Executive Director, Blume Library
Overview
There are numerous federal department and agencies that research and provide information about the earth sciences and environmental sciences. The box below, while numerous, are still a selected list of federal research sources. Federal departments with an interest in earth and environmental sciences include the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and the Interior. Other areas, not represented on this page, also research topics related to the environment. See the Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, and Space Sciences (for geolocation information) for more ideas.
DOE
Selected links for the Department of Energy (DOE).
- Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Network (DOE)Portal with links to information resources and policy initiatives, and access to thousands of documents
- OpenNet (DOE)Database of documents declassified since 1994, dealing with early nuclear energy experiments, human radiation experiments, and related health, environmental and safety issues.
- OSTI.gov (DOE)Office of Scientific and Technical Information search that contains energy-related research results from scholarly journals, reports, software, patents, videos, and more. See the Search Tools for more information.
EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a key agency for information about the environmental issues. Here are a few key EPA websites.
- AirNow (EPA)Provides search access to the Air Quality Index to assess the quality of outdoor air by zip code, state, or current location.
- Climate Change (EPA)Snapshot from the EPA website as of 1/2017. Details about climate change research.
- ECHO (Enforcement & Compliance History Online)EPA database to find "facilities in your community to assess their compliance with environmental regulations." Search by city, state, or zip code. Topics include Water, Air, Hazardous Waste.
- EnvirofactsProvides a sampling of environmental information for specific areas, which can be designated by zip code, city, county, or place name.Topics include toxic releases, air emission estimates, water discharge permits, etc.
- Environmental Justice (EPA)Resources from the EPA's working group on environmental equity.
- Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)Resource for learning about toxic chemical releases and pollution prevention activities reported by industrial and federal facilities. Searchable by location.
- Web Archive (EPA)Historical information from the EPA. Website prior to 1/2017.
NOAA
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a key agency for information about the Earth and its environment.
- Climate Data Online (NOAA)tools for searching and mapping weather information from the global down to local areas. Includes links to databases about drought, climate models, satellite data, etc.
- National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA)Major section of NOAA that is responsible for preserving, monitoring, and providing public access to climate and historical weather data. Formerly named the National Climatic Data Center.
- Ocean and Coastal Tools (NOAA)Links to data on tides and currents, nautical charts, sanctuaries, post-storm imagery, etc.
- Satellite & Information Service (NOAA)Access to global environmental data and information from satellites and other sources.
- Weather Forecasts (NOAA)Weather forecasts including warnings, aviation weather, hurricanes, severe storms, fire safety, and more.
USGS
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has a large web presence. The agency focused on ecosystems, environment, land resources, natural hazards, and water. This box focuses on a few aspects of the agency. See the main USGS page for more information.
- USGS WebsiteUSGS homepage includes topics, products, data, news, and more.
- Maps (USGS)Portal to major map products. Includes links to the Map Locator, topographic maps, historical maps, state maps, world maps, geologic maps, etc. Some material is downloadable, some maps are for sale.
- Mineral Resources Online Spacial Data (USGS)Interactive maps and downloadable data for regional and global geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and mineral resources. Includes web services providing data for users of Geographic Information System software (GIS). Note: Publications includes the annual Minerals Yearbook.
- Publications (USGS)Browse publications authored by USGS scientists the past 100+ years Includes journal articles, series reports, book chapters, vides, etc. And, includes a link to the searchable Publications Warehouse.
- TopoView (USGS)Provides the best visual overview of available topographic maps. Download digital maps in GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, JPG, and KMZ formats.
Other Agencies
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM)The agency manages the public lands of the U.S. and regulates activities on them, including recreation, commercial enterprises, and conservation/restoration.
- Fish & Wildlife ServiceFocus on wildlife, including information on endangered species and National Wildlife Refuges.The Library tab includes open source publications.
- National Agricultural Library Digital Collections (USDA)Database of agricultural information including journal articles, plant inventory, dietary guidance, and more.
- National Forest ServiceManages and protects national forests and grasslands in 43 states and Puerto Rico.Various information including firefighting.
- National Park Service (NPS)NPS homepage with links to parks, travel itineraries, historic places, etc.
- National Park Service: Geologic Resourcesfocuses on geological processes and features within the Park system
- PLANTS Database (USDA)provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.
Print: Earth & Environment Sources
Bibliography of North American GeologyCall Number: I 19.3:1929-69 (some years are missing). This index to the geological literature is no longer available as part of the "USGS Bulletins" series, but provides a valuable record of work for the years covered.- Climate action reportCall Number: S 1.2:C 61/21994, 1997, 2002. Submissions of the U.S. under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. There is a summary chapter and other sections which cover: National Circumstances, Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Mitigating Climate Change, Vulnerability and Adaptation, Research and Systematic Observation, Education, Training and Outreach, and International Activities. There is also a review of governmental actions, reporting tables, and a brief bibliography.
- Council on Environmental Quality, Annual ReportCall Number: PrEx 14.1:1971-4, 1982-1997. Some material online. Gives background information and discusses issues of current concern in several environmental areas: air quality, biodiversity, energy, pollution prevention, etc.
- Historical Unrest at Large Calderas of the WorldCall Number: I 19.3:1855/v.1,21988. Summaries of historical "unrest" (defined as seismicity, ground deformation, thermal activity and eruptions) at 138 calderas greater than 5 kilometers in diameter. (A caldera is a roughly circular depression surrounding a usually long-extinct volcanic vent structure.) There is a quick reference chart as well as more detailed descriptions. The level of explanation is fairly technical but not beyond the reach of an informed layperson.
- Lexicon of geologic names of the United StatesCall Number: I 19.3:These references, which appear in the "USGS Bulletins" series, provide the official names of geological features. Additional information usually includes location, type, age and/or thickness of sediments, etc. Be aware that names for formations may change over time; check in a more recent edition for a name found in an earlier one. The Library retains the older editions because they contain more descriptive material and are easier to read than the cumulative list of features in the more recent editions.
- Presidential documents on the environmentCall Number: PREX 23Various. Over the years, the President's science/technology office (called the National Science & Technology Council OR the Office of Science & Technology Policies) has published reports on the environment, along with other scientific subjects.
