ENGL 500: English Practicum Sources of Geographic and Environmental Data

Why these data? A knowledge of geography is vital to understanding the natural and cultural world around us. Location affects many more phenomena than just business. The environment figures in many of the most vexing issues facing society today. The list that follows is far from exhaustive… 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data2

Focus of this talk Geographic resources Weather and climate resources Geological resources Chemical resources Emergency resources Scientific societies Non-governmental organizations Journalism organizations 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data3

Geographic resources U.S. Census Bureau: American Factfinder –Population, housing, economic, and other data U.S. Census Bureau: International Data Base –Demographic data, population pyramids U.S. Board on Geographic Names –National and international place names 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data4

Geographic resources U.S. National Atlas -- U.S. Census Bureau: Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing system (TIGER) -- –A geographic information system (GIS) that allows users to display Census and other data U.S. Census Bureau: LandView –Allows users to view U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Census Bureau, and U.S. Geological Survey maps 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data5

Geographic resources Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The World Factbook -- the-world-factbook/index.htmlhttps:// the-world-factbook/index.html U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Maps, Imagery, and Publications -- –Allows users to search for, and in some cases download, USGS maps and other products 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data6

Geographic resources National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Earth Observatory –While far from comprehensive, it is a treasure trove of satellite and other remotely sensed imagery NASA/NOAA: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) –Satellite imagery from the GOES program 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data7

Geographic resources NASA/NOAA: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) –Satellite imagery from the GOES program NOAA: National Geophysical Data Center –A smorgasbord of geophysical data, including topographic and bathymetric data Google Earth -- –Explore the world from the safety of your computer 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data8

Weather and climate resources World Meteorological Organization (WMO) –United Nations agency responsible for climate, atmosphere, and oceans WMO: World Weather Information Site –Official weather data and forecasts from around the world 13 October 20109Geographic and Environmental Data

Weather and climate resources National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) -- –U.S. agency responsible for oceans, atmosphere, and climate NOAA: National Weather Service –Weather data and forecasting NOAA: National Center for Environmental Prediction -- –Lots of cool imagery and forecast products 13 October Geographic and Environmental Data

Weather and climate resources NOAA: National Hurricane Center –Subdivision of the National Weather Service responsible for tropical weather data and forecasts NOAA: National Climatic Data Center –NOAA center responsible for archiving many types of climate data and climate proxy data NOAA: Daily Weather Maps October Geographic and Environmental Data

Weather and climate resources NASA: Global Climate Change –I am probably the only person in the room who had s released in the Climate Gate affair, so I may be biased, but climate change is occurring and NASA has a lot of data here to help you learn about those changes. USGS: Water Data Discovery –Primary national repository for water resources data 13 October Geographic and Environmental Data

Weather and climate resources Weather & Climate Data -- –Very nice maps and other graphics developed from NCEP data and model results Weather Underground –One of the coolest Web sites in the world World Climate -- –Climate (not weather) data from locations around the world Weatherbase -- –Weather and climate data from locations around the world 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data13

Geological resources U.S. Geological Survey -- USGS: Natural Hazards site –Main USGS portal to all sorts of natural hazard (earthquakes, volcanoes, coastal storms, etc.) information USGS: Earthquake Hazards Program USGS: Volcano Hazards Program October Geographic and Environmental Data

Geological resources Smithsonian Institution (SI): Global Volcanism Program -- NOAA: Tsunami Program NOAA: Pacific Tsunami Warning Center October Geographic and Environmental Data

Chemical resources U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA): Envirofacts -- –Environmental data from localities across the U.S. USEPA: National Priorities List –Sites that are listed in or being considered for listing in the Superfund program USEPA: Toxics Release Inventory –Data on releases of toxic and other hazardous substances 13 October Geographic and Environmental Data

Chemical resources USEPA: Integrated Risk Information System –Toxicological data on substances regulated or considered for regulation by the USEPA Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry –Authoritative scientific reviews of toxicological data on substances that are regulated or considered for regulation by USEPA and other agencies 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data17

Chemical resources Department of Transportation (DOT): Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration –Agency regulates pipelines and transport of hazardous materials Emergency Response Guidebook -- erg-gmu/erg/ergmenu.aspx erg-gmu/erg/ergmenu.aspx –User-friendly guide to characteristics of hazardous materials transported on highways and railways 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data18

Emergency resources World Health Organization (WHO): Emergency Preparedness and Humanitarian Action U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) October Geographic and Environmental Data

Emergency resources CDC: Emergency Preparedness & Response National Response Framework -- nrf-core.pdf nrf-core.pdf National Contingency Plan cfr300_00.html 40cfr300_00.html 13 October Geographic and Environmental Data

Emergency resources Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) -- Virginia Department of Health (VDH): Emergency Preparedness & Response Programs Emergency and Disaster Information Service (EDIS): AlertMap October Geographic and Environmental Data

Scientific societies American Association of Geographers – American Geophysical Union -- American Meteorological Society Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry -- Society for Risk Analysis -- Society of Toxicology October Geographic and Environmental Data

Non-governmental organizations International Committee of the Red Cross American Red Cross -- Doctors without Borders October Geographic and Environmental Data

Journalism organizations National Association of Science Writers Society of Environmental Journalists October Geographic and Environmental Data

Ecological resources The Encyclopedia of Earth: Biome – World Wildlife Fund: Terrestrial Ecoregions – item1267.html item1267.html World Wildlife Fund: Marine Ecoregions of the World – ecoregions/marine/item1266.htmlhttp:// ecoregions/marine/item1266.html 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data25

Ecological resources World Wildlife Fund: Freshwater Ecoregions of the World – ecoregions/freshwater.htmlhttp:// ecoregions/freshwater.html The Nature Conservancy: Freshwater Ecoregions of the World – 13 October 2010Geographic and Environmental Data26