Alabama meteorologist James Spann discusses maps and geographic literacy. By Kim Klockow McClain April 29 at 4:02 PM Two weeks ago, the Capital Weather Gang published the article “Many people can’t find themselves on a map,” laments Alabama meteorologist. It expressed the concern that, during severe weather warnings, many people may not know whether a violent storm is targeting their location because of a lack of geographic literacy.
In the weather world, it is also essential, considering the importance of the location of predicted weather hazards. So when a study was released that indicated a majority of people might not know how to locate their homes on a map, meteorologists naturally became concerned. Not only did the interviewees know where they were, but they also knew locations upstream that signaled something important and helped them personalize the threat to themselves. They knew fundamental aspects of the way storms typically moved through their region. To do what they were doing, those people had to possess a lot of geographic information.
So what might be the cause of the poor performance in this study that showed so few people could find their own location on a map? And why am I not too concerned about it? Information people are presented with during severe weather situations is seldom only county-based; as noted, people were often watching TV while also consulting apps or websites to get detailed local information. They didn’t need counties. When people told me that they didn’t think a tornado would hit them that day, they were talking about a problem with forecast uncertainty, not a lack of location awareness.
School choice would solve this problem.
...and Dems didn’t want t make changes to our education system, just harassed the education secretary, just throw money at it! Wake up people many changes are needed...time to give Republicans the control they need to take care of business...enough of the Dem’s con game nonsense!
Maps on the weather show county lines but don’t label them. They show major cities and towns but our county has one small town and they never label. They show interstates but we don’t have an interstate either. I can see in rural areas this would be confusing.
Many Americans can find themselves on a map. They just can't find anyone outside the US, unless they are in a caravan.
Then I guess nothing of value is lost
I dare you to ask Donald Trump to identify New York State in front of a well-marked map.