright © 2012, Esri. http://edcommunity.esri.com