Notice to Climate Explorer Users
An expanded and enhanced version of the Climate Explorer (Version 2.6) is now available at https://crt-climate-explorer.nemac.org/
Overview of changes in Version 2.6
Click any headline below to learn more.
- Graphs and maps display new datasets
- Number of decision-relevant variables expands from 8 to 20
- New: Check when user-defined temperature and precipitation thresholds have been exceeded
- New: Charts show frequency of observed and projected high-tide flooding at selected coastal stations
- Improved labeling/explanations in downloaded data files
- Removed View by Topic section
- Moved to a new URL
- Questions or comments?
Back to Climate Explorer »
Projection data from Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA)
As with the previous version of Climate Explorer, projection data are derived from the global climate modeling experiments known as the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). In the updated version, graphs and maps will display county-scale data generated using a new statistical downscaling technique called Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA). Compared to its predecessors, the LOCA dataset has an improved ability to represent extreme conditions at high spatial resolution. The downscaling technique uses historical climate observations to add fine-scale detail to global climate models. LOCA is also the high-resolution dataset of climate projections used in U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) products, such as the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4). Updating to the LOCA dataset will enable users to make direct comparisons between data in the Climate Explorer and NCA4 reports.
The updated version of the Climate Explorer will offer data for the contiguous United States; the LOCA dataset does not include other U.S. lands. By mid-2018, we plan to identify useful, vetted projection datasets for other locations so we can expand our coverage to include Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Observations from Livneh dataset
Observations from 1950–2013 are from a gridded dataset of historical observations compiled by a group of climate scientists led by Ben Livneh of NOAA’s Earth Systems Research Laboratory (Livneh et al., 2013, 2015). The Livneh dataset has finer spatial resolution than the previously used observational dataset (Maurer et al., 2002).
Number of decision-relevant variables expanded from 8 to 20
Variables available in Climate Explorer Version 2.5 are:
- Mean Daily Maximum Temperature; Annual, Seasonal, Monthly
- Mean Daily Minimum Temperature; Annual, Seasonal, Monthly
- Days with Maximum Temperature >90, 95, 100, 105°F
- Days with Maximum Temperature <32°F (icing days)
- Days with Minimum Temperature <32°F (frost days)
- Days with Minimum Temperature >80, 90°F
- Heating Degree Days
- Cooling Degree Days
- Growing Degree Days
- Modified Growing Degree Days
- Total Precipitation
- Dry Days
- Days with Precipitation >1, 2, 3 inches
- Days with High-Tide Flooding (at select stations)
New: Check when user-defined temperature and precipitation thresholds have been exceeded
For stations with data records that meet rigorous criteria for completeness, users can specify a threshold of interest and generate a plot showing when that threshold has been exceeded over time. For example, users can find out when a station's temperature exceeded a value such as 95°F for one or more consecutive days.
New: Charts show frequency of observed and projected high-tide flooding at selected coastal stations
For 28 coastal tide gauge stations around the United States, users can view charts showing the number of high-tide flood events that have occurred per year since 1950. The charts also show projections out to 2100 of the annual number of high-tide floods in two possible futures: one in which global emissions of heat-trapping gases are reduced and stabilized, and another in which emissions continue increasing through the end of the century.
Improved labeling/explanations in downloaded data files
Documentation of values in downloaded .csv files is complete and consistent.
Removed "View by Topic" section
Rapid changes in Web Mapping Services made it hard to keep this section working correctly. The CRT editorial team is working with Topic and Regional teams to offer "Guided Explorations" presented as Esri Story Maps.
Moved to a new URL
The new version of Climate Explorer will be hosted by our partner, NEMAC, and served from a new URL outside of NCEI. When launching Climate Explorer, users will see an exit notice.
Questions or comments?
If you have questions or comments on the Climate Explorer or the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, email us at noaa.toolkit@noaa.gov.
