Unlocking Early African Weather Observations

Unlocking Early African Weather Observations

This 18-month project is an internal collaboration between the NOAA Central Library and the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Both hold original source material for use by scientists and patrons conducting environmental research. The significant holdings of African weather and climate data were acquired through NOAA’s participation in the World Data System. The records were sent from foreign governments and African colonies for preservation and inclusion into the global climate record. The project includes shipping, scanning, quality control and hosting of the resulting digital files on the NOAA Library site, as well as permanent archival in NCEI’s digital archive.

The significant holdings of African weather and climate data to be scanned as part of this project were acquired through NOAA’s participation in the World Data System (https://www.icsu-wds.org/). The records were produced by European governments in their African colonies, and later by newly independent nations, and sent to NOAA for preservation and inclusion into the global climate record.

Digitizing Hidden Collections

2017

1891 - 1891

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa)

500000 Manuscripts

NOAA NCEI and NOAA Central Library

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

26333748

NOAA Central and Regional Libraries

Ms. Dee Clarkin

Mr. Jason Cooper

$111,528

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