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 - 9 of 9 results
  • A Primer for Understanding Concepts, Principles and Language Use Across Disciplines (Opens in a new Window)

    This primer helps engineers and climate specialists collaborate more effectively in carrying out climate change vulnerability and risk assessments. It does this by explaining important differences in how practitioners from these two respective disciplines understand particular concepts, principles, and vocabulary.
    Organization:
    Nodelcorp, Government of British Columbia, Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium
    Resource formats:
    • Scientific synthesis
    • Vulnerability or risk assessment

    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

    Climate phenomena (Opens in a new Window)

    Explore the observed and projected changes, as well as the impacts and adaptation solutions associated with various climatic phenomena. High water and flooding, thawing permafrost, forest fires, landslides, thunderstorms and lightning, freezing rain, precipitation, temperatures, heat waves, winds and storms... This page is gradually updated: New hazard pages are under development and will be added on a regular basis.
    Organization:
    Ouranos
    Resource formats:
    • Scientific synthesis
    • Adaptation planning

    Scientific recommendation guide to facilitate the use of climate projections (in French only) (Opens in a new Window)

    The climate information available and needed can be difficult to interpret and use, as climate science is complex and rapidly evolving. To use the data properly, a good knowledge of the main links in the climate modeling chain is therefore desirable. This document sets out recommendations for the use of climate projections. Based on the current state of scientific knowledge, these recommendations aim to provide a better understanding of certain climate modeling concepts, and to help in the choice of climate models, emission scenarios (greenhouse gases, particulate aerosols, land use), time horizons and reference periods, and percentiles.
    Organization:
    Ouranos
    Resource formats:
    • Scientific synthesis
    • Educational and awareness-raising material

    Syntheses of knowledge (Opens in a new Window)

    The Ouranos team produces syntheses of scientific knowledge on the evolution of the Quebec climate in the form of scientific publications. The aim is to provide reference documents for researchers and practitioner, giving them a complete picture of the most recent, cutting-edge advances in climate change in Quebec. Freezing rain 2024 edition, Regional (in French only): This synthese of knowledge produced by the Ouranos team paints a picture of the evolution of freezing rain in Quebec. It discusses observed climate, climate model representations of historical climate, anticipated changes, combined events involving freezing rain, and research prospects. Outlook Quebec chapter, 2022 edition (in French only) : This chapter presents new knowledge and research findings published in Natural Resources Canada's Regional Outlook report. It describes what we know about the impacts of climate change on Quebec's population, natural environment, built environment and economic sectors, as well as the measures and initiatives we have taken to adapt to these impacts. Synthesis on climate change, 2015 edition (in French only): This report provides a detailed synthesis of past and current climate change knowledge and climate change impacts in the province of Quebec. Coming soon synthesis on Precipitation and Temperatures
    Organization:
    Ouranos
    Resource formats:
    • Scientific synthesis

    Tundra Nunavik project (Opens in a new Window)

    While most ecological studies focus on the impact of climate change on some populations or species, ecosystem-based information is needed to better predict the future state of the Arctic. The Tundra Nunavik project is a large-scale study aimed at characterizing the vulnerability of tundra terrestrial ecosystems to climate change through modelling approach. The approach combined climate modeling, climate niche modeling, and ecosystem modeling, to assess potential changes in terrestrial ecosystems of tundra of Nunavik during the 21st century
    Organization:
    Université du Québec à Rimouski, Ouranos
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Interactive
    • Impact assessment
    • Scientific synthesis
    • Graphical
    • Mapped
    • Tool

    Understanding climate concepts (Opens in a new Window)

    Intended as a continuation of the Understanding Climate Science page, this page expands upon certain climate concepts that are important for understanding climate science. Weather and climate, climate change, physical climate models downscaling climate data, the physical parameterizations of a climate model, initializing a climate simulation, RCMs driving datasets, ensemble of climate simulations and validation of climate simulations. On this page there is also a glossary.
    Organization:
    Ouranos
    Resource formats:
    • Scientific synthesis


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