CLIMATE CHANGE DATA TOOLS
National Climate Change Viewer (NCCV)
The USGS National Climate Change Viewer (NCCV) is a web application for visualizing climate projections from the Climate Model Intercomparison Program (CMIP) that have been statistically downscaled to high spatial resolution for the conterminous United States.
Access the tool: https://www.usgs.gov/tools/national-climate-change-viewer-nccv
Background and guidance for users: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/news/usgs-updates-major-climate-change-visualization
Geographic coverage: Continental United States
Data types: Evaporative deficit, maximum and minimum air temperature, precipitation, soil water storage, snow water equivalent
Climate and Hazard Mitigation Planning (CHaMP) Tool
CHaMP is a resource for both historic and future climate and hazard information at the community and regional level which supports the development of climate-informed infrastructure plans and Hazard Mitigation Plans. It was built to help integrate climate information into planning efforts and communicate potential vulnerabilities.
Access the tool: https://champ.rcc-acis.org/
Background and guidance for users: https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TLA386-9.html
Geographic coverage: Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Data types: Coastal hazards, extreme heat, extreme rainfall/flooding, fog, Great Lakes hazards, severe weather, tropical storms/hurricanes, wildfire, winter weather
Stream Crossing Viewer
The Great Lakes Stream Crossing Inventory implements a newly developed and standardized protocol to inventory stream crossings, culverts, and bridges in the Great Lakes Region. Information gathered for the inventory can be used to prioritize structure replacement and seek funding. The Stream Crossing Viewer is publicly available and data can also be accessed via ArcGIS applications.
Access the tool: https://midnr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1229b87ecb3f4d23bbacb2900d2b1135
Background and guidance for users: https://great-lakes-stream-crossing-inventory-michigan.hub.arcgis.com/
Geographic coverage: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin
Data types: Bridges, culverts, stream crossings
Freeze Date Tool
The Freeze Date Tool provides information about the climatology of freezing temperature dates across the north-central and northeastern United States.
Access the tool: https://mrcc.purdue.edu/freeze/freezedatetool.html
Background and guidance for users: https://mrcc.purdue.edu/mw_climate/freezeDateToolAbout.jsp
Geographic coverage: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Data types: First fall freeze date/trend, growing season length/trend, last spring freeze date/trend
FEMA National Risk Index
The National Risk Index is a dataset and online tool to help illustrate the United States communities most at risk for 18 natural hazards. The Risk Index leverages available source data for natural hazard and community risk factors to develop a baseline risk measurement for each United States county and Census tract.
Access the tool: https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/map
Background and guidance for users: https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/learn-more
Geographic coverage: United States and territories
Data types: Avalanche, coastal flooding, cold wave, drought, earthquake, hail, heat wave, hurricane, ice storm, landslide, riverine flooding, strong wind, tornado, tsunami, volcanic activity, wildfire, winter weather
FEMA Resilience Analysis & Planning Tool (RAPT)
The Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT) is a free, publicly available geographic information systems (GIS) tool to help emergency managers and community partners of all GIS skill levels visualize and assess potential challenges to community resilience. RAPT includes over 100 pre-loaded data layers and the tool’s functionality allows users to visualize combinations of these data layers for a specific location.
Access the tool: https://fema.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=90c0c996a5e242a79345cdbc5f758fc6
Background and guidance for users: https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/resilience-analysis-planning-tool
Geographic coverage: United States and territories
Data types: Community demographics, hazards (excessive rainfall, flood, hurricane, sea level rise, seismic, severe weather, stream flow, tornado, tropical cyclone, wildfire), infrastructure
Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) Assessment Tool
Check how climate conditions in your location are projected to change over the next several decades. Compare projections for early century (2015-2044), mid century (2035-2064), and late century (2070-2099) under lower and higher emissions scenarios.
Access the tool: https://livingatlas.arcgis.com/assessment-tool/home
Background and guidance for users: https://resilience.climate.gov/
Geographic coverage: United States and Puerto Rico
Data types: Coastal inundation, drought, extreme heat, flooding, wildfire
ForeCASTS Project
The maps in this atlas forecast future suitable habitat for North American forest tree species under two climate change models, and predict the parts of tree ranges that will be under the greatest climate change pressure. The maps can help determine which species and populations should be targeted for monitoring efforts, conservation actions, and genetic diversity studies.
Access the tool: https://www.geobabble.org/ForeCASTS/atlas.html
Background and guidance for users: https://www.geobabble.org/ForeCASTS/
Geographic coverage: Continental United States
Data types: Tree habitat suitability
USFS Climate Change Atlas
The Climate Change Atlases address a range of questions concerning current and projected suitable habitat (year 2100) for 134 tree species and 147 bird species in the eastern United States. The Atlases supply maps and summary numerical data that show how each species' suitable habitat is projected to change under three different climate models, for both high and low emissions scenarios. For certain pre-defined areas, the Atlases also present data on how the overall grouping of species habitats within that area might change under future climates.
Access the tool: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/atlas/
Background and guidance for users: https://www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/tool/climate-change-tree-atlas-and-bird-atlas
Geographic coverage: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Data types: Bird habitat suitability, tree habitat suitability
BIA Maps and Data
The US Bureau of Indian Affairs maintains a collection of web maps, static maps, downloadable data, and REST services that are publicly available. These resources may support GIS and mapping needs related to climate change.
Access the tool: https://biamaps.geoplatform.gov/BIA-Opendata/
Background and guidance for users: https://www.bia.gov/bia/ots/dris/bogs
Geographic coverage: United States
Data types: American Indian and Alaska Native lands, Bureau of Indian Affairs offices and jurisdictional areas
CREAT Climate Change Scenarios Projection Map
CREAT is a tool that assists water sector utilities in assessing climate-related risks to utility assets and operations. Data from CREAT and the affiliated Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) program can be visualized via the Climate Change Scenarios Projection Map.
Access the tool: https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=3805293158d54846a29f750d63c6890e
Background and guidance for users: https://www.epa.gov/crwu/access-data-creating-resilient-water-utilities
Geographic coverage: United States and Puerto Rico
Data types: Extreme heat, precipitation, sea level, storms, temperature
The Climate Explorer
The Climate Explorer offers graphs and maps of observed and projected temperature, precipitation, and related climate variables for every county in the contiguous United States. Use the Climate Explorer to understand how climate conditions are projected to change over coming decades. This information—derived from global climate models—can help people assess potential exposure, vulnerability, and risk to their assets.
Access the tool: https://crt-climate-explorer.nemac.org/
Background and guidance for users: https://www.drought.gov/data-maps-tools/climate-explorer
Geographic coverage: Contiguous United States, Alaska (partial)
Data types: Climate maps/graphs, high-tide flooding, historical thresholds, historical weather data, precipitation, temperature
U.S. Drought Monitor
The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and intensity of drought across the United States. Access data on current conditions and the seasonal (3-month) drought outlook as well as historical conditions.
Access the tool: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
Background and guidance for users: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/About/WhatistheUSDM.aspx
Geographic coverage: Global
Data types: Drought (current conditions, GIS data, outlooks and forecasts, state impacts, statistics, time series)
U.S. Drought Portal
The U.S. Drought Portal is the U.S. government’s authoritative drought information website. It provides a one-stop shop for data, decision-support products, resources, and information on drought—from drought monitoring and prediction, to planning and preparedness, to applied research.
Access the tool: https://www.drought.gov/
Background and guidance for users: https://www.drought.gov/about/us-drought-portal
Geographic coverage: Global
Data types: Drought (current conditions, drought impacts, historical information, outlooks and forecasts)
FEMA Flood Maps
Flood maps are one tool that communities use to know which areas have the highest risk of flooding. FEMA maintains and updates data through flood maps and risk assessments.
Access the tool: https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
Background and guidance for users: https://www.fema.gov/flood-maps
Geographic coverage: United States
Data types: Flood risk
USA-NPN Phenology Visualization Tool
The USA National Phenology Network collects, stores, and shares phenology data and information. Its Phenology Visualization Tool offers observational data and phenology maps that are freely available for download and use for research, management, and outreach needs.
Access the tool: https://www.usanpn.org/data/visualizations
Background and guidance for users: https://www.usanpn.org/data
Geographic coverage: United States
Data types: Phenology (observational data and phenology maps)
What will climate feel like in 60 years?
This app finds the present-day location that has a climate most similar to that expected by the 2080s in each of 540 cities. Projections are available based on two different emission levels and multiple different climate models.
Access the tool: https://fitzlab.shinyapps.io/cityapp/
Background and guidance for users: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-08540-3
Geographic coverage: North America
Data types: Climate-analog mapping
USGS Coastal Science Navigator
The Navigator is intended to help users discover U.S. Geological Survey Coastal Change Hazards information, products, and tools relevant to their scientific and decision-making needs.
Access the tool: https://www.usgs.gov/apps/coastalsciencenavigator/index.html
Background and guidance for users: https://www.usgs.gov/apps/coastalsciencenavigator/about.html
Geographic coverage: United States and territories
Data types: Coastal change hazards, coastal processes, ecosystems, flooding, planning and land use
Climate Change Vulnerability Index: Species
The NatureServe Climate Change Vulnerability Index identifies plant and animal species that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Using the Index, you apply readily available information about a species’ natural history, distribution and landscape circumstances to predict whether it will likely suffer a range contraction and/or population reductions due to climate change. You can use the Index as part of a variety of analyses, including assessing the relative risk of species listed in State Wildlife Action Plans or part of any assessment of the vulnerability of species to climate change.
Access the tool: https://www.natureserve.org/ccvi-species
Background and guidance for users: https://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/guidelines_natureserveclimatechangevulnerabilityindex_r3.02_1_jun_2016.pdf
Geographic coverage: Global
Data types: Animal vulnerability, plant vulnerability
The Climate Toolbox
The Climate Toolbox is a collection of web tools for visualizing past and projected climate and hydrology of the contiguous United States.
Access the tool: https://climatetoolbox.org/
Background and guidance for users: https://climatetoolbox.org/tool-summaries
Geographic coverage: Contiguous United States
Data types: Agriculture, climate, fire, water
NASA Data Pathfinders
Data Pathfinders guide users through the process of selecting application-specific datasets and learning how to use them through intuitive tools, facilitating equal and open access to the breadth of NASA Earth science data. The pathfinders are intended to familiarize users with and provide direct links to the applicable, commonly-used datasets across NASA’s Earth science data collections. After getting started here, there are numerous NASA resources that can help develop one’s skills further.
Access the tool: https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/pathfinders
Geographic coverage: United States
Data types: Air quality, agriculture and water management, biological diversity and ecological conservation, disasters (earthquakes and volcanoes, extreme heat, floods, landslides, tropical cyclones, wildfires), diseases, geographic information systems (GIS), greenhouse gases, sea level change, water quality
Wisconsin Risk Assessment Flood Tool (RAFT)
In response to more frequent and intense floods in Wisconsin, the Department of Health Services and partners created the RAFT map to help local, regional, and state agencies prepare for and respond to floods. Formerly called the Wisconsin Flood Risk Map Application, RAFT integrates 32 flood-relevant spatial data layers in one customizable ArcGIS map.
Access the tool: https://dhsgis.wi.gov/dhs/raft/
Background and guidance for users: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/flood/raft.htm
Geographic coverage: Wisconsin
Data types: Adult day care, current precipitation, electrically dependent, emergency management, emergency medical services, end-stage renal disease (dialysis), flood advisories, flood hazard layer, hospice, hospital, hospital emergency preparedness, impervious surface, intermediate care facility, licensed child care center, local public health departments, long-term care, mitigation acquisition parcels, nursing home, per capita proximity to floodplain, percent of land area within floodplain, precipitation forecast, private well locations, public health region, public health regional office, river flood status, schools, social vulnerability index, Tribal boundary, Tribal health center, Wisconsin county
Tribal Climate Tool
This tool is designed to support tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin, U.S.A., as they prepare for the impacts of climate change, by providing information on how the climate is expected to change in the places Tribes care about. It provides maps, graphs, tables and descriptions of projected changes.
Access the tool: https://climate.northwestknowledge.net/NWTOOLBOX/tribalProjections.php
Background and guidance for users: https://climate.northwestknowledge.net/NWTOOLBOX/tribalProjections.php
Geographic coverage: Pacific Northwest and Great Basin Tribes in the United States
Data types: Fire danger, sea level rise, snow cover, streamflow and temperatures, vegetation cover
Indigenous Phenology Network
The Indigenous Phenology Network is a grassroots organization whose participants are interested in understanding phenology on lands and species of importance to native peoples. The group is focused on building relationships, ensuring benefit to indigenous communities, and integrating indigenous and western knowledge systems.
Visit: https://www.usanpn.org/community/IndigenousPhenologyNetwork
Geographic coverage: United States
Topics: phenology