LibGuides: Environmental Science: Web Resources

Web Resources

US Government Websites

The following are online resources offered by the US Government on environmental issues.

EnviroFACTS (EPA) The Multisystem Search Form allows you to search multiple environmental databases for facility information, including toxic chemical releases, water discharge permit compliance, hazardous waste handling processes, Superfund status, and air emission estimates.
EnviroMapper (EPA) Welcome to EnviroMapper for Envirofacts, a single point of access to select U.S. EPA environmental data. This Web site provides access to several EPA databases to provide you with information about environmental activities that may affect air, water, and land anywhere in the United States. With Envirofacts, you can learn more about these environmental activities in your area or you can generate maps of environmental information.
MyEnvironment (EPA) The MyEnvironment search application is designed to provide a cross-section of environmental information based on the user's location.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is America’s civil space program and the global leader in space exploration.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product.
National Park Service The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
National Science Foundation - Environmental Research and Education In August 1998, the National Science Board established the Task Force on the Environment within its Committee on Programs and Plans. The Task Force was created to provide guidance to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in defining the scope of its role with respect to environmental research, education, and scientific assessment and in determining the best means of implementing related activities related.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The EPA is the US governmental body responsible for environmental affairs. In addition to advocacy, the EPA is involved in the enforcement of environmental legislation, regulation, and policy.
US Fish & Wildlife Service "We are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the American people."
US Forest Service (USDA) The United States Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of land.
US Geological Survey We provide science about the natural hazards that threaten lives and livelihoods, the water, energy, minerals, and other natural resources we rely on, the health of our ecosystems and environment, and the impacts of climate and land-use change. Our scientists develop new methods and tools to enable timely, relevant, and useful information about the Earth and its processes.
Water Quality Information - USGS What is in that water that you just drank? Is it just hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Is it safe for drinking? All water is of a certain "quality" (and you can't tell by just looking), but what does "water quality" really mean? Water full of dirt and grime might work fine for a tomato plant but would you want to drink it? Water quality can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a particular use based on selected physical, chemical, and biological characteristics.

Data Sources

These reputable online resources offer a wealth of information and data relating to environmental topics.

Berkeley Earth Berkeley Earth is an independent U.S. non-profit organization focused on environmental data science.
DataONE DataONE is a community driven program providing access to data across multiple member repositories, supporting enhanced search and discovery of Earth and environmental data. DataONE promotes best practices in data management through responsive educational resources and materials.
Dryad The Dryad Digital Repository is a curated resource that makes research data discoverable, freely reusable, and citable. Dryad provides a general-purpose home for a wide diversity of data types.
EDGAR - Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research EDGAR is a multipurpose, independent, global database of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollution on Earth. EDGAR provides independent emission estimates compared to what reported by European Member States or by Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), using international statistics and a consistent IPCC methodology.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) GBIF—the Global Biodiversity Information Facility—is an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world's governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative The goal of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is to improve society’s ability to understand and mitigate the impacts of hydrocarbon pollution and stressors on the marine environment. Knowledge accrued will be applied to restoration and improving the long-term environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico.
OECD Environmental Data As international concern about global environment and sustainable development becomes more pressing, government, business and the public all need reliable and harmonised data on the environment. Data is searchable by theme or by region.
Pangaea The information system PANGAEA is operated as an Open Access library aimed at archiving, publishing and distributing georeferenced data from earth system research. The system guarantees long-term availability of its content through a commitment of the hosting institutions.
UN Environmental Statistics by Country
UN Environment Programme - World Environment Situation Room Data, Information and Knowledge on the Environment. Can be searched by topic, sustainable development goal (SDG), or multilateral environmental agreement (MEA).
US Geological Survey Data Explore all data by the topics and refine type to find the digital information in a format suitable for direct input to software that can analyze its meaning in the scientific, engineering, or business context for which the data were collected.
World Bank Data Catalog The Data Catalog is designed to make World Bank's development data easy to find, download, use, and share. It includes data from the World Bank's microdata, finances and energy data platforms, as well as datasets from the open data catalog. There are different ways to access and download datasets.
World Resources Institute - Data WRI’s Data Lab uses advances in data and technology to help our researchers improve lives, protect nature and ensure just transitions.

Additional Resources

See below for more free web resources relating to environmental efforts.

Arkive An online encyclopedia of the natural world.
Biodiversity Heritage Library The Biodiversity Heritage Library improves research methodology by collaboratively making biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.
Encyclopedia Of Life Database of information and pictures of all species known to science.
EnviroLink Another environmental news source.
Environmental Working Group The EWG provides several resources for bringing awareness to individuals related to consumer health, agricultural issues, and energy use.
FracTracker Alliance Data, apps, and information on fracking.
Grist A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to sharing stories of climate solutions.
Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) A Pittsburgh-based non-profit bringing awareness to air pollution. Several documents are available for local and state institutions related to air quality.
Indigenous Environmental Network IEN’s activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities. IEN accomplishes this by maintaining an informational clearinghouse, organizing campaigns, direct actions and public awareness, building the capacity of community and tribes to address EJ issues, development of initiatives to impact policy, and building alliances among Indigenous communities, tribes, inter-tribal and Indigenous organizations, people-of-color/ethnic organizations, faith-based and women groups, youth, labor, environmental organizations and others.
Native American Environmental Protection Coalition With respect for Tribal Sovereignty, NAEPC, a tribally driven organization, is dedicated to providing technical assistance, environmental education, professional training, information networking and inter-tribal coordination. NAEPC does not represent nor speak for Tribes.