Department of Geography and Planning

About Me

I'm a geographer with experience in map design, climate science, communication, and visualization. My work explores the usability of geographic information in the context of climate variability and change. Specifically, I am interested in the role that maps play to make sense of policy-relevant information as it is interpreted differently through a range of user perceptions, values-based judgements, and worldviews. My current research focuses on the user-centered design of interactive web maps across the varied landscape of climate change communication organizations. In addition to research and teaching at AppState, I enjoy doing freelance mapping projects and mentoring students.

Education

Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
M.A., B.S., Appalachian State University

Recent Courses

• GHY 2310: Cartographic Design & Analysis
• GHY 3000: Communicating Geographic Information
• GHY 3535: Climate Responses and Responsibilities
• GHY 4818/5818: Web Mapping
• GHY 4530/5530: Cartography of Climate Change
• GHY 5530: Nature and Culture of Climate Change

Publications

Moreno, C., J. W. Sugg, J. Runkle, R. D. Leeper, L. B. Perry, and M. M. Sugg, 2022: Examining spatiotemporal trends of drought in the conterminous United States using self-organizing maps. Physical Geography, DOI:10.1080/02723646.2022.2035891

Sugg, J. W., 2020: Exploratory geovisualization of the character and distribution of American climate change beliefs. Weather, Climate, and Society, 13, 1, 67-82, DOI: 10.1175/WCAS-D-20-0071.1

Kinlaw, T. K., Sugg, J. W., and L. B. Perry, 2019: Warm season hydroclimatic variability and change in the Appalachian region of the southeastern U.S. from 1950 to 2018. Atmosphere, 10, 289, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10050289 (pdf)

Sugg, J. W., and C. E. Konrad II, 2019: Defining hydroclimatic regions using daily rainfall characteristics in the southern Appalachian Mountains. International Journal of Digital Earth, https://doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2019.1576785 (pdf)

Eck, M. A., Perry, L. B., Soule, P. T., Sugg, J. W., and D. K. Miller, 2018: Winter climate variability in the southern Appalachian Mountains, 1910-2017. International Journal of Climatology, 1-12, DOI: 10.1002/joc.5795 (pdf)

Sugg, J. W., and C. E. Konrad II, 2017: Relating warm season hydroclimatic variability in the southern Appalachians to synoptic weather patterns using self-organizing maps. Climate Research, 74 (2), 145-160, DOI: 10.3354/cr01493b

Sugg, J. W., C. M. Fuhrmann, L. B. Perry, D. K. Hall, and C. E. Konrad II, 2016: Sub-regional snow cover distribution across the southern Appalachian Mountains. Physical Geography, 38 (2), 105-123, DOI: 10.1080/02723646.2016.1162020 (pdf)

Sugg, J. W., L. B. Perry, D. K. Hall, G. A. Riggs, and C. A. Badurek, 2014: Satellite perspectives on the spatial patterns of new snowfall in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Hydrological Processes, 28 (16), 4602-4613, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.10196 (pdf)