Analyzing Current Wind Speed and Direction in North America
Your Name: ______________________
Summary
This activity uses ArcGIS Online, a Webbased Geographic Information System
(GIS) as a tool for examining the spatial or
geographic dimensions of current and
prevailing wind speed and direction.
Detail
This activity is aimed at upper secondary
level but can be used at middle secondary
or undergraduate levels, and can be
modified for primary levels as well. It can
be used in formal or informal educational
settings and in an independent or wholeclass format. Time estimated: 26
questions; 1-2 hours. No previous
Map used in this activity showing current wind
experience with GIS is necessary, but
speed and direction in North America.
having the spatial perspective is important.
The only computer requirements are a web browser and an Internet connection. It can be run in a
lab setting or with 1 computer with a projector.
Activity
Go to http://www.arcgis.com and search for “current wind speed and wind direction owner:jjkerski”
or directly to the page: http://bit.ly/pr5B3K. Under the thumbnail image, select “open the map in
ArcGIS Online.” This map contains a layer for real-time wind speed and direction.
Do some research on your own or with a team, and answer the following questions:
(1) What are the main reasons why winds blow?
(2) What is the predominant direction that winds blow across North America?
From ___________ [direction] to ______________ [direction].
(3) Why do these winds, called “prevailing winds”, blow in this direction across North America?
Examine your ArcGIS Online map.
(4) Do most of the wind vectors across North America point in the direction on today’s map that
you identified above?
(5) Name two reasons why winds may blow from a direction other than the “prevailing” direction.
Investigating Wind Speed and Direction using ArcGIS Online - Page 1 of 3
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – [email protected]
Copyright ©2012 Esri
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
Show contents (as shown at below right) and turn on the world boundaries and places layer.
(6) In what states are wind speeds the highest right now? Where
are wind speeds the lowest right now?
(7) Why might your answers be different if you checked in a few
hours or this time tomorrow?
(8) Name three cities experiencing a windy day today.
Use Bookmarks to zoom to the Colorado Front Range, a typically
windy place on the leeward (on the side toward which the wind is
blowing; downwind) side of the Rocky Mountains.
(9) Name 3 major cities along the Colorado Front Range.
(10) Describe the wind speed along the Colorado Front Range today.
(11) Zoom to Chicago, dubbed the “Windy City.” Which of the Great Lakes does Chicago have a
shoreline on?
(12) Is it windy in Chicago today?
(13) Name 2 benefits of wind.
(14) Name 2 disadvantages of wind.
(15) Go outside and observe the wind speed and direction where you live. What is the current
wind speed and direction?
(16) Zoom to the location where you live on the map with the zoom tool or by entering your city in
the search box. Do your outside observations match the nearest wind vector on the map?
(17) Compare the current wind speed and direction to the image displayed on page 1 of this
lesson, which was captured on 5 October 2011. What is different, and what is the same comparing
the wind from 5 October 2011 vs. today?
(18) Revisit your map tomorrow and observe three differences from those you observed today.
Winds are often associated with storms. Use the Add button to add a data
layer to your map: Search for the “US Current Weather Radar” layer and
add it.
(19) What is the relationship between current severe weather and wind speed and direction?
(20) Describe two storms that are severe based on your observations of high wind speed.
Investigating Wind Speed and Direction using ArcGIS Online - Page 2 of 3
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – [email protected]
Copyright ©2012 Esri
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
(21) Based on your observation of wind direction, which direction are the storms moving?
(22) Use the measure tool to determine the width and the length of these two storms, making sure
to indicate the units you are using.
(23) Calculate the total area covered by these two storms and indicate the units.
(24) Based on the wind speed and scale, where do you predict the center of these storms to be by
this time tomorrow (assuming the storm remains intact)?
Save your map and share it with others! (You will need to sign into ArcGIS to do so).
(25) How have these WebGIS maps and the spatial perspective helped you to understand wind?
(26) Write your own question about wind, and answer it!

Investigating Wind Speed and Direction using ArcGIS Online - Page 3 of 3
Author: Joseph J. Kerski – [email protected]
Copyright ©2012 Esri
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License