Climate Change Indicators in the U.S.
EPA has released the most recent edition of Climate Change Indicators in the United States, which includes several new indicators on climate and health.
The Earth's climate is changing. Temperatures are rising, snow and rainfall patterns are shifting, and more extreme climate events – like heavy rainstorms and record high temperatures – are already happening. Many of these observed changes are linked to the rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, caused by human activities.
EPA partners with more than 40 data contributors from various government agencies, academic institutions, and other organizations to compile a key set of indicators related to the causes and effects of climate change.
Major topics and issues cover: Greenhouse Gases (U.S. and global greenhouse gas emissions), Weather and Climate (U.S. and global temperatures, precipitation, drought), Oceans (Ocean heat, sea surface temperature, sea level, ocean acidity, coastal flooding), Snow and Ice (snow cover, snowpack, glaciers, snowfall), Health and Society (heat-related illnesses and deaths, growing season, ragweed pollen season, Lyme Disease), and Ecosystems (wildfires, stream flow, stream temperature, bird wintering ranges, marine species, leaf and bloom dates). All general topics have a summary.
This resource also features more specific climate-related research, such as climate change and human health, temperature and drought in the southwest, land loss along the Atlantic coast, ice breakup in Alaskan rivers, cherry blossom bloom in Washington D.C., and stream temperature in the Snake River.
Weather & Climate
- Atmospheric OpticsImages of atmospheric conditions: rays & shadows, water droplets, rainbows, ice halos, and high atmosphere.
- Climate Change (EPA)Offers comprehensive info on issues of climate change in seven broad areas: basic info, science, greenhouse gas emissions, health and environmental effects, climate policy, what you can do; and other resources.
- Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL): Physical Sciences Division (PDS)his division of NOAA conducts weather and climate research to observe & understand Earth's physical environment, and to improve weather and climate predictions on global-to-local scales. They also link to a branch within NOAA called the Climate Analysis Branch
- EdGCM: Climate Modeling for Research & EducationThe EdGCM Project develops and distributes a research-quality global climate model (GCM) that runs on desktop computers to explore the subject of climate change using the same methods and tools that scientists employ.
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS--NASA)GISS research predictions atmospheric & climate changes in the 21st century. The research combines analysis of comprehensive global datasets with global models of atmospheric, land surface, and oceanic processes. Studies of past climate change on Earth & other planetary atmospheres help assess our understanding of our atmosphere & its evolution. Includes data, images, animations, & scientific documents covering over the last 40 years.
- Historical Climatological Database for the World's OceansWorld’s firsts daily oceanic climatological database for the period 1750 to 1850. The data comes from surviving logbooks from the earliest Europe naval explorers.
- National Geophysical Data Center (NOAA)Contains satellite data and information and links for glaciology, marine geology, geophysics and paleoclimatology. Also includes links to Science for Society and NGDC contacts.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine and ocean commerce. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide reliable info when they need it.
- RealClimateRealClimate is a commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists. Quick responses are provided to developing stories and the context sometimes, which are sometimes missed in mainstream commentary.
- Storm Prediction CenterProvide timely & accurate forecasts for severe weather (thunderstorms, tornadoes, heavy rain & snow, and fire weather) events across the U.S. and issues specific to those hazards.
- Sustainability (EPA)The Sustainability Program of EPA covers areas relating to: Safe and Sustainable Communities, Sustainable Water, Air, Climate and Energy, and Safer Products for a Sustainable World.
- Temperature Data ArchiveNational (United States U.S.) and international temperature data archive from University of Dayton.
- Weather Glossary (NOAA)This glossary contains information on more than 2000 terms, phrases and abbreviations used by the National Weather Service. Many of these terms and abbreviations are used by NWS forecasters to communicate between each other and have been in use for many years and before many NWS products were directly available to the public. It is the purpose of this glossary to aid the general public in better understanding NWS products.
Global Warming
(Image source: AIP.org)
- Climate Change: Discovery of Global WarmingAuthor Spencer Weart supplements his book, Discovery of Global Warming, which discusses the history of climate change research and how scientists came to (partly) understand what people are doing to cause climate change.
- Global Change Master Data Set DirectoryOver 19,000 earth science & life science data sets in relation to global warming: agriculture, atmosphere, climate indicators, oceans, terrestrial hydrosphere, and more.
- Global Climate Change: ExploratoriumCovers information that reflect global change in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere. The material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation.
- Global Warming (EPA)This excellent site contains data and information on global warming, climatic change and the greenhouse effect.
- Greenhouse Gas OnlineIt provides incisive summaries of current events and issues related to the Greenhouse Effect, such as global warming, sources of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide sinks, sunspots, and international agreements (University of Edinburgh).
Climate History
Cumulonimbus Sunset
(Image source: Nasa.gov)
- Hurricane Digital Memory Bank: Collecting & Preserving the Stories of Katrina & RitaThe Hurricane Digital Memory Bank uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present the stories and digital record of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast.