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.
- Check the system requirements:
Win2000, WinXP, Vista, or Windows 7 with 1.2 GB hard drive space, Internet connection; RAM 1 GB plus DVD drive needed for installation.
- Put the software DVD in your computer's DVD drive. A splash screen will appear. Click the ArcEditor installation option.
- On the Startup window, click Install ArcGIS Desktop.
- This will launch the Setup wizard. Read the Welcome. Then click Next.
- Read the license agreement. Click "I accept the license agreement" and click Next.
- The default installation type is Typical. Choose the Complete install, which will add extension products. Click Next.
- Accept the default installation folder or click Browse and navigate to the drive or folder location where you want to install the software. Click Next.
- Accept the default installation folder or navigate to the drive or folder where you want to install Python, a scripting language used by some ArcGIS geoprocessing functions. (You won't see this panel if you already have Python installed.) Click Next.
- The installation paths for ArcGIS and Python are confirmed. Click Next. The software will take several minutes to install on your computer. When the installation is finished, you will see the following message:
- Click Finish.
- Complete the registration information when prompted.
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).
If this is your first time using this portal, you will need to register before logging into the data portal.
- 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
- Click on the Global CCSM Projection image at the bottom of the page.
- Leave the Global dataset as the default. Click the Next button.
- Select the Model Run Set: 20th Century Experiment and select the Ensemble Average 1870 to 1999 as the Run Member. Click Next.
- Select date. Set Month: June, Start Year: 1980, and End Year: 1999. Click Next.
You will need to repeat this process later for July and August.
- Select Component Model: Atmosphere. Click Next.
- Under Variable Description, choose Air temperature. Click Next.
- Click the Download Shapefile button.
- Depending upon your browser settings, you may be prompted to save the zipped shapefile file to your desktop or project folder.
- Choose Step 3: Select date from the Data Access Steps menu on the left. Repeat steps 4 through 8 for the months of July and August.
- Save the July and August zipped files with June zipped file.
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
- Click on the Global CCSM Projection image at the bottom of the page.
- Leave the Global dataset as the default. Click the Next button.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page. Select the Model Run Set: Scenario A2 and select the Ensemble Average 2000 to 2099 as the Run Member. Click Next.
- Select date. Set Month: June, Start Year: 2021, and End Year: 2040. Click Next.
You will need to repeat this process later for July and August.
- Select Component Model: Atmosphere. Click Next.
- Under Variable Description, choose Air temperature. Click Next.
- Click the Download Shapefile button.
- Depending upon your browser settings, you may be prompted to save the zipped shapefile file to your desktop or project folder.
- Choose Step 3: Select date from the Data Access Steps menu on the left. Repeat steps 4 through 8 for the months of July and August.
- Save the July and August zipped files with June zipped file.
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
- Verify that you have six zipped files with the following names. These will be either on your desktop or in your downloads folder.
- Create a new folder named "NCAR Climate Change" on your computer.
For ease of access it's suggested you create the new folder under the root directory (e.g. C:\ NCAR Climate Change)
- Move all six zipped files to the newly created "NCAR Climate Change" folder
- 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
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