I’m Kayla, and I actually used the EPA Climate Change Indicators this year for a few real things. A school science night. A coastal town meeting. And yes, a chat with my allergy doctor. Funny mix, I know. But this site helped each time.
So what is it? It’s a set of charts and maps that show how climate is changing across the U.S. If you haven’t poked around yet, check out the EPA’s Climate Change Indicators site for a deep library of data on sea-level rise, high-tide flooding, heat waves, pollen, and more.
You know what? Seeing some of those lines climb made my stomach drop a bit. But it also helped me explain things without yelling into the wind.
What I Did With It (Real Uses, Not Just a Click-Through)
1) Coastal flooding talk: “Sunny day” floods are not a rumor
I help with a small planning group near the New Jersey coast. We needed simple facts for neighbors. Not doom. Facts.
- I pulled the Sea Level Rise chart and showed The Battery in New York. Sea level there is up by about a foot since 1900. A foot sounds small, but it stacks on top of storms and high tides.
- I also used the High Tide Flooding indicator. Annapolis now gets many days each year where streets flood even without storms. Back in the 1960s, that was rare. Seeing that change in one picture clicked for folks.
People had questions about what years the data covered. The “Methods” notes helped me explain that the charts lag a bit because scientists check the numbers first. That felt honest.
2) School science night: Heat waves and “cooling days”
My son’s class asked why summer “feels longer.” I pulled two indicators:
- Heat Waves: Across big U.S. cities, heat waves are more common, and the season is now about a month longer than in the 1960s. The chart shows it clearly.
- Cooling Degree Days: I downloaded the CSV for our area and tossed it into Google Sheets. The kids could see the trend up. More days when you need AC. Simple, but it landed.
One kid asked if this was “only in cities.” I showed the national map view to make it clear: it’s broad, not just one place. The EPA even wraps these findings into handy visuals like its “Climate Change & Heat” infographic, which pairs the data with snapshots of rising heat-related deaths.
3) Allergies and ragweed: Why my nose hates fall now
I get fall allergies. Bad ones. The Ragweed Pollen Season indicator shows longer seasons in many northern cities. Fargo, for example, gained around two weeks since the 1990s. I used that to time my air filter change earlier. I even shared the chart with my doctor. It explained my sneezy October.
4) Fire season out West: Smoke you can taste
I’ve got family in Oregon. In 2023, the smoke was hard. The Wildfires indicator shows that, since the 1980s, the total area burned each year has trended up. The chart doesn’t shout. It just shows the line. We used it to talk about air filter plans and go-bags. Not fun, but helpful.
5) A quick one for gardeners: Earlier blooms
I volunteer with a community garden. The Leaf and Bloom Dates indicator shows earlier spring timing in many places. That matched what our group saw: lilacs popping sooner. We shifted planting by a week, and our peas did better. Small win.
What I Liked (A Lot)
- Clear charts that don’t oversell. You can see the trend without guessing.
- Honest notes. Each page lists sources, caveats, and how they made the chart.
- Downloadable data (CSV). I made quick graphs for a PTA slide and a town memo.
- Broad coverage. Health, oceans, snow, rivers, pests, pollen—more than I expected.
- Works on a phone, mostly. Handy during a meeting when someone asks, “Where’d you get that?”
And this may sound small, but it matters: the language is plain. It doesn’t talk down to you.
What Bugged Me (Still Worth Using)
- Data lag. Many charts stop a year or two back. That’s normal for checked data, but people ask why.
- Local gaps. Some maps won’t zoom to my exact town. You get state or regional slices.
- Exports can be fuzzy. A few PNGs printed with weird legends. I used screenshots as a fix.
- Methods can read heavy. The PDFs are solid, but some terms need a quick gloss.
- A little slow at times. Not awful, but I noticed it on my old laptop.
None of these broke my work. But be ready with a plan B for slides.
A Few Indicators That Stuck With Me
- Sea Level at The Battery (NYC): Roughly a foot higher than 1900. That’s huge for flooding.
- High Tide Flooding (Annapolis): Many more “nuisance flood” days now than in the 1960s.
- Arctic Sea Ice Minimum: 2012 was a record low. Recent years are still very low. The trend is down.
- Heat Waves: Season is longer; events are more common compared to the 1960s city average.
- Growing Season Length: Longer in many parts of the U.S.—often by a week or more.
- Wildfires: More acres burned per year since the 1980s.
- Lyme Disease: More cases in the Northeast and Upper Midwest since the 1990s.
I grew up counting snow days. These charts explain why my kids count smoke days too. That stings a bit.
Who This Helps
- Teachers who need clean, credible visuals.
- City staff and planners who must show risk without drama.
- Reporters who need a quick, sourced chart.
- PTA and neighborhood groups making simple info sheets.
- Anyone caring for kids or elders during heat and smoke.
If you’re putting together a structured discussion or classroom exercise, this rundown of climate change debate topics that were tested with real groups can save you a ton of prep time.
Tips From My Use
- Start with the Summary page for a wide view, then pick the few charts you need.
- Always read the little footnotes. Baselines matter.
- Grab the CSV and make your own local chart if the map feels too broad.
- Pair it with other tools:
- NOAA tide gauges for your nearest station.
- U.S. Drought Monitor maps when talking water or crops.
- Stories on OurVoices that show how real people act on these indicators.
- A practical walk-through of a global warming climate change PPT that actually lands with mixed audiences.
For meetings, screenshot the chart and save the source lines. People ask.
Also, check the “Methods” tab before you present. One sentence from there can answer a tough question.
After the formal talk is wrapped, it helps to shift gears and look after your own well-being; if unwinding for you means meeting new people in a straightforward, no-pressure way, take a peek at PlanCulFacile—the site connects adults who want casual, mutually agreed-upon encounters quickly and safely, which can be a welcome mental break before you dive back into the climate trenches. Folks in South Carolina looking for something similar might appreciate Doublelist Rock Hill, where you’ll find localized listings, best-practice advice, and community guidelines tailored to help Rock Hill residents connect smoothly.
My Bottom Line
The EPA Climate Change Indicators feel steady and fair. The charts are clear. The sources are trusted. And the data download is gold when you need your own graph.
It’s not perfect—some lag, some clunky exports—but it’s still my go-to set when I need to show change, not just talk about it. If you teach, plan, garden, or just try to breathe easy through summer, this site gives you something solid to stand on.
And if you’re like me—half worried, half stubborn—you’ll like that it’s not about panic. It’s about facts you can use.