Part 1—Download and Install Software and Data

Step 1 Install ArcGIS 9.x from the Evaluation DVD

Note: This step is only necessary if you do not presently have ArcGIS 9.x running on your computer. For information on how to order the Evaluation copy of the software see the Tools and Data page.

Step 2 Download Climate Data from the NCAR Climate Change Scenarios GIS Portal

Download the following data from the Climate Change Scenarios GIS data portal. Click on the link GIS Climate Change Scenarios ( This site may be offline. ) . The projections were generated by the NCAR Community Climate System Model (CCSM).

  1. Region: Global
    CCSM Model Run: 20th Century Experiment, Ensemble Average
    Dates of Interest: (note: 3 separate file downloads)
  • June: Start Year: 1980, End Year: 1999
  • July: Start Year: 1980, End Year: 1999
  • August: Start Year: 1980, End Year: 1999
Dataset: Atmospheric Data
Atmospheric Variable: Air Temperature (tas, k)
Download: Download shapefile

  • Region: Global
    CCSM Model Run: Scenario A2, Ensemble Average
    Dates of Interest: (note: 3 separate file downloads)
    • June: Start Year: 2021, End Year: 2040
    • July: Start Year: 2021, End Year: 2040
    • August: Start Year: 2021, End Year: 2040
    Dataset: Atmospheric Data
    Atmospheric Variable: Air Temperature (tas, k)
    Download: Download shapefile


    If you had difficulty downloading the files to use in this project from the CCSM Portal, download this folder of shapefiles and proceed.
    Folder of zipped data flies from CCSM Data Portal (Zip Archive 23.5MB Feb3 09)
    Right-click (PC) or control-click (Mac) the link above to download the file.

    Step 3 Create Project Folder and Unzip Data Files

    1. Verify that you have six zipped files with the following names. These will be either on your desktop or in your downloads folder.

    2. Create a new folder named "NCAR Climate Change" on your computer.
    3. Move all six zipped files to the newly created "NCAR Climate Change" folder
    4. Unzip all six files. Each zipped file contains 5 individual files which represent one shapefile, one for each month downloaded from the NCAR GIS Climate Change Portal.
    • 20th Century Experiment Ensemble Average Model Run:
      • tas_06_1980_1999_20C3M-180.0_180.0_-90.0_90.0
      • tas_07_1980_1999_20C3M-180.0_180.0_-90.0_90.0
      • tas_08_1980_1999_20C3M-180.0_180.0_-90.0_90.0
    • Scenario A2 Ensemble Average Model Run:
      • tas_06_2021_2040_SRESA2-180.0_180.0_-90.0_90.0
      • tas_07_2021_2040_SRESA2-180.0_180.0_-90.0_90.0
      • tas_08_2021_2040_SRESA2-180.0_180.0_-90.0_90.0
  • Verify that you have a total of 30 unzipped files in your folder