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Educational use of the WestMap Toolbox will typically fall into one of these eight categories:

• plotting a time series for a region or point (pixel) to show variability over time
• creating a map to show spatial variability
• creating an anomaly map
• creating a composite or difference map
• comparing climate of different regions
• comparing spatial time series with other data that may or may not be climate-related
• creating visual support for content learning
• creating a time series plot and/or series of maps to identify and characterize extremes in the climate record

A tutorial for creating these types of products with the WestMap Tool Box is provided in the Tutorial section of this site. To guide K-University classroom use of this kind of climate information, links for selected examples of lesson activities available online are provided here.  You are encouraged to create your own activities using the Tool Box.   If you would like to contribute successful climate-related lessons and activities that incorporate the use of the WestMap Climate Mapping & Analysis Toolbox,  please contact us.

Comparison of Climate Regions

• Desert Climates: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g68/desert.html

 time series

• Surface temperature and precipitation of different locations (climograph): http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/preview_lesson.php?&passid=74  Climographs

 time series

• Climate vs. Weather: www.ciese.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/weatherstats.stm

time series & station data
maybe daily map & month map

• Weather Scope: http://www.ciese.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/guidelessons.shtml

Local Climate Change

• Portland, Oregon & Global Warming (long wave radiation changes & climate data): http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/preview_lesson.php?&passid=65

local time series and maps

• Historical temperature change at a locality --winter for period of record: http://education.arm.gov/teacherslounge/lessons/historical.stm
                    long term time series & difference mean maps

Local Effects of “Big Picture” Climate  (El Nino)

• Climate Correlations: http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/preview_lesson.php?&passid=57

Explores correlation between El Nino event and local climate through use of real satellite data and local weather information.

• Ocean-Atmosphere: http://www.msc.ucla.edu/oceanglobe/investigations.htm

Space & Time Study of a Region

• Watershed: http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/map_index.html

• Science in Your Watershed: http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/wshed_education.html

HUC's time series & maps

• Elevation Effect on Temperature: www.ciese.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/lessonc3.shtml

time series across multiple pixels, map

• Local Geography & Temperature (coast vs. inland): http://www.ciese.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/lessonC4.shtml

maps and station series or pixels or county

• Rainshadow: http://interactive2.er.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/volcanoes_lesson3_2.htm
  
  

Problem Solving

• Weather and Agriculture: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/08/g912/globalclimate

Investigate regional weather and climate to maximize the chances that a farm in a particular location will succeed.

time series, composite maps, mean maps

• Drought Planning & Mitigation: http://www.13.org/edonline/concept2class/coopcollab/lp_drought6.html

Simulation/Role Play to establish water-conservation policies for an area for the next three months given constraining conditions.

• Drought & Farming: http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM536&page=teacher

time series & composite maps