Climate Change: Other Resources

"The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) is the primary climate-change data and information analysis center of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). CDIAC is located at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and includes the World Data Center for Atmospheric Trace Gases. CDIAC's data holdings include records of the concentrations of carbon dioxide and other radiatively active gases in the atmosphere; the role of the terrestrial biosphere and the oceans in the biogeochemical cycles of greenhouse gases; emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere; long-term climate trends; the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on vegetation; and the vulnerability of coastal areas to rising sea level."

"Carbon Footprint of Nations (CFoN) is an interesting site sponsored by the Industrial Ecology Programme and Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Center for International Climate and Environment Research-Oslo. People certainly hear about carbon footprints and their impact all the time, so this site may interest users concerned about the environment. CFoN clearly states that it provides carbon footprint data not included in the emissions inventories of the UN. The site primarily consists of a blog, the footprint calculator, and an FAQ section. Some blog postings are current, but others are not as up-to-date. Authors who post frequently are listed on the left sidebar, so users can go to all postings from a specific individual. The calculator allows visitors to select a country and view various components of its footprint, e.g., exports, imports, households.

The search function is basic; however, the site map link is right next to the search box, so users most likely will not need to search. The Press link offers access to a few media resources, most of which are European and in various languages. CFoN does not contain an overwhelming amount of information at this time. Although the site is fascinating to look through, it seems to be aimed at serious researchers or those who support the concept of carbon footprints. It worked fine on Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 3.5.3. Currently, nothing is listed on the Terms and Conditions page. If CFoN becomes a more dynamic site with current postings, it could be of value to a wider audience." from Choice, November 2010.

"Climate Debate Daily, created and maintained by philosophers Douglas Campbell and Denis Dutton (both, Univ. of Canterbury, New Zealand) focuses on the philosophical debate surrounding global warming by providing materials detailing consensus and dissension related to the official policies and documents of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Material is gathered from "scientific articles, news stories, economic studies, polemics, historical articles, PR releases, editorials, feature commentaries, and blog entries." All the information on the site is linked from the main page; there are no buried subpages. A sidebar provides links to a range of supplemental materials including climate news sources; various government sites; official views, blogs, and profiles of both pro- and anti-climate-change entities; and official data used in the climate debate, such as sea ice and sea level data.

Most information is located in two main columns. The right column links to material suspicious of current climate research, and the left column highlights material supporting the IPCC's current position. The site is updated almost daily, with items considered significant listed first. Many links featured on the page are not archived. Hence, users are encouraged to save/print items of interest. Although the site offers many varying opposing viewpoints, the debate columns lack organization. Articles listed side by side in the columns are not necessarily discussing the same aspect of climate change. Users must decide for themselves which articles address which aspect of a debate. In addition, the site appears to weigh everyone's opinion equally. For example, no additional information validates the opinion of the Brookings Institute over an individual blogger with interest in the subject. The site excels in offering a splendid assortment of material concerning both views of global warming, but it needs better subject organization and some evaluation of the information sources." Choice December, 2009.

"A hypertext history of how scientists came to (partly) understand what people are doing to cause climate change."

"EPA's Climate Change Site offers comprehensive information on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society – communities, individuals, business, states and localities, and governments."

Earth science data and services from Nasa.

"Global Climate Change is a multimedia Web site featuring photographs, movies, animations, interactive graphics, and other engaging presentations of NASA's research into climate change. The first thing the visitor sees at the top of the main page is a summary, Vital Signs of the Planet, divided into the following sections: Arctic Sea Ice Minimum, Carbon Dioxide, Sea Level, Global Temperature, and Ozone Hole. Each section/topic contains a rollover drop-down graphic with a link to further information. A side menu offers various choices including Key Indicators, Evidence, Causes, Effects, Uncertainties, Solutions, NASA's Role, and Missions. Each leads to a page of information in various attractive, easy-to-understand formats. Of special note on the menu are Images of Change, a collection of photo pairs of the same subject taken several decades apart to show changes, and Climate Reel, a collection of videos, animated visuals, and image features. The front page also offers a News and Features section, and Cool Stuff, which leads to interactive graphics and animations such as Hot Challenge (quiz on global warming), Climate Time Machine, and The Water Cycle, which follows the path of water in the Earth's climate system.

There is no search engine, but the site is easy to navigate through the main menu that appears on each page except for some of the special features, which open new windows. Updates are recent, no broken links were found, and users can easily locate the names of the site manager, Webmaster, and other responsible parties. This attractive site, with many features designed to appeal to students and the general public, presents a compelling introduction to a topic vital in today's world." from Choice, September 2010.

"The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC reports should be neutral with respect to policy, although they need to deal objectively with policy relevant scientific, technical and socio economic factors. They should be of high scientific and technical standards, and aim to reflect a range of views, expertise and wide geographical coverage."

"The Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) at NASA Langley Research Center is responsible for the processing, archival, and distribution of NASA Earth science data in the areas of radiation budget, clouds, aerosols, and tropospheric chemistry. The Data Center was established in 1991 to support the Earth Observing System (EOS) as part of NASA's Earth Science enterprise and the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and is one of several Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) sponsored by NASA as part of the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). The Data Center specializes in atmospheric data important to understanding the causes and processes of global climate change and the consequences of human activities on the climate."

Multimedia site shows vital signs of the planet.

"We support research into our world's frozen realms: the snow, ice, glacier, frozen ground, and climate interactions that make up Earth's cryosphere. Scientific data, whether taken in the field or relayed from satellites orbiting Earth, form the foundation for the scientific research that informs the world about our planet and our climate systems."

Tiempo Climate Newswatch: "A weekly on-line magazine with news, features and comment on global warming, climate change, sea-level rise and development issues"

Tiempo Climate Portal: "Access to carefully selected documents, websites and other resources concerned with climate and sustainable development."

"The U.S. Drought Portal is part of the National Drought Policy Commission's efforts to disseminate information on anticipated droughts and drought risk management. The site is robust with an array of features including maps, data tools, events, news, graphs, and educational resources for primary and secondary school students and above. Site content ranges from basic information on droughts for general audiences to GIS data for researchers.

The Drought in the News section shows headlines from regional and national newspapers (with links to full text) concerning drought conditions; users can also receive this information as an RSS feed. A prominent feature of the Web site is the US Drought Monitor map, which shows at a glance where drought is impacting the US. State and regional information can be accessed via a drop-down menu on the left side of the main page. The results page shows a detailed map, a drought percentage chart for the area, links to government agencies and forecasting, drought statements, and a time line of the drought conditions for the past year. Another tool of note is the map viewer allowing researchers to interact with a GIS map of the US. One can select different data layers such as Hydrologic, Evaporation, and Run Off, as well as a time period that extends from the present back to 2000. The information provided on the site is very timely, with weekly updates. Overall, this portal is useful for anyone concerned about drought in the US." from Choice September 2010.

Highlights of National Academies Reports

"The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center is the national archive of remotely sensed images of the Earth's land surface. These data are acquired by civilian satellites and aircraft and used to study a wide range of natural hazards, global environmental change, and economic development and conservation issues. EROS staff members manage and distribute these data to scientists, policy makers, and educators worldwide."

"The USGS strives to understand how the earth works and to anticipate changes in how the earth functions. To accomplish this, USGS science aims to understand the interrelationships among earth surface processes, ecological systems, and human activities. This includes understanding current changes in the context of pre-historic and recent earth processes, distinguishing between natural and human-influenced changes, and recognizing ecological and physical responses to changes in climate."