This list includes educational simulations, games and virtual labs spanning topics in climate, weather, and atmospheric science education. This list is a subset of my larger list of simulations, games and virtual labs for STEM education. I have a list of dozens of resources that I am in the process of porting over from an older web site, which I will be adding to this list as time permits.
Annenberg – Carbon Cycle & Energy Labs
The Habitable Planet curriculum includes lab simulations for the carbon cycle and for energy. Habitable Planet was developed by Annenberg Learner, the education division of the Annenberg Foundation …
Atmosphere Layers
Earth’s atmosphere is composed of a series of layers with different properties. Some of the planets and moons in our Solar System also have atmospheres with layered structures comparable to Earth’s. This self-paced, online lesson provides an overview of layers of the atmosphere – on Earth and beyond! …
CIMSS & WeatherWise Weather & Climate Apps
This large collection of web apps covers a broad range of topics in weather, climate, and the atmospheric sciences. The interactives were developed by Tom Whittaker and Steve Ackerman at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), University of Wisconsin-Madison …
Climate Interactive
Climate Interactive has created several simulations and role-playing games related to climate science and policy. Their simulation models include: En-ROADS (energy policy), C-ROADS (international policy), and ALPS (Agriculture and Land Policy Simulator). Their role-playing simulation games include: Climate Action Simulation, World Climate Simulation, and Agritopia (agricultural policy) …
Concord Consortium – Climate & Atmosphere
The Concord Consortium has several educational models that explore topics in climate, air pollution, the water cycle, and more. Resources include: Global Climate Change Model, Hurricane Explorer Model, Air Pollution Model (aerial & cross-section), Hydraulic Fracturing Model, Water Model, Land Management Model, and Sunlight, Infrared, CO2 and the Ground …
Daybreak climate boardgame
Daybreak is a cooperative boardgame about stopping climate change. It presents a hopeful vision of the near future, where you get to build the mind-blowing technologies and resilient societies we need to save the planet …
Extreme Event Role-Playing Simulation
Extreme Event is a role-playing simulation for groups in which players assume roles as city leaders to prepare for and react to a natural disaster. Two scenarios: coastal city struck by hurricane or inland city with river flooding. Low-tech and high-tech (using laptops or tablets) variants available; also uses cards. Developed by LabX (formerly the Koshland Science Museum) …
KCVS Climate Solutions
In the Climate Solutions simulation you make choices that determine humanity’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the 21st century. Select options for electricity production and use, transportation, land use, buildings, and materials. Developed by The King’s Centre for Visualization in Science (KCVS), The King’s University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada …
Monash Simple Climate Model
A full climate model, simplified for educational use. Includes numerous example scenarios and challenge exercises for students; some involve depictions of alien worlds from science fiction movies and books! Developed by Dr. Dietmar Dommenget at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia …
NASA Climate Kids
The games section of NASA’s Climate Kids web site includes several games related to climate and other Earth science topics …
NOAA Games “Planet Arcade”
This collection features several games and puzzles from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Most of the resources are related to water, the oceans, and aquatic environments …
SciJinks Weather Games
The games section of the SciJinks web site features games, simulations, and other multimedia about weather, satellite meteorology, and Earth science. The site is developed by the NASA Space Place team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) …
Archives
The following resources are no longer actively supported and may not work properly (or at all) on modern computers. Some of them rely on discontinued technologies, such as Flash. They are listed here for reference, since they might inspire ideas by current developers or educators.
BBC Climate Challenge
In the Climate Challenge role-playing policy game, you are the leader of the European Union. Select policies to reduce carbon emissions while retaining enough popularity to remain in office.
- Creator: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
- Cost: free
Climate Change Mitigation Simulator
Choose your priorities and select mitigation strategies to meet your goals with this simple climate change mitigation simulator.
- Creators: Koshland Science Museum (now called LabX)
- Cost: free
New List View
I am currently experimenting with a new tool for displaying lists of links. If it works out, I will replace the links above using this new approach. The content will remain the same.
Reviews
Annenberg – Carbon Cycle & Energy Labs
The Habitable Planet curriculum includes lab simulations for the carbon cycle and for energy. Habitable Planet was developed by Annenberg Learner, the education division of the Annenberg Foundation …
Annenberg Disease Lab
The Habitable Planet curriculum includes an interactive Disease Lab simulator. The lab includes four diseases: Kold, a caricature of the common cold; Impfluenza, which resembles influenza; Neasles, with the high transmission rate of measles; and Red Death, a fast-spreading epidemic with a high mortality rate. Creators: Annenberg Learner (Annenberg Foundation) Cost: free …
Annenberg Learner
The Habitable Planet curriculum includes simulators for the carbon cycle, demographics, disease, ecology and energy …
BBC Climate Challenge
In the Climate Challenge role-playing policy game, you are the leader of the European Union. Select policies to reduce carbon emissions while retaining enough popularity to remain in office. Creator: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Cost: free …
Bio Inc. – Biomedical Plague
Bio Inc. is a simulation game in which players assume the role of a disease that is trying to kill a patient. Select diseases, risk factors, and factors that inhibit recovery to make your victim as ill as possible. The Windows PC version also allows you to role-play the doctor that tries to save the patient. Creator: DryGin Studios Cost: free app for iOS and Android mobile devices; $13 for Windows version on Steam …
CIMSS & WeatherWise Weather & Climate Apps
This large collection of web apps covers a broad range of topics in weather, climate, and the atmospheric sciences. The interactives were developed by Tom Whittaker and Steve Ackerman at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), University of Wisconsin-Madison …
Climate Change Mitigation Simulator
Choose your priorities and select mitigation strategies to meet your goals with this simple climate change mitigation simulator. Creators: Koshland Science Museum (now called LabX) Cost: free …
Climate Interactive
Climate Interactive has created several simulations and role-playing games related to climate science and policy. Their simulation models include: En-ROADS (energy policy), C-ROADS (international policy), and ALPS (Agriculture and Land Policy Simulator). Their role-playing simulation games include: Climate Action Simulation, World Climate Simulation, and Agritopia (agricultural policy) …
Concord Consortium
The Concord Consortium has various educational simulations and data analysis tools, including: Molecular Workbench, Energy2D (physics) and Energy3D (green buildings), Tectonic Explorer, Global Climate Change Model, Hurricane Explorer Model, Air Pollution Model (aerial), Air Pollution Model (cross-section), Hydraulic Fracturing Model, Water Model, Density, Land Management Model, Sunlight, Infrared, CO2 and the Ground, SageModeler, SmartGraphs, CODAP, and more! Creators: The Concord Consortium Cost: free …
Concord Consortium – Climate & Atmosphere
The Concord Consortium has several educational models that explore topics in climate, air pollution, the water cycle, and more. Resources include: Global Climate Change Model, Hurricane Explorer Model, Air Pollution Model (aerial & cross-section), Hydraulic Fracturing Model, Water Model, Land Management Model, and Sunlight, Infrared, CO2 and the Ground …
