Climate Links

The following links are of interest to those with backgrounds or interest in meteorology, climatology or a related science. One excellent starting point for all researchers in search of global change data is the NASA Global Change Master Directory.

For those with interest in a specific area, additional links appear below.

Climate Trends
Impact of Climate Variability
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Climate Modeling
Tropical Meteorology: ENSO, Hurricanes, Monsoons
Polar Meteorology and the Cryosphere
El Niño Phenomenon
Atmospheric Chemistry
Oceanography and Climate Change
Ecosystems
Extreme weather

Climate Trends

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
This site provides information from the Third Assessment Report of this international scientific body which has indicated that there could be a rise of as much as 5.8 degrees C in average global annual temperatures between 1990 and 2100.

US Climate at a Glance (NCDA)
This site provides easy access to US climate and weather information from 1895 to the present.

National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)
The NCDC is the world's largest database of climatic information and contains a wealth of data on temperature and precipitation trends.

Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia
The Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia is a leading center in studying paleoclimate and constructing observed climatologies. The Unit's research is also concerned with observed climate change.

Impacts of Climate Variability

Global Change Research Information Office
This is an excellent place to get succinct, accurate answers to questions on the subject.

Environment Canada - Adaptation and Impacts Research Group
English
French
For the past decade and a half Canada has been a leader in climate impacts research; much of this work is accessible in French as well as English on this site.

Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Global Warming
This site has a wealth of information on climate science, potential impacts of climate change, international greenhouse emissions and initiatives in the US and elsewhere to limit greenhouse emissions.

Global Change Electronic Edition
A trove of information on climate science and impacts with archives of Global Change and Global Climate Change Digest.

Pew Center on Global Climate Change
This site provides information on potential impacts of climate change on human health and US ecosystems.

Population Action International
This group has produced some interesting analyses of the potential impacts of climate change and population growth on supplies of water.

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
This group based in Potsdam, Germany has set out an ambitious program between now and 2005 to assess climate impacts on particular regions and industry sectors.

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

UNEP IE OzonAction
A very good road map to information on stratospheric ozone protection.

STRATOSPHERIC OZONE FAQs
This site maintained by the Global Change Research Information Office (GCRIO) has prepared a useful series of questions and answers on stratospheric ozone issues.

UNEP Basic Facts and Data on the Science and Politics of Ozone Protection
A concise presentation in pdf format of Ozone and tracks the development of the protocol governing CFCs and HCFCs. UNEP provides this as a media guide.

NOAA: Current UV Index Forecast
For an up to date forecast of UV levels in your area the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posts information daily around 1:30pm EST. Contains a UV Index bulletin and map.

THE CFC-OZONE PUZZLE: Environmental Science in the Global Arena
Presentation made by Dr. F. Sherwood Rowland (1995 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry) and Dr. Mario J. Molina (1995 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry) at the JOHN H. CHAFEE Memorial Lecture on Science and the Environment, 1st National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment, Washington, DC, December 7, 2000

Climate Extremes and Health
A site detailing climate extremes and its effect on health in the US and China.

Climate Modeling

National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
The largest center for atmospheric research in the world, NCAR is heavily involved in climate modeling and prediction through its Climate and Global Dynamics division.

NOAA Climate Modeling and Diagnostics Laboratory
The Climate Modeling and Diagnostics Laboratory is a NOAA agency dedicated to researching processes that may force climate change or harm the ozone layer. CMDL also oversees a network of laboratories monitoring solar and terrestrial radiation and greenhouse and trace gases.

Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Interpretation (PCMDI)
PCMDI at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory evaluates and compares the performance of global climate models and conducts research into climate modeling.

Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research
The Hadley Centre is a British climate modeling center jointly administered by the UK Department of the Environment and the UK Meteorological Office. This site also contains an index of Hadley Centre publications.

Max Planck Institute for Meteorology
English site
German site
The Max Planck Institute for Meteorology is a German center involved in climate research and the modeling of present-day climate as well as calculations of future scenarios.

CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research
The Division of Atmospheric Research at CSIRO, an Australian research center, models both global and regional climate, paying special attention to changes in precipitation that may be expected from anthropogenic climate change.

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)
One of the world's largest climate modeling centers, GFDL is a NOAA research laboratory dedicated to understanding and predicting the earth's weather and climate.

Goddard Institute for Space Studies
The Goddard Institute for Space Studies is one of the world's foremost centers of climate modeling, and its web site contains a rich library of climate change information with about 100 papers and 900 abstracts.

Tropical Meteorology: ENSO, Monsoons, Hurricanes

International Hurricane Center
The International Hurricane Center at Florida International University, that state's official research center for hurricanes for ten of its universities, explores the impacts of hurricanes and seeks strategies to mitigate their destructive force.

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)
The AOML focuses research efforts on hurricane formation and dynamics and is concerned with the potential consequences of global climate change on hurricanes.

CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research
This Australian research center is concerned with the effects of climate change on the tropics, including the ramifications of ENSO and monsoon variability, on Australia and the world.

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)
GFDL contains a unit devoted to research on hurricanes and the effects of climate research on hurricane strength.

Extreme Weather Sourcebook 2001
Economic and other societal impacts related to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, lightning, and other US weather phenomena.

Annual Review: Natural Catastrophes 2001
This review prepared by experts at the Munich Re Group reports on the natural disasters of the year 2001 and the inordinate strain it placed on the insurance industry. It includes two supplements: a world map of natural catastrophes 2001 and a poster of natural catastrophes 2001.

El Niño Phenomenon

NOAA El Niño Page
Information on El Niño, forecasts, impacts, observations and research.

NOAA La Niña Page
Information on La Niña, forecasts, impacts, and frequently asked questions.

NASA's El Niño Page
Information about the state of the tropical Pacific Ocean as viewed from space as well as a multi-lingual primer on ENSO and its teleconnections to worldwide weather patterns. Also includes links to visualizations of El Niño, related research at Goddard Space Flight Center and other selected facilities around the globe.

Polar Meteorology and Climatology

National Snow and Ice Data Center
The National Snow and Ice Data Center is an excellent source of data and research topics on polar meteorology and expected climatic changes.

NCEP Ocean Modeling Branch Sea Ice home page
The Ocean Modeling Branch of the National Center for Environmental Prediction includes a group dedicated to studying and tracking the effects of sea ice on climate.

Norwegian Polar Institute
The Norwegian Polar Institute is its nation's most prominent research organization for work relating to the Arctic environment. Studies of polar climate change and sea ice effects are conducted here.

Atmospheric Chemistry

NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory
NOAA's Aeronomy Laboratory, which is dedicated "to improve the capability to observe, understand, predict, and protect the quality of the atmosphere," investigates the effects chemical processes, especially ozone depletion in the stratosphere and ozone production in the troposphere, have on earth's climate.

Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
PMEL is concerned with ocean-atmosphere interactions and the effects of ocean processes on the chemical makeup of the atmosphere.

NASA Ames Center Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Branch
The Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Branch studies "the chemical and transport processes that determine atmospheric composition, dynamics, and climate, including man-made perturbations to those processes." Projects include studies of ozone, NOx, and aerosols.

NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Division
NCAR's Atmospheric Chemistry Division conducts research into the natural and anthropogenic processes that affect the atmosphere's chemistry, including researching links between climate and biosphere interactions.

Air Quality Data for the United States Air Quality Data - United States

Oceanography and Climate Change

Scripps Institute of Oceanography
Scripps researchers investigate such tropical phenomena as ENSO and monsoons, and research their effects on climate and possible changes to these phenomena stemming from global warming.

Atlantic Oceanic and Meteorology Laboratory
AOML's research into climate and climate change issues includes studies of air-sea fluxes of various gases, studying surface and deep-water currents, and gaining a better understanding of the Atlantic's role in global climate.

NCEP Ocean Modeling Branch
The Ocean Modeling Branch develops numerical models of the ocean, paying special attention to features such as winds, waves, fog, and coastal interactions.

Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
PMEL studies the relationships between oceanic processes and climate. They are an especially good source of information on western boundary currents and potential changes to Pacific dynamics and circulation.

Scripps Institute of Oceanography
The Scripps Institute is involved in a wealth of projects exploring the connections between the oceans, the atmosphere, and climate.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
WHOI's varied research projects include studies of how climate change might affect ocean physics and circulation, marine chemistry, and aquatic environments.

Ecosystems

National Wildlife Federation

Climate Impacts on Birds
This US EPA site catalogs the direct and indirect effect of climate change on birds.

National Parks from Coral Reefs to Wetlands to Glaciers May Be Vulnerable to Climate Change
Climate Alert, Volume 9, No. 1&2 January-February-March 1996

Moving the Goal Posts: Guest Column By Paul Pritchard
Climate Alert, Volume 9, No. 1&2 January-February-March 1996

National Parks and Public Lands
US EPA

Impact of Climate Change on North American Forests
US EPA

US National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change, Sector: Forests
US Global Change Research Program

Climate Change Impacts on Grassland
US EPA

Climate Change and Mountain Regions
US EPA

Global Warming and Deserts
US EPA

Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability North America
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment of the North American Tourism and recreation industry.

Extreme Weather

Extreme Weather Sourcebook 2001
Economic and other societal impacts related to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, lightning, and other US weather phenomena.

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
The AOML focus research efforts on hurricane formation and dynamics and is concerned with the potential consequences of global climate change on hurricanes.

CSIRO, Division of Atmospheric Research
CSIRO, an Australian research center, is concerned with the effects of climate change on the tropics, including the ramifications of ENSO and monsoon variability, on Australia and the world. The Atmospheric Research Division addresses topics such as urban and regional air pollution, acid deposition, the enhanced greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, climatic variability and severe weather.

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
GFDL contains a group devoted to research on hurricanes and the effects of climate research on hurricane strength.