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 25 results
  • Adapting to Climate Change: A Risk Management Guide for Utilities (Opens in a new Window)

    This guidance document aims to support electricity generators devise and implement a climate change adaptation plan. A risk-based framework is used to explore the key characteristics and considerations of adaptation planning, including the use of future climate projections, identification of relevant adaptation options and outline of management characteristics.
    Organization:
    Canadian Electricity Association
    Resource formats:
    • Adaptation planning

    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

    CAN/BNQ 2501-500 Geotechnical site investigations for building foundations in permafrost zones (Opens in a new Window)

    This standard establishes a consistent methodology for performing geotechnical site investigations so that the results can be used to design building foundations with due consideration, in a risk management framework, of the conditions prevailing at the building site, including: the distinctive characteristics of permafrost; and the seasonal and interannual climate conditions as well as the projected climate conditons over the service life of the building foundations.
    Organization:
    Bureau de normalisation du Québec, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    Canadian Cryospheric Information Network (Opens in a new Window)

    Canadian Cryospheric Information Network (CCIN) provides information on measuring, modeling, and understanding the relationships between the cryosphere and the Earth's climate system. It contains data visualizations of current and historical snow water equivalent, sea ice thickness, and current and historical lake ice cover. Historical and future data are available as point and gridded data.
    Organization:
    Canadian Cryosphere Information Network, University of Waterloo
    Resource formats:
    • Data files
    • Interactive
    • Impact assessment
    • Scientific synthesis
    • Graphical
    • Mapped
    • Tool

    Climate Change Research (Opens in a new Window)

    Nunavut Climate Change Research includes initiatives, databases, resources and a listing of ongoing and completed projects related to climate change in Nunavut. This site has a broad cross section of resources, available in static reports and other formats.
    Organization:
    Government of Nunavut
    Resource formats:
    • Adaptation planning
    • Educational and awareness-raising material

    CSA PLUS 4011.1:19 Technical Guide: Design and construction considerations for foundations in permafrost regions (Opens in a new Window)

    This Guideline is a companion document to CSA PLUS 4011, Technical Guide: Infrastructure in permafrost: A guideline for climate change adaptation. It is intended to assist developers, designers, the general public, and other stakeholders understand the permafrost terrain of Canada, as well as the general selection process and choices for permafrost foundations and their limitations.
    Organization:
    CSA Group, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    CSA PLUS 4011:19 Technical guide: Infrastructure in permafrost: A guideline for climate change adaptation (Opens in a new Window)

    This is the second edition of CSA PLUS 4011, Technical Guide: Infrastructure in permafrost: A guideline for climate change adaptation. It supersedes the previous edition published in 2010. Updates to the new edition are as follows: a) Current climate change projections recommended for use in northern Canada are presented (Chapter 4); b) Up-to-date information on ground temperature trends in permafrost throughout northern Canada are presented (Chapter 2); c) Permafrost conditions critical for infrastructure foundations have been summarized, revised, and consolidated into a single chapter (Chapter 2); d) Description and explanation of foundations used in northern Canada for buildings constructed on permafrost have been revised to improve readability (Chapter 3); e) Current trends in climate (temperature and precipitation) throughout the North are presented (Chapter 4); f) A range of climate projections available for northern Canada are presented graphically to allow assessment of current uncertainty in future climate projections (Chapter 4 and Annex C); g) Minor revisions to the screening process have been made for clarity (Chapter 5).
    Organization:
    CSA Group
    Resource formats:

    CSA W203:19 Planning, design, operation, and maintenance of wastewater treatment in northern communities using lagoon and wetland systems (Opens in a new Window)

    This standard specifically addresses the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of intermittent/seasonal discharge lagoon and wetland systems that are most appropriate for use in Northern regions, where effluent discharge is either difficult or not possible in colder months.
    Organization:
    CSA Group, Standards Council of Canada
    Resource formats:

    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


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