Climatic Atlas of the United States

“Climate has a profound, often controlling effect upon the life, mood, health, and activity of all of us.” [preface]

This fascinating atlas of climate information was originally compiled in June of 1968 by the Data Services Department of the Environmental Science Service Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This example is a later issue, printed in 1983 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Its 80 pages of maps present a detailed overview of climate science in the late 20th century. According to the preface;

“The Climatic Maps of the United States present in uniform format a series of analyses showing the national distribution of mean, normal, and/or extreme values of temperature, precipitation, wind, barometric pressure, relative humidity, dewpoint, wind, barometric pressure, relative humidity, dewpoint, sunshine, sky cover, heating degree days, solar radiation, and evaporation. The map projection has been standardized to allow accurate comparison and correlation of the various climatic elements and their patterns.

The individual analyses were originally prepared to meet the demand for climatic information from commercial, industrial, agricultural, research, and educational institutions, as well as from the general public. Each sheet, or set of sheets, was made available as soon as printed. Now the entire set – a total of 40 large sheets containing 271 climatic maps and 15 tables – has been collected and bound into this comprehensive atlas.”