Activity 1.3 | West Virginia Climate Link

The Climate Explorer is a tool that provides graphs of observed and predicted temperature, precipitation, and other related climate variables by county in the United States. Graphs show both high emissions and low emissions scenarios for predicted changes.

1. Access the Climate Explorer

2. In the search bar, type in “Monongalia County, WV”

3. Click on ‘Climate Maps’. Below is a screenshot of what your screen should look like. It is currently displaying ‘Avg. Daily Max Temperature’

Screenshot of 'Climate Maps' showing two maps of Monongalia County, WV. The map on the left shows average daily max temp from 1961-1990. The map on the right shows future max temp under higher emissions from 2020-2090.

Question: What is the historical average daily maximum temperature for Monongalia County? How will this change under a high emissions scenario?

4. Click where it says ‘Higher Emissions ’ and change it to ‘Lower Emissions’

Question: How does the average daily maximum temperature for Monongalia County change under a low emissions scenario?

5. At the top left-hand corner, click the drop down menu of ‘Avg Daily Max Temp’.

6. Select ‘Avg Daily Min Temp’. Your screen should look like the one below.

Screenshot of 'Climate Maps' showing two maps of Monongalia County, WV. The map on the left shows average min daily temp from 1961-1990. The map on the right shows the min future temp under higher emissions from 2020-2090.

Question: What is the historical average daily minimum temperature for Monongalia County? How will this change under a high emissions scenario? How will this change under a low emissions scenario?

Question: Outside of Monongalia County, why might some areas experience hotter average maximum and minimum temperatures in the future? Think about population density and land use change.

7. Go back to ‘Avg Daily Max Temp’ in the left-hand corner and use the ‘-’ icon to zoom out to the entire US.

8. Use the cursor in the middle of the screen to toggle between historical data and a high emissions scenario. Your screen should look similar to the one below.

Screenshot of 'Climate Maps' showing two maps of the United States, WV. The map on the left shows average daily max temp from 1961-1990. The map on the right shows future max temp under higher emissions from 2020-2090.

Question: What does the map of the US look like under a high emissions scenario? What types of changes do you see in different regions of the US?

Question: Compare each of the four quadrants of the US and their predicted changes under a high emissions scenario to one another. How do the Northeast and Southeast compare in changes? What about the Southwest and the Northwest?

9. Change the map to ‘Avg Daily Min Temperature’ in the left-hand corner and use the ‘-’ icon to zoom out to the entire US.

10. Use the cursor in the middle of the screen to toggle between historical data and a high emissions scenario. Your screen should look similar to the one below.

Screenshot of 'Climate Maps' showing two maps of Monongalia County, WV. The map on the left shows average daily min temp from 1961-1990. The map on the right shows future min temp under higher emissions from 2020-2090.

Question: What does the map of the US look like under a high emissions scenario? What types of changes do you see in different regions of the US?

Question: Compare each of the four quadrants of the US and their predicted changes under a high emissions scenario to one another. How do the Northeast and Southeast compare in changes? What about the Southwest and the Northwest?

Activity Summary Questions:

Question: Why are daily maximum and minimum temperatures important to map? How might temperature changes influence other changes (such as precipitation)?

Question: What are some factors that contribute to higher emissions?

Question: What are some ways in which scenarios can be reduced in the US?

Question: Given the predicted changes in temperature, how can Monongalia County utilize this information?