This shows the reported snow depth in Chicago for every day of the past 50 years. The data is from the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network Daily measurements, as reported by the Chicago O'Hare International Airport weather station.
This is based on a D3js example that demonstrates how to load time-series CSV data and display in this format.
- Remove Python CSV processing script from workflow - Right now, this uses a CSV file, chicago_snowdepth.csv, that is the result of a Python script to format the date into something more usable and to turn the original snow depth figure, reported in tenths of millimeters, until inches. This middle step is unnecessary if I simply process the original CSV using JavaScript instead. Allowing the direct use of the CSV as provided by the NOAA GHCN system would open it up to process any location much more quickly.
- Add controls for year selection, viewing other measurements - 50 years at once is a lot to look at. It might be good to have controls to allow examining one year at a time. For each day, we can also get reported temperature minimum/maximum, precipitation depth, and others. It would be handy to be able to switch between variables quickly.
- Tie snow depth number to a more realistic/visceral indication of how much snow that is - 2.5" inches of snow in 1979 is vaguely interesting, but it would tell a far better story to show how this snow level affects daily life. For instance,
- What kinds of shoes were people wearing then and what activities does the snow rule out?
- What's the effect on dating in Chicago?
- How are Chicago restaurants and bars doing during these heavy snow falls?
- How are other businesses affected by the snow?
- How does it affect people getting to work?
- How does it affect school closings?
- How does it affect areas identified as food deserts? How much longer does it take someone to get food?
- How do city services that rely on transportation cope? What happens to Meals on Wheels and the Post Office? How is CTA service affected?
- How is crime affected? What kind of criminal activity is thwarted by snow, and are there any activities that happen more with snow?