Library of climate resources

This is a collection of links to climate datasets, tools, guidance and related resources. The sources include the federal government, provincial and territorial governments, national professional organizations, climate consortia and established international organizations. It can be useful for impact, vulnerability and risk assessments, and for adaptation planning.

Refine your search using the search filters. You can also type up to 5 keywords in the search bar.

Explanation of the different resource types
  • data product - downloadable climate dataset
  • tool - builds on a dataset with further analyses and/or visualization
  • guidance - provides direction on the use of climate information or on conducting climate-related assessments
  • codes and standards - guidance and best practice documents for climate resilient design
  • additional resources include educational and awareness-raising material, impact assessments and scientific syntheses

Showing 1 - 10 of 12 results
  • An inventory of historical climate data and climate projections for the Canadian North (Opens in a new Window)

    This collaborative report presents the work done by the Northern Climate Data Working Group Phase I, which was created in December 2020 by the Canadian Centre for Climate Services with researchers and scientists from a wide range of universities and organizations. The report constitutes a large inventory of datasets that can be useful for future development of climate products to support climate-change adaptation decision-making in the Canadian North. Datasets for meteorological, snow, hydrology, sea ice, and permafrost variables were analyzed for the historical period and for future projections. The main information is presented in the form of tables with links to websites and descriptive documents, many of which are attached as annexes. The Phase II of the Working Group has transformed the inventory presented in this report into an online searchable database (https://nordata.physics.utoronto.ca/en/) A PDF copy of this report is available upon request. Please contact Emilia.Diaconescu@ec.gc.ca if interested.
    Organization:
    Government of Canada: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, CSA Group, Government of Northwest Territories, Ouranos, University of Calgary, University of Manitoba, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, Yukon University Research Centre
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Interactive
    • Scientific synthesis
    • Tool

    Arctic Portal (Opens in a new Window)

    The Arctic Portal is a comprehensive gateway to Arctic information and data on the internet, increasing information sharing and co-operation among Arctic stakeholders and granting exposure to Arctic related information and data. The interactive map allows user to select and view specific layers of climate variables, including boreholes, permafrost classification, permafrost extent, details on the active layer, sea ice extent, and historical climate. Additionally, static maps of sea ice, flora and fauna are available for download.
    Organization:
    Arctic Council
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Interactive
    • Mapped
    • Tool

    Climate Indices (Opens in a new Window)

    Climate Indices includes time series, seasonal, and annual data for a number of variables including sea & air temperature, salinity, runoff, flow, ice coverage, iceberg count, and North Atlantic Oscillation Index. Data are observed or observation-based, and are available in a variety of temporal resolutions and historical periods, depending on the variable of interest. Data are available in tabular and graphical formats.
    Organization:
    Government of Canada: Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Graphical

    Data at NSIDC (Opens in a new Window)

    Data at National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) is a large repository of datasets that describe historical cryosphere information. Datasets available include temperature, glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost, sea ice, sea moisture, and snow. Historical data are available as point and gridded data.
    Organization:
    National Snow and Ice Data Center
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Mapped

    Design Value Explorer (Opens in a new Window)

    PCIC’s Design Value Explorer (DVE) enables users to access historical climatic design variables across Canada, in either map or table form, examine projected future change in design variables, and download maps and tables. Climatic design values are used by engineers to determine some elements of the environment that buildings and other infrastructure may be exposed to. This information was produced by PCIC, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the National Research Council, to support updates to the National Building Code of Canada (2015, Table C-2) and the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC/ CSA S6 2014, Annex A3.1).
    Organization:
    Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Interactive
    • Mapped
    • Tool
    • Vulnerability or risk assessment
    • Adaptation planning

    Farmwest (Opens in a new Window)

    Farmwest.com is a website launched in 2001 to provide weather and climate information as well as a number of decision-support tools to the agricultural sector. Farmwest is linked to 397 weather stations across Canada from federal, provincial, municipal and private weather station networks. Data includes temperature, precipitation, growing degree days, pest degree days, T-Sum calculator, and seasonal weather forecasts. Data are searchable by station and time period, and are available graphically.
    Organization:
    Government of British Columbia, Pacific Field Corn Association
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Interactive
    • Scientific synthesis
    • Graphical
    • Mapped
    • Tool

    Forest Change Adaptation Tools (Opens in a new Window)

    Forest Change adaptation tools provides information about the impacts of climate change on Canada’s forests and on how to adapt to changing climate conditions. Adaptation tools and resources for forest managers are available here. The tools and resources provided include maps, databases, web applications and synthesis reports. They are grouped under three broad systems: climate, forest and human.
    Organization:
    Government of Canada: Natural Resources Canada
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Interactive
    • Graphical
    • Mapped
    • Tool

    Forest Change Data Catalogue (Opens in a new Window)

    The Forest Climate Change Data Catalogue is a collection of data sets that are relevant to the Canadian forest sector under a changing climate. Created by Canadian Forest Service scientists, these data sets include static maps, raw data (both point and gridded), and interactive maps that cover all of Canada. Data themes include drought, fire, climate and tree distribution; multiple climate scenarios are projected to the year 2100. The data sets will be periodically updated as new information becomes available.
    Organization:
    Government of Canada: Natural Resources Canada
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Graphical
    • Mapped
    • Tool

    Regional, national and international climate modeling (Opens in a new Window)

    Regional, national and international climate modeling contains a database of numerous climate variables for Canada and the USA. Historical and future periods are available as modelled point and gridded data. Data are available as 30-year averages (e.g. 1961/90; 1971/2000, etc.), historical month-by-month (from the late 1800s), and daily values (from the 1950s) all for a number of variables, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) climate change scenarios, and climate models. Future time periods include all years to 2100 and 30-year means for 2011-2040, 2041-2070, and 2071-2100.
    Organization:
    Government of Canada: Natural Resources Canada
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Graphical
    • Mapped
    • Tool

    Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning (Opens in a new Window)

    Scenarios Network for Arctic Planning (SNAP) produces downscaled, historical and projected climate data for sub-Arctic and Arctic regions of Alaska and Canada. Other project-specific data covers much larger regions. Users can search for datasets of interest using keywords and filter datasets based on relevance, name, and date last modified. Analysis tools are also available for Alaska wildfire, climate projections, climate histories, daily precipitation, extreme weather, historical sea ice, modelled sea ice coverage, and sea ice and wind interactions.
    Organization:
    University of Alaska Fairbanks
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Graphical


As mentioned in the Terms and Conditions of this website, links to websites not under the control of the Government of Canada are offered on an “AS IS” basis and are provided solely for the convenience of our website visitors. The Government of Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or reliability of the content of such websites. The Government of Canada does not offer any guarantee in that regard and is not responsible nor liable for the information found through these links, and does not endorse the sites nor their content. Visitors should also be aware that the information offered by non-Government of Canada sites to which this website links is not subject to the Privacy Act or the Official Languages Act and may not be accessible to persons with disabilities. The information offered may be available only in the language (s) used by the sites in question. With respect to privacy, visitors should research the privacy policies of these non-government websites before providing personal information.

More resources from the Canadian Centre for Climate Services

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