The issue of global climate change is a topic that has been in mainstream news and social media for more then 10 years, especially with the recent weather phenomena that has occurred around the world. Climate change has affected many things within out society from the production of food resources to the laws enacted to ensure the survival of humans as well as other species that are on the brink of extinction.
In the Carolinas, the weather is always changing and it can directly have an impact on the biodiversity of plants, animals and humans living within the region. The city of Orangeburg, located within the state of South Carolina, has a unique placement which contributes to its weather patterns. Due to the city's placement in between the coastal and midlands parts of the state, the area experiences the oceanic storms (i.e. hurricanes, tropical storms, etc.), extreme heat from summer months, and severe thunderstorms.
To monitor the weather that occurs near the Horne Wetlands Park, the area of interest (AOI), there are a multitude of resources that can be used to receive that data and information. One of the most notable resources is the NOAA Weather Service. (https://www.weather.gov/)
NOAA stands for National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and they are tasked with monitoring the conditions of the oceans, major water systems and the atmosphere. The National Weather Service is a part of the NOAA organization and gives updated information on active alerts, forecasts maps, rainfall for rivers and lakes, air quality and past weather maps.
Along with NOAA, the National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) also provides information on the environment and atmospheric changes. (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/)
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<img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/d1200100-9a2d-4c6e-bca9-41552ceac271/noaalogo.jpg" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/d1200100-9a2d-4c6e-bca9-41552ceac271/noaalogo.jpg" width="40px" /> The terms “climate” and “weather” are thrown around often, but understanding their nuanced differences is imperative for understanding the larger issues. (NOAA, 2021)
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Two of the main weather and climate resources that I personally utilize are Accuweather and WeatherBug. Both of these sites have similar features such as radar, climate data, weather forecasts and severe weather alerts, but WeatherBug is able to track lightning strikes and relay any changes in alerts within a matter of seconds. The WeatherBug site is also available as an app on your mobile device for easy alerts and access.
There are many other weather resources that can be used when trying to find data or information about your local climate but some of those resources can be more useful than others. The National Weather Service site has a lot of useful information and maps that give updated visual data that is very relevant to my study area and other locations. The WeatherBug site is also another very useful resources that is definitely relevant for my field study and has many features that would offer important data for the area.
Many sites can become out-of-date or obsolete because in the current times technology is always advancing and evolving to relay information easily and more efficiently. Although some of them may not be as relevant to the study areas, these resources can still provide information for comparative data for present and past weather trends.
Climate and Weather Resources
