Whether you’re looking into the past or predicting the future, these resources let you work directly with the data that make up our climate record on land, in the atmosphere, and at sea.
A screenshot of the US Climate Resilience Toolkit page of average daily maximum temperature in July comparing historical average with a projection for 2090 assuming high emissions. (Image credit: US Climate Resilience Toolkit)
This collection is organized into three categories:
Classroom ready
Classroom-ready modules are designed with educators in mind. They use NOAA data in lesson plans and curricula for a straightforward experience.
Climate & Data ACLIPSE Activities offsite link
6th - 12th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
This collection uses real-time environmental data in self-directed student activities exploring the natural world. Students learn about carbon cycling, ocean acidification, and other phenomena related to climate change. These modules are designed with a three-dimensional approach to teaching in mind and use a data literacy framework.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
Data in the Classroom
5th - 12th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
Data in the Classroom has structured, student-directed lesson plans that use historical and real-time NOAA data. The five modules address research questions and include stepped levels of engagement with complex inquiry investigations with real-time and past data.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Satellite imagery • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted
Drought data and projections offsite link
9th - 12th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
This module includes maps of U.S. drought data (2010–2018) and the world (2013–2018) as well as maps of U.S. drought risk projections until 2095. Students will use these resources to observe seasonal patterns and identify the drought risk for different areas. This activity includes background reading and discussion questions.
Interactive map • Modeled/predicted
Easily accessible resources
Often geared for researchers, these data resources come in a variety of formats and are not associated with lesson plans. However, the ones we highlight here are user-friendly and usually address a single subject.
Climate.gov maps and data
Explore numerous education materials, maps and data related to climate topics. Click across the Data Snapshots, Dataset Gallery, Climate Data Primer, and Climate Dashboard sections to see different data visualizations.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted
Digital Coast Sea Level Rise Viewer
Display potential future sea levels and view sea level rise simulations of up to 6 feet at a local landmarks on this interactive map. Overlay social and economic data to see the potential impact that sea level rise may have on vulnerable people and businesses.
Interactive map • Modeled/predicted
GLOBE Data Visualization
View data collected by teachers and students participating in the GLOBE Program and long-term air temperature and precipitation observations from the Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN).
While lessons for data collection and other activities are a part of the GLOBE website, specific lessons for manipulation of this data are not provided at this link.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
Interactive Atmospheric Data Visualization
The Global Monitoring Division of NOAA’s Earth System Research Lab collects worldwide, long-term and real-time data on atmospheric chemicals including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and many others. A wide variety of measurements and plot types are available for carbon cycle gases, solar radiation, ozone, aerosols, and more.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
NOAA View Global Data Explorer
Access NOAA data from a variety of satellite, model, and other observations in a single, user-friendly map. Investigate various datasets related to the ocean, atmosphere, land, cryosphere, and climate and view them as animations over weeks, months, or years. Mouse over the maps to inspect individual data values at any point.
Interactive map • Satellite imagery • Modeled/predicted
Sea Level Trends
Explore sea level changes across the globe with annual data from at least 30 years. Arrows indicate whether and to what extent the sea level is rising or falling. You can also view global and regional trends and anomalies.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted
The Climate Explorer offsite link
Delve into historical data back to 1950 and predictive models through 2090 for temperature, precipitation, flooding, sea level rise from the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted
Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Examine recent, monthly, annual mean, and full record global CO2 data, as well as data from Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Change the scale of the graph and find individual point values on the graph by mousing over the point in question.
Numerical data • Graph/figure
xmACIS offsite link
Search weather data from regional climate centers. Data is available for each Weather Forecast Office (WFO); find your local WFO here.
Numerical data • Graph/figure
NOAA Satellite and Information Service [Advanced]
View and download real-time, full-resolution satellite imagery from NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service. Visualize the latest satellite observations on interactive maps; check out the image of the day; explore past storms, floods, fires, and other events; and more.
Interactive map • Satellite imagery
Looking for more?
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, try exploring our major data repositories. These sites host vast troves of data from across many different subjects and disciplines.
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) [Advanced]
NCEI hosts and provides public access to one of the most significant archives for environmental data on Earth. Over 25 petabytes (25 million gigabytes) of atmospheric, coastal, oceanic, and geophysical data are available.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Satellite imagery • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted