NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center

Sectoral Engagement Fact Sheet

WATER RESOURCES

Overview  Water is a fundamental component of life and water 

resources are directly dependent on climate. Climate change is 

altering the water cycle, affecting where, 

when, and how much water is available. Extreme weather events such as droughts and 

heavy precipitation, which are expected to 

increase as climate changes, can significantly impact water resources. A lack 

of adequate water supplies, an overabundance of water, or degraded water 

quality has a substantial influence on civilization—now and throughout history—affecting the economy, energy production and use, human health, transportation, agriculture, national security, natural ecosystems, and recreation. 

Providing access to relevant climate information is essential to understanding 

how weather patterns and climate trends influence water resources and to 

developing appropriate planning, response, and adaptation strategies. 

KEY STAKEHOLDERS NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) works with various 

groups, both as an information provider and as an applied research partner, 

to examine the effects of weather and climate on water resources. This 

helps decision makers within the water resources sector determine practical 

responses to climate changes and variations. There are many different 

governmental and non-governmental organizations, public and private groups 

and businesses, and individuals that can benefit from using pertinent climate 

and weather-related information. Some major groups include:

•	 Federal, state, regional, county, and city water managers

•	 State drought task forces and water resources agencies

•	 Federal agencies, such as NOAA, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, National Park 

Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency

•	 Federal, state, regional, and local planners 

•	 Industry, such as agriculture, transportation, energy, and recreation

•	 Academia and other researchers

SECTOR NEEDS Climate information is often 

available only as raw observations 

or in the form of tables, graphs, or 

written summaries, which may be 

difficult for users who are not wellversed in climate science to fully interpret. To 

bridge this gap, NCDC is partnering with the 

water resources sector to translate climate data into accessible, useful, 

and accurate products; and to leverage NCDC’s climate expertise to 

better understand what the information means and how it can be used 

most effectively. 
NOAA Satellite and Information Service

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

U.S. Department of Commerce

Additional details about available NOAA products and the economic benefits of these products are provided at:

http://www.economics.noaa.gov

For further information on obtaining NCDC climate services and products related to water resources please contact:

Agriculture ▪ Civil Infrastructure ▪ Coastal Hazards ▪ Energy ▪ Health ▪ Insurance

Litigation ▪ Marine and Coastal Ecosystems ▪ National Security ▪ Tourism ▪ Transportation ▪ WATER RESOURCES

Customer Services Branch

NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center

151 Patton Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801-5001 U.S.A.

828-271-4800 • TDD 828-271-4010 

Fax 828-271-4876

E-mail: ncdc.orders@noaa.gov

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov

June 2010

Climate information can be used in a variety of ways. Some examples include:

•	 Using short-duration rainfall values and rain gauge charts to design retarding basins that 

will help reduce stormwater-borne pollutants.

•	 Using the amount, location, and duration of rainfall from a heavy precipitation event to 

define the magnitude of a storm in order to assess and estimate property damage.

•	 Using drought information to determine when water rationing may be required in areas 

where lake levels are declining.

•	 Using temperature and snowpack trends to determine changes in the timing of runoff. 

Warmer temperatures cause snowpack to melt earlier in the spring, causing lower 

streamflow later in the summer. 

NCDC Data and Products There are many different types of useful climate information available. Some examples 

include: 

•	 The Global Historical Climate Network, which contains historical temperature and 

precipitation data for thousands of land stations around the world.

•	 Summaries produced from data, such as temperature and precipitation frequency 

distributions.

•	 The U.S. and North American Drought Monitor, which synthesize products because 

U.S. Drought Monitor and North American Drought Monitor are two different products, 

therefore she be synthesized. 

•	 United States Snow Climatology, which includes daily, monthly, and seasonal snowfall 

and snow depth summaries across the United States.

•	 Publications, including Local Climatological Data (provides a monthly summary of daily 

observations), Climatological Data (provides annual average values), and Comparative 

Climatic Data (provides monthly average and extreme values at hundreds of 

local stations).

Collaboration between climate scientists and the water resources community is essential in helping to build the necessary bridges that will transform climate data into information 

that is relevant and credible. Ongoing communication is important to ensure that the 

information NCDC provides is appropriate and applicable to water resource sector needs. As 

climate changes in the years ahead and the effects become more noticeable, new information 

needs will emerge. NCDC will work closely with this sector, attending trade meetings and 

sponsoring future workshops and conferences, in order to better understand, address, and 

anticipate these needs.