Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL) > Science and Technology Information

Use your browser's print controls to print a copy of this research guide.

Climatology & Climatological Data

This Web site is intended as a guide to resources for:

  • climatology and meteorology: information related to the study of climate
  • and climatological data: data obtained from the observation of climatic phenomena.

All resources listed are available at the Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL) or through World Wide Web links.

New York City is extensively covered, but other areas, both nationally and internationally, are also well represented.


Climatology - Reference Sources

The following is a selection of sources in the open-shelf reference collection on the lower level of the Science, Industry and Business Library. To find more resources in the New York Public Library's collections, check the library catalog. Relevant subject headings are climatology and meteorology, but also search under the names of particular phenomena, i.e. hurricanes.

Title
Call Number

Aviation weather handbook. Terry T. Lankford, 2001.
An in depth introduction to the weather. This handbook is intended for pilots, both novice and expert, but may be of interest to anyone trying to interpret weather data. Covers theory and practice.

 *R TL556 .L355
Complete weather resource. Phillis Engelbert, 1997.
Contains experiments, biographies, weather facts, and much more. Chapters are devoted to different topics: clouds, fog, tornadoes, hurricanes, climate, etc.		 *R QC981 .E66 1997
Encyclopedia of climate and weather. Stephen H. Schneider (ed.), 1996.
This resource is useful for scholars, engineers, students and decision-makers. Entries have definitions, history, areas of study, tables, maps, diagrams, bibliographies, and charts, as well as a glossary and index.		 *R QC854.E523 1996
Encyclopedia of hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones. David Longshore, 1998.
Contains entries on the history and science of cyclonic systems. Includes appendices with lists of storms organized both chronologically and according to name.
 *R QC944 .L66
Glossary of weather and climate : with related oceanic and hydrologic terms.
Ira W. Geer (ed.), 1996.
Gives brief definitions of terms.		 *R QC854 .G56
Handy weather answer book. Walter A. Lyons, 1997.
Questions and answers related to weather: clouds, cold and winter storms, climate change, and more. For example, "how warm can it be and still snow?"
 *R QC999 .L96
The history of weather. James Thaxter Williams, 1999.
Delineates the history of weather from "the birth of the earth to the twentieth century". Includes history of ice ages, the Greek experience, meteorosensitivity and other folklore, etc.		 *R QC855 .W55


Climatology - Indexes and Abstracts

PAPER FORMAT:

The following print resources can be found in the open-shelf reference collection on the lower level of the Science, Industry and Business Library.

Applied science and technology index *R Z7913 .I7
Bibliography and index of geology *R Z6031. G4
General science index *R Z7401 .G46
Meteorological and geoastrophysical abstracts *R QC851.A62

ELECTRONIC:

The following databases can be accessed in the Electronic Information Center (EIC) on the lower level of the Science, Industry and Business Library.

Academic Search Premier (EBSCO)
Provides full text for 3,350 scholarly publications covering academic areas of study including social sciences, humanities, education, computer sciences, engineering, language and linguistics, arts & literature, medical sciences, and ethnic studies. Coverage varies. This resource is also available from home with a New York Public Library Branch Libraries card, see: http://www.nypl.org/databases/index.cfm?act=2&j=home
Applied Science and Technology Abstracts
Articles. Abstract and index database. Locate articles in 390 of the key English language periodicals in applied sciences. Covers engineering, computers, mathematics, physics, energy related topics, chemistry, and data processing. 1983 - Present. Updated: Monthly.
Compendex Plus
Articles. Abstract and index database. Locate articles in all fields of engineering including environmental and geological engineering. Journal articles, technical reports, monographs, and conference proceedings are included. 1980 - Present. Updated: Weekly. Print copy of Engineering Index is available on the lower level, call number *R Z5851.E622.
Earthscape
Selected full text resources on earth-systems science for researchers, teacher, students, and decision makers. Includes information on all aspects of earth sciences and impacts on public policy. Search conference papers, journal articles, books and teaching resources. View today's earth sciences news, videos from the American Museum of Natural History and ABC NewsOne, and an online magazine, Earth Affairs.
Environmental Policy Index (EBSCO)
Abstract & Index. Contains nearly three quarters of a million indexed citations to articles from scientific, technical, and popular journals, spanning the whole range of environmental topics. coverage: 1973 - Present. Updated: Monthly.
General Science Abstracts
Articles. Abstract and Index Database. Locate articles in periodicals covering astronomy, biology, the environment, conservation, health, microbiology and oceanography, and other subjects. 1984 - Present. Updated: Monthly.
GeoRef
Articles. Index Database. More than 1.5 million citations to geological journal articles, books, maps, reports, and most U.S. Geological Survey publications. North America 1795 - Present; other regions 1933 - Present. Updated: Monthly.
INSPEC
The Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), the largest bibliographic database in the fields of physics, electrical engineering and electronics, computers and control engineering and information technology. Includes 6,000,000+ abstract records, indexes 4,000 journals and 2,000+ conference proceedings each year. Records include abstracts and full bibliographic citations. Coverage: 1968-

World WeatherDisc
Statistical Database. Detailed description of historical weather and climate information for the entire planet. The following is a list of the available data sets:
1. World Monthly Surface Station Climatology for 3,293 stations from around the globe. Date coverage: 1941-1990.
2. World Airfield Climatological Summaries for 5,717 airport locations worldwide.
3. United States monthly normals of temperature and precipitation for 6,663 stations throughout the U.S.
4. United States monthly climatic summaries for 1,862 stations throughout the US
5. United States Local Climatological Data summaries for 286 primary stations throughout the US
6. United States monthly climatic division data from 1895-1992 for all 350 divisions covering the US
7. United States daily weather data for 222 stations nationwide. Date coverage varies.


Climatology - Web Sites

  • Google Web Directory - Meteorology
    http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Earth_Sciences/Meteorology/
    Directory pointing to over 700 sites related to meteorology, with links to related categories such as weather news and atmospheric chemistry.
  • International Weather from WeatherHub
    http://www.weatherhub.com/
    Collected links for thousands of cities from around the world. Also provides some historical data for individual cities in the U.S.; this information is provided by Weather Underground (see further down on the list).
  • National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) Online Document Library
    http://www5.ncdc.noaa.gov/pubs/publications.html
    Access to most data is available from SIBL only, using SIBL's ID and password. (Please inquire in person at McGraw Desk, lower level of SIBL.) Data include: Monthly Climatic Data for the World (1998-Present); Storm Data (1994-Present); Local Climatological Data (Cities), Edited (1996-Present); Climatological Data (1997-Present, by state); Hourly Precipitation Data (1997-Present); Monthly Normals (1971-Present); Heating and Cooling Degree Day Data (1993-Present). Many of these publications are also available as depository items in print and/or microfiche.
  • NOAA Photo Library Home Page
    http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's photograph and image collection has over 10,000 downloadable images that are related to weather. To find images browse the index, or search the collection by keyword.
  • PSC Meteorology Program Cloud Boutique
    http://vortex.plymouth.edu/clouds.html
    This "general cloud reference", hosted by the Plymouth State College Weather Center, provides cloud classifications and descriptions, as well as photographs.
  • Reading Weather Maps - University of Illinois
    http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/maps/home.rxml
    Discusses how to interpret weather information in order to make predictions. Focuses on reading weather maps to make forecasts, and general methods of preparing a forecast.
  • The Weather Channel - Weather Maps
    http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype.html
    Weather maps include US Severe Weather, Current Weather, 48-Hour Forecast, 7-Day Forecast, US Doppler Radar, US Satellite, World Satellite, Earthquake Reports, and more.
  • Weather Underground
    http://www.wunderground.com/
    Includes maps for temperature, radar, visibility, wind, heat index, wind-chill, humidity, storms and dew point. Features cover astronomy (maps of the night sky searchable by zip code), ski reports, and marine forecasts. Has current conditions for US and international cities.
  • What forces affect our weather? - Annenberg/CPB Exhibits
    http://www.learner.org/exhibits/weather/
    Sections cover the atmosphere, the water cycle, powerful storms, ice and snow, forecasting, our changing climate, and a list of related resources including links and a bibliography.

Climatology - Search Steps

Sample Question:
 How can I find information on climatic phenomena?

Answer:
 To find information at the Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL), use the following steps:

Step 1: Consult dictionaries and encyclopedias in the open-shelf reference collection.
 Refer to the climatology reference sources list. These resources can be found in the open-shelf reference collection on the lower level of SIBL.

Step 2: Search the NYPL catalogs for books on your topic.
 Search the catalog for both high school and undergraduate-level materials that circulate, and for graduate level books for reference use only. Check the location of items found to make sure they are either in SIBL's circulating collection (street level), or its reference collection (lower level). Relevant subject headings are climatology and meteorology, but also search under the names of particular phenomena, i.e. hurricanes.

Step 3: Search for articles using our databases.
 Select from the list of indexes and abstracts. Search for information by keyword or subject term to find article citations. Check journal titles in the above mentioned catalogs for the library's holdings if articles are not available full-text via the databases. Talk to a librarian if you are unable to locate a journal.

For additional information:
 1. Speak to a librarian at the McGraw Information Services Center on the lower level of the library.
2. Register for free classes on searching the library's online catalogs and on finding articles.
3. Consult Web sites on climatology.


Climatological Data - New York City

Below is a chronological listing of New York City climatological data sources, both current and historical.

CURRENT DATA:

Date
Title/Web site
Call Number
1997 – Present Climatological Data. New York.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center.
http://www5.ncdc.noaa.gov/pubs/publications.html
This information is available online at the Science, Industry and Business Library with a user ID and password. To access this data please speak to a librarian.
Monthly editions contain station daily maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation. Some stations provide daily snowfall, snow depth, evaporation, and soil temperature data. Each issue also contains monthly summaries for heating and cooling degree days. The July issue also contains monthly heating degree days and snow data for the preceding July through June. The Annual issue contains monthly and annual averages of temperature, precipitation, temperature extremes, freeze data, soil temperatures, evaporation, and a recap of monthly cooling degree days (description from Web site).		 See also:
1991-Present:
READEX Microfiche: C55.214/29
1997 - Present NWS Boston, MA – Daily Data for 198 Locations
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/dailystns.shtml
Unofficial daily climate data, organized by month, including Central Park, La Guardia Airport and Kennedy Airport.
- - -
2001 – Present National Weather Service Forecast Office – Upton, NY - Snowstorms and Other Recent Significant Weather Events
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/okx/stormtotals.html
Data given for several stations in the Northeast, including Central Park.
- - -
Current Conditions National Weather Service Forecast Office – Upton, NY
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/okx/
Provides official forecasts for New York, Northeastern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut and the surrounding coastal waters.
- - -
Current Conditions Weather.com
www.weather.com/
Includes: current conditions, ten-day forecast, relative humidity, wind direction/speed, barometer, visibility, sunrise and set, and more.
- - -

HISTORICAL DATA:

Date
Title/Web site
Call Number
1826 – 1996 NCDC Climate Visualization
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/onlineprod/drought/xmgr.html
Click on link under heading “Global Historical Climatological Network Data”.This site graphs monthly temperature data (maximums and minimums) for New York Central Park (1876-1996). The precipitation section of CLIMVIS contains monthly precipitation data for New York La Guardia (1826-1989) and New York JFK (1981-1990).
- - -
1876 - 1992

World WeatherDisc
National Climate Data Center, National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Contains daily weather data from Central Park: maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation and snowfall. For 1949 to 1992 includes daily weather data for JFK International Airport: maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation and snowfall.

 Computer file: accessible from the Electronic Information Center (EIC).
1905 - 1958 Daily Weather Bulletin (New York, NY)
US Weather Bureau. Forecast for New York City and Vicinity.
 PRS+ (United States. Weather Bureau. Forecast for New York and vicinity) [incomplete, missing 1947, 1948]
1914 - 1941 Climatological data. New York Section
 U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Weather Bureau, New York Section.
Contains monthly summaries, and daily precipitation and temperature data for over 100 New York State weather stations, including New York City. Stations are listed by geographic division.
 *R QC984.N7.C56
1949 – 1965 Climatological data [by state].
United States. Weather Bureau.		 PRS+ (United States. Weather Bureau. Climatological Data)
1953 – Present Climatological data. New York
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Data and Information Service, National Climatic Center.Gives summarized data: daily precipitation and temperature data (maximum/minimum, average), snowfall, snow on ground, for all New York state weather stations. New York City stations are included in the Coastal Division.		 1953-1990 (microform):
READEX Microcard/fiche: Check Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications in subject index under “New York State” and “Climate” or “Climatological Data”, for Monthly Catalog year and #
1991-Present (microfiche):
READEX Microfiche: C55.214/29
1993-2000 (print):
JSM 95-79 (incomplete)
1997-Present (electronic):
See CURRENT DATA
1966 - 1992 Climatological data [by state]
United States. Environmental Data Service.
See New York section. Provides daily, monthly and annual data for every station in New York State, including Ave.V Brooklyn, Central Park, Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Westerleigh (Staten Island). Has charts for annual temperature and precipitation information for state divisions. 		1966-1979 (incomplete):
PRS (United States. Environmental Data Service. Climatological data)
1980-1992 (incomplete):
JSM 95-103
1968 - 1970 Daily and Hourly Weather Records for the Week
US Weather Bureau. New York. (Central Park Observatory)
Weekly report is divided into seven daily records with hourly observations for: temperature, precipitation, wind, sunshine, radiation, weather, relative humidity, dew point, pressure, etc. Daily summary includes heating degree days. 		*R QC987.N7A43 McGraw Desk
[7 Jan. 1968 -
14 Nov. 1970]
1970 - 1976 Daily and Hourly Weather Records for the Week
US National Weather Service. New York.
Provides the same information as 1968-70 issues (see entry above). As of Jan 28, 1973 includes cooling degree days as well. 		*R QC987.N7.A44 McGraw Desk
[15 Nov. 1970 -
14 Feb. 1976]
Oct. 1984 - Dec. 1993 New York monthly local climatological data
Complete data from eight New York State weather stations including Central Park, JFK and LaGuardia. 		GPO Microfiche:
C 55.286/6-33


Climatological Data - United States

Below is a list of resources with U.S. climatological data, including reference books, and current and historical data organized chronologically.

REFERENCE:

Title
Call Number
Climates of the States. Ruffner, James A. 3rd ed., 1985
Provides narrative summaries, tables and maps for each state with cumulative monthly weather averages between 1951 and 1980 for temperature and precipitation. Describes topographical features, the local economy, climate, droughts, storms and other weather for each state. Appendix to Vol. 2: 'Atlas of state climates' For 1931-1952, includes mean maximum temperatures and precipitation plotted on maps for each state. 		*R QC983.C56 1985
Places rated almanac : your guide to finding the best places to live in North America. New York, NY: Macmillan, Millennium ed. (2000)
This volume, which covers cities in the U.S. and Canada, devotes a chapter to climate. It lists the top cities with respect to specific climatic characteristics, for example: predominance of wind, rain, snow, sun. In addition, it rates 354 metro areas according to climate and provides brief profiles of 212 weather stations.		 *R HN60.B284
Weather America: The Latest Detailed Climatological Data for Over 4,000 Places with Rankings. Garwood, Alfred N. (ed.), 1996
For all US states has general description of physical features, general climate, temperature, precipitation, snowfall, floods, winds and storms, and more. Monthly and yearly data comes from 4,158 weather stations and is based on thirty-year average 1965-1994. Data includes heating and cooling degree days. Weather stations are ranked according to temperature and precipitation data. 		*R QC983 .W385


Climatological Data - International

Below is a list of resources with international climatological data, including reference books, and current and historical data organized chronologically.

REFERENCE:

Title
Call Number

Craighead's international business, travel, and relocation guide to 71 countries. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, Inc., c1991-
Gives a brief overview of the geography and climate of listed countries, as well as a chart of average, max. and min., temperatures and precipitation for a few major cities in each country.

 *R HF5549.5.E45.D56 Latest edition

Fodor's World Weather Guide. Pearce, E.A. and C.G. Smith, 1998
Includes world's climate regions and weather station maps, as well as country by country weather.

 *R QC982 .P44

World survey of climatology. 1969-1995
This 16-volume set covers climates of the world's regions. For countries discusses location and topography, general climate, climatic types, temperature, humidity, precipitation, surface wind, and other climatic factors such as sandstorms and fog. Also has a volume on future climates of the world.

 *R QC980.15W67

CURRENT DATA:

Date
Title/Web site
Call Number
1981 - present

Monthly climatic data for the world
Division of Climatological and Hydrologic Services. Arranged by continent, then country, monthly data (for stations). Includes pressure, temperature, precipitation, upper air and sunshine data.
1998-Present available at:
http://www5.ncdc.noaa.gov/pubs/publications.html
This information is available online at the Science, Industry and Business Library with a user ID and password. To access this data please speak to a librarian.

 JSP 91-247 (Incomplete) Also see adjacent Web site
1991 - present Worldwide Weather and Climate Events
www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/weather-events.html
Gives worldwide weather events and historical global extremes. Monthly reports of extreme events (droughts, tornado outbreaks, typhoons and flooding, etc.) for current year available.
- - -
1994 - present NCDC: Get/View OnLine Climate Data
www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/
climatedata.html         
Will provide daily temperature, precipitation, winds, pressure, snow, etc., data for over 8000 worldwide stations.
- - -
Weather servers, current conditions, and weather forecasts World Meteorological Organization
www.wmo.ch/web-en/member.html
Provides a list of links for national weather Web and Gopher servers for 66 countries. Many servers have English versions.
- - -
Current Weather -- National Weather Service
weather.noaa.gov/weather/ccworld.html
Links to current weather conditions in other nations. Includes hourly data (last 24 hours) for international stations: current temperature, dew point, pressure, wind.
Weather.com
www.weather.com/
Includes: current conditions, ten-day forecast, relative humidity, wind direction/speed, barometer, visibility, sunrise and set, and more.

HISTORICAL DATA:

Date
Title/Web site
Call Number
1800s- 1990s NCDC: Get/View Online Climate Data
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/climatedata.html
Click on “Monthly”, then “Global Stations – Select by Station”. This site graphs monthly temperature and precipitation data from over 7000 worldwide stations. Dates of coverage vary with geographic regions.
- - -
1941 - 1990 World WeatherDisc
National Climate Data Center, National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Statistical Database. Detailed description of historical weather and climate information for the entire planet. Includes monthly averages for temperature, precipitation, and pressure from thousands of weather stations throughout the world. Dates of coverage vary with geographic regions.
Computer file: accessible from the Electronic Information Center (EIC).
1966 - Present
 Monthly climatic data for the world
Division of Climatological and Hydrologic Services.
Arranged by continent, then country, monthly data (for stations). Includes pressure, temperature, precipitation, upper air and sunshine data.

1966-1980:
PRS (United States. Environmental Data Service. Monthly climatic data for the world)
1981- : JSP 91-247
[missing 6/1989, 1/1993-4/1995]


Climatological Data - Search Steps

Sample Question:
 How do I find climatological data (for example, the amount of precipitation) for a region or particular place on a given date or during a certain period of time?

Answer:
 To find information at the Science, Industry and Business Library, use the following steps:

Step 1: Select the geographical area that corresponds with your country, city or region.
 Choices are New York City, United States (including counties and cities within the states), and International.

Step 2: Select the time period that corresponds with your query.
 Sources are listed in chronological order.

Step 3: Locate needed material and look up climatological data by country, region, or city.
 Resources listed on these Web pages can either be found on the reference shelves on the lower level of SIBL, these materials are identified by call numbers beginning with "*R", or must be requested from the B. Altman Delivery Desk using a call slip. Some Web resources are also indicated.

For additional information:
 Speak to a librarian at the McGraw Information Services Center on the lower level of the library.