Overview

 Climate and weather events can impact human health in many ways. Climate trends, such as warming 

temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns, can affect the distribution of waterborne and vector-borne 

diseases. Weather patterns, such as heavy rains—expected to increase as climate changes—can lead to flooding, 

which can cause direct injuries as well as increased incidence of waterborne diseases. Poor air quality can lead to 

asthma and other respiratory ailments. Gradually increasing temperatures can increase the frequency and duration 

of stagnant air masses that allow pollution to accumulate, which will exacerbate health symptoms. Overexposure to 

UV radiation can increase the risk of skin cancer, and weather events such as heat waves, extreme cold, and drought 

often increase the rate of morbidity and mortality. Providing access to relevant climate information is essential 

to understanding how climate trends and weather patterns affect human health and for developing appropriate 

planning, adaptation, and mitigation strategies. 

Key StakeholdersNOAA’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 human health. This type of 

information can help decision makers and stakeholders within the health sector make practical decisions in order to 

adapt to climate changes and variations and to mitigate possible effects. There are many different governmental and 

non-governmental organizations, public and private groups and businesses, and individuals that can benefit from 

using relevant climate and weather-related information. Some major groups include:

•	 Federal government agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of 

Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

•	 Physicians

•	 Pharmaceutical companies

•	 Biometeorologists

•	 Epidemiologists

•	 Hospital administrators

•	 Public health officials

•	 Academia and other researchers

Sector NeedsClimate 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 well-versed in climate science to fully interpret. To bridge 

this gap, NCDC is partnering with the health 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. 

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

•	 Using precipitation data to investigate the relationship between increased flooding and waterborne

disease outbreaks.

•	 Using relative humidity and wind speed data to study the relationship between fine particulate air pollution

and daily mortality counts. 

NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center

Sectoral Engagement Fact Sheet

HEALTH
•	 Using temperature data to investigate correlations between temperature and total coliform bacterial 

contamination from public water drinking systems.

•	 Using atmospheric data to correlate sudden changes in atmospheric pressure with the rupturing of the amniotic 

sac during pregnancy. Studies have shown an increase in frequency of this membrane rupturing after strong cold 

frontal passages. 

NCDC Data and Products There are many different types of useful 

climate information available. Examples include: 

•	 The U.S. Heat Stress Index, which is an 

assessment of “how hot it feels”, based on measured

temperature and relative humidity.

•	 The National Integrated Drought Information System, which is a 

web-based portal multi-agency collaborative system that provides 

information about current drought conditions and impacts, and 

drought forecasts, planning, education, and research.

•	 The West Nile Virus Mosquito Crossover Dates Indicator, which 

provides estimates of the dates when the northern house mosquito—

the primary suspect for transmission of the disease to humans—

becomes the dominant species in a particular area. The peak infection 

rate in mosquitoes occurs about two to three weeks after the northern 

house mosquito becomes the dominant species, representing the 

period of greatest risk of transmission (in development, currently only 

available for Illinois).

•	 CD-ROMs/DVDs, such as the International Station Meteorological Climate Summary, which contains climatic 

data summaries from thousands of weather stations around the world, and the Integrated Surface Data database, 

which contains climate information for about 10,000 weather stations, with some information dating back as far 

as 1901.

•	 Publications, including Storm Data (provides monthly reports of damaging weather), Local Climatological Data

(provides a monthly summary of daily observations), Climatological Data (provides annual average values), and 

Comparative Climatic Data (provides average and extreme values).

Collaboration between climate scientists and the health community is essential in helping to build the 

necessary bridges that will transform climate science into information that is relevant and credible. Ongoing 

communication is important to ensure that the information that NCDC provides is appropriate and applicable 

to health 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.

NOAA’s NCDC

NOAA Satellite and Information Service

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

National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

U.S. Department of Commerce

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

Litigation ▪ Marine and Coastal Ecosystems ▪ National Security ▪ Tourism ▪ Transportation ▪ Water Resources

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 health please contact:

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