Climate Information
Climate:
As defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the climate is defined this way: “Climate in a narrow sense is usually defined as the “average weather,” or more rigorously, as the statistical description in terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over a period of time ranging from months to years. The classical period is 30 years, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization. These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate in a wider sense is the state, including a statistical description, of the climate system.”
And the climate system is “the highly complex system consisting of five major components: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the land surface, and the biosphere, and the interactions between them.”*
*From the IPCC Climate Change 2001: Scientific Basis Summary for Policymakers.
In a less verbose sense, our working definition of climate is the state of weather variables (i.e. temperature, precipitation, and wind) with a focus on time scales longer than the present, and attention to its role in interactions between land, life, oceans, and atmosphere.
Climate Services:
According to the NRC’s Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, a climate service is “the timely productions and delivery of useful climate data, information, and knowledge to decision makers” (NRC, 2001). Decision makers in this context are by no means limited to politicians. This includes the general public, as well.
NWS Forecast Offices
NWS Forecast Offices Products are not put out by one central NWS location, rather they are released by each individual climate office. There are hundreds of these Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) for cities across the United States. While most of the products put out be the WFOs are weather products, most offices do offer some climate data as well. This climate data is spefically geared to the location served the the partiular field office.
Below are some examples of WFO climate products.
Denver-Boulder, Colorado WFO Climate Products:
Climatology
Monthly and daily climate data and summaries for Colorado, as well as monthly temperature normals, means, and extremes for Denver. It includes seasonal and annual data and summaries for the Denver area.
Winter Weather
Winter weather information for the Denver area. Includes: winter weather bulletin, wind chill guidelines, and snowfall statistics.
Denver Weather History
Archived weather records for over 100 years for the Denver area.
Miami-South, Florida WFO Climate Products:
South Florida Climatological Data
-Daily climatic summaries for four separate South Florida locations. These include high and low temperature information, normal temperature information, precipitation, and peak wind data.
-Monthly climate data for the same four locations. Reports on similar variables as daily summaries do, but with more available climate normal information.
-State and Regional temperature and precipitation tables with 24 hour climatological data.
ENSO South Florida Data
Includes seasonal outlook, as well as discussions of current El Nino patterns and predictions, storminess, rainfall, and temperature data. It includes seasonal summaries, as well.
Anchorage, Alaska WFO Climate Products:
Preliminary Local Climatological Data
Daily temperature, precipitations, snow, and wind data for Anchorage.
Climate Records List
Temperature, precipitation, snowfall, and heating degree day records for Anchorage from 1917-2002.
National Weather Service (NWS)
Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services
The Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Service (OCWWS) “provides NWS liaison with service partners, defines and validates national requirements for ongoing scientific and technical advancements and for effective new technologies to derive and disseminate critical hydrometeorological and climate information to users. It also ensures the ongoing professional development and continuing education of the NWS staff. In detail, the OS:
~Conducts customer and partner outreach
~Validates and states service requirements
~Develops, coordinates, and issues national service and operations policy
~Works through NWS integrated work teams to develop long-term service improvement strategies and proposals
~Develops, implements and oversees service delivery performance measures
~Evaluates operational service efficiency, effectiveness, and customer satisfaction
~Develops NWS policy delineating NWS' mission and its public sector responsibility to produce and disseminate information and the resulting public-private sector roles”
OCWWS Product Listing
OCWWS Homepage
Climate Services Division of NWS
“The Climate Services Division at NWS headquarters provides the strategic vision for climate services at NWS and oversees the NWS climate prediction program. It develops policy and requirements for climate prediction products and other services related to the period of week two out to one year, including seasonal forecasts and threats assessments.”
Climate Service Division Product Listing
Climate Services Division Homepage
NWS Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services
Climate Products
Because the OCWWS oversees the Climate Services Division, the Hydrologic Services Division, and the Meteorological Services Division of the NWS, many of its products are put out by those offices. To view its specific climate products, consult the Climate Services Division and the Climate Prediction Center parts of this website. They are involved with a fair amount of weather awareness activity, including the NOAA weather radio and the StormReady network. As this is not specifically a climate product, information about it is not included here, but consult the OCWWS homepage for more information. The same thing goes for many of the hydrologic products . Off of that page a flood summary archive is available.
Because the OCWWS oversees the Climate Services Division, the Hydrologic Services Division, and the Meteorological Services Division of the NWS, many of its products are put out by those offices. To view its specific climate products, consult the Climate Services Division and the Climate Prediction Center parts of this website. They are involved with a fair amount of weather awareness activity, including the NOAA weather radio and the StormReady network. As this is not specifically a climate product, information about it is not included here, but consult the OCWWS homepage for more information. The same thing goes for many of the hydrologic products . Off of that page a flood summary archive is available.
Climate Services Division (CSD) Products
The CSD does not put out climate products. They are concerned primarily with increasing communication and developing partnerships between government institutions (NOAA, NWS), universities, RISAs, RCCs, and other similar organizations. They are involved in training as well. CSD also maintains strong partnerships with other agencies that are involved in putting out climate products. The Climate Prediction Center, in particular is one of CSD’s main partners. The CSD oversees the CPC.
The CSD does not put out climate products. They are concerned primarily with increasing communication and developing partnerships between government institutions (NOAA, NWS), universities, RISAs, RCCs, and other similar organizations. They are involved in training as well. CSD also maintains strong partnerships with other agencies that are involved in putting out climate products. The Climate Prediction Center, in particular is one of CSD’s main partners. The CSD oversees the CPC.
The Climate Prediction Center (CPC)
The Climate Prediction Center serves "the public by assessing and forecasting the impacts of short-term climate variability, emphasizing enhanced risks of weather-related extreme events, for use in mitigating losses and maximizing economic gains.”
“CPC’s products are operational predictions of climate variability, real-time monitoring of climate and the required data bases, and assessments of the origins of major climate anomalies. The products cover time scales from a week to seasons, extending into the future as far as technically feasible, and cover the land, the ocean, and the atmosphere, extending into the stratosphere.
These climate services are available for users in government, the public and private industry, both in this country and abroad. Applications include the mitigation of weather related natural disasters and uses for social and economic good in agriculture, energy, transportation, water resources, and health. Continual product improvements are supported through diagnostic research, increasing use of models, and interactions with user groups.”
Climate Prediction Center Homepage
Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Products
Climate Highlights:
US Hazards Assessment
This provides emergency managers, planners, forecasters, and the public advanced notice of potential hazards. It incorporates a variety of other climate products in its formation and it includes hazard warnings for temperature, precipitation (or lack thereof), and soil/wildfire problems.
US Drought Assessment
This includes two products: one is a weekly assessment of national drought conditions put out by the CPC in conjunction with the DOA and the National Drought Mitigation Center. And the other is a seasonal drought outlook released each month.
Weekly drought outlook United States Drought Monitor
Seasonal drought outlook
ENSO Diagnostic Discussion
This is a description and explanation of recent El Nino events with links to ENSO climate data.
Degree Day Assessment
This provides an outlook for degree days of the coming week and a discussion of both Heating Degree Days (HDD) and Cooling Degree Days (CDD). A particular degree day indicated how far above or below the temperature went from 65 degrees F. It is an indication of how much heating or cooling energy one might need.
Seven Day Total HDD:
Maps of a sum of degree day forecasts across the United States.
-Seven Day Departures from Normal HDD
-Seven Day Average Temperature Percentiles
Degree days for the season to date
-Past 3 seasons HDD’s (November- March)
Climate Assessment
Seasonal Assessments : These provide both seasonal assessments (for DJF, MAM, JJA, SON). Included for each assessment is a summary and explanation of the conditions experienced, as well as a number of different maps and charts. (some of these are not particularly accessible to a non-scientist). The provided maps include information for sea surface temperature and anomalies, sea level pressure, wind, precipitation and other atmospheric conditions. Currently, information is provided for seasons in the year 2000.
Annual Assessments : These yearly climate assessments include information about observed temperature, precipitation, and other notable weather phenomena. It is comprised mostly of an explanation and an analysis of the year’s climate conditions. Annual assessments are now available for 1997-1999.
Special Outlook Discussions:
These are discussions of seasonal climate events that could have a direct impact on particular regions of the United States.
Hurricanes
Issued in May and August, this gives an explanation of the hurricane outlook and the climate effects for the Atlantic and Caribbean basins. It includes a short summary and a more extensive discussion of the data.
United States Winter
This site contains a number of press releases related to predicted and observed weather events – many of which deal with the effects of El Nino.
African Seasonal Rainfall
This is an analysis and explanation of predictions for the coming rain season in Africa. Outlooks are put out for 3 different sections of Africa (Eastern, Southern, and Western - Sahel).
Bulletins:
Climate Diagnostics Bulletin
Put out of the 15th of each month, this bulletin a variety of different climate data and maps. As well as a discussion of climate information in the “Highlights” (both for tropics and extratropics) and Forecasts section. It provides predictions for the coming seasons as well.
Annual Winter Stratospheric Ozone Bulletin
This bulletin reports is a summary of observed ozone variations as well as trends in stratospheric climate for the previous. It is issued once a year (in April and December respectively) for each hemisphere – Northern and Southern.
Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin
Prepared by NOAA and the Department of Agriculture, it includes information about crop and weather conditions primarily for the US. It does include and International Weather and Crop Summary. An example of what it includes: Drought, Precipitation, ENSO, and Snow Cover reports.
Outlooks (Maps, Graphs, and Tables):
The CPC issues climate outlook maps for the period ranging from one month to one year out, as well as the special outlooks mentioned above. These are meant to “complement the short range weather forecasts issued by other components of the National Weather Service.”
Monthly Outlooks
This section includes both maps and technical discussions of monthly climate data.
US Outlook Map
Probability predictions of the monthly total precipitation and temperature varying from normal. Used to make these were canonical, correlation analysis, optimal climate normals, coupled ocean-atmosphere model, soil-moisture, and probability of exceedence tools.
US Color Graphics Map
A series of maps (A2003, AMJ03, MJJ03,etc through AMJ04) for temperature and precipitation, as well as a bit of clarification of these maps.
Hawaii Outlooks
Provides a discussion and data listing of the monthly and seasonal outlooks for the Hawiian region.
Seasonal Outlooks
US Seasonal Outlooks and Maps
Links to prognostic discussions, as well as maps of 0.5-12.5 month outlooks maps. (For skills, normals, and probabilities of exceedence)
Tropical Pacific Island Graphs
Provides graphical and textual information fromNCEP models that predict rainfall outlooks in the Pacific islands.
Tropical Pacific SST Graphs
Textual and graphical Forecast for Tropical Pacific SST.
ENSO SST outlook for the Pacific Islands
Provides 3-season and monthly SST outlook –and potential anomalies related to ENSO.
Extended Range Outlooks
Includes 6-10 and 8-14 day outlooks for temperature and precipitation (both maps and discussion).
Six to Ten Day Outlooks
Eight to Fourteen Day Outlooks
Wind Chill Index Outlooks
Three to Seven Day Excessive Heat Outlooks
Six to Ten Day Excessive Heat Outlooks
(not updated since 2001)
Eight to Fourteen Day Excessive Heat Outlk.
(not update since Oct 2001)
Special Outlooks Products
UV Daily Forecasts
Issued daily, this is a map of UV index predictions for cities in the US, as well as an accompanying discussion.
Palmer Drought Outlooks
Explanation and weekly and monthly maps of the Palmer Drought Index.
Soil Moisture Outlooks
Forecasts for soil moisture out to two weeks using the Medium Range Forecast, and then longer-scale, monthly and seasonal forecasts using the Constructed Analog on Soil Moisture.
Degree Day Outlooks
Cooling and heating degree day outlooks. These weekly outlooks are weighted by population.
Probability of Exceedance Outlook
Temperature, precipitation, and degree day outlooks for certain forecast divisions and major US cities. This provides both data and an explanation of that data.
Verification maps
Seasonal temperature and precipitation information for El-Nino based 97-98 forecasts.
NWS Information
Links to NWS forecasts out to 7 days
Watches/Warnings
Includes hurricane, tornado, flash flood, severe thunderstorm, and winter storm warnings.
-0-48 hour forecasts for any state
3-7 day forecasts - Includes temperature and precipitation information.
Monitoring and Data Products
Oceanic and Atmospheric Monitoring Data
The CPC collects, compiles, and then puts out several climate products related to temperature, precipitation, snow cover, and degree days, as well as ENSO and other similar climate patterns. Much of this is a result of the monitoring activities of the CPC, and the accompanying products.
Real-time monitor of weather and climate phenomena.
On global and regional scales, this enables the user to view daily IR (infrared) animations and temperature, precipitation and snow timeseries.
Climate Diagnostics Bulletin Figures
Provides a number of time series figures, as well as outgoing longwave radiation, SST information, and 500-mb height information.
Monthly Atmospheric and SST Indices
Provides links to both data and graphs of wind indices at various pressure levels for various locations, sea level pressure data for different locations, southern oscillation index information for different locations, SST data for different locations, temperature data, and outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) data.
Weekly ENSO update
Put out every Monday, this provides animations and data for OLR, SST, zonal winds, and Subsurface Tropical Pacific Ocean Analyses which together indicate current ENSO conditions.
Madden-Julian Oscillations
This provides a tutorial and data for understanding and interpreting intraseasonal oscillations.
Arctic and Antarctic Oscillations
This includes animations, forecasts, and height anomalies related to both the Arctic and Antarctic Oscillations.
Global Precipitation Monitoring
Provides links to a number of global precipitation datasets. These include the GOES Precipitation Index (which provides explanation and data), Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) Geostationary Satellite Precipitation Data Center datasets, and OLR data put out by NOAA.
Monitoring Hurricane Potential
Provides wind and temperature information, SST information, and animations. These are used in producing the CPC hurricane outlooks.
Atlantic -East Pacific
Northern Hemisphere Teleconnection Patterns
Teleconnection pattern is a “recurring and persistent, large-scale pattern of pressure and circulation anomalies that spans vast geographical areas.” They are naturally occurring. The CPC monitors and tracks the primary teleconnection patters (13 in Northern Hemisphere). This sites provides information on them.
Stratospheric Ozone Monitoring
“Maps of daily hemispheric ozone, stratospheric temperature time series that are archived to 1979.
UV Index: Monthly Means and Maximums
Ozone Hole Weekly Update
-Meteorological Conditions and Ozone in the Polar Stratosphere
Global Temperature Analyses Time Series
SBUV-2 Total Ozone
Total column ozone made operationally from data provided by Solar Backscatter UV instrument (SBUV/2)
TOVS Total Ozone
From NOAA’s TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder.
SMOBA (Stratospheric Monitoring Ozone Blended Analysis)
50 mb Current Temperature Analyses 6-day Archive
Federal Climate Legislation
Forecasts and Outlooks Home
