FDLP Resource Guides: Environmental Topics: Climate and Weather Data

Overview

This guide uses the definitions of weather and climate from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Both terms concern the "state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc." The distinction between the terms is the time factor, as defined below.

Term	Definition and Example
Climate	The "composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years." An example is the average recorded snowfall in Washington DC for the date of January 15th for the past seventy years.
Weather	The atmospheric "conditions at a given point in time." An example is the recorded snowfall in Washington DC for January 15, 2024.

Satellite view of cumulonimbus cloud over Africa in 2008 (Image source: NASA)

U.S. Government Information on Weather and Climate Data

	data.gov (U.S. General Services Administration) Climate Discover different types of climate date, from ecosystem vulnerability to human health.
	National Integrated Drought Information System and NOAA Drought.gov Look at real-time and forecasting drought data.
	National Water and Climate Center U.S. Department of Agriculture Check out this center's work on forecasting snow, water, and soil climate.
	NOAA Explore NOAA's resources on historic, real-time, and forecasting data. Climate Data Online Climate.gov National Weather Service
	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Weather Data Maps See maps of "complex climate and environmental data" for water sector utilities.
	U.S Geological Survey Ecosystems Land Change Science Program Learn about the program's climate history, land cover, and land surface data.

Environmental Topics

GovInfo

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

DiscoverGov

Open Educational Resources

Overview

U.S. Government Information on Weather and Climate Data