The Climate Explorer

Positives

• The tool is easy to navigate and includes different forms of data visualization like maps, bar graphs, and line graphs, which students can scroll over for more detailed information.
• The data is summarized in the Take Action section, where you can find brief, easy-to-understand points on how your selected area is impacted by climate change.
• Data is available for all 50 U.S. states, territories, counties, and county equivalents.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be able to read line graphs, bar graphs, and maps.
• As there are many indicators of the impacts of climate change, it may be helpful for your students to scroll through the dependent variables (e.g., Average Daily Maximum Temperature) in the climate graphs/maps section for a quick overview of each variable.
• Although not indicated directly on the Climate Map, the area on the left of the scroll bar on the map represents past conditions, whereas the area on the right represents projected conditions.

Differentiation

• Both graphs and maps can be downloaded to be used offline.
• For students who may be struggling to understand the maps and graphs, each tool includes an About section that provides tips for reading the data.
• This resource can also be used in social science classes to draw conclusions about how the people and communities in the most affected areas are likely to be impacted.
• Biology classes could use this tool to connect to lessons about changing habitat conditions, the migrations of plants and animals to new locations due to changes in temperature and precipitation, or health-related issues from excessive heat or flooding.
• Biology, ecology, and environmental science classes could use this tool to predict the effects of climate change on various ecosystems, species, and cycles.