Library Guides: Environmental Science and Studies Research Guide: Find Data

Find Data

There are a wide variety of data sources of use for environmental research. Linked below are some recommendations for starting points. You may also want to check the linked guides below for even more data sources.

Statistical Data Sources
by Jeffrey Kushkowski Last Updated Apr 25, 2024 123 views this year
Agricultural Statistics Research Guide
by Anita Kay Last Updated Jan 30, 2024 212 views this year

Search for Data

Google Dataset Search (beta)
An incomplete but broad index of datasets from open repositories.
DataOne Search
Search 38 different data repositories containing environmental science data sets
Ag Data Commons (USDA-NAL)
The USDA's data repository and catalog. Data files on ADC are made available via direct download, or as a pointer to an external link

Iowa Data

AQuIA: Iowa DNR water monitoring
AQuIA is a public information portal for retrieving the results of water monitoring conducted by the Iowa DNR's WQMA section or one of its designees.
Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM)
IME collects environmental data from cooperating members with observing networks.
Iowa Geographic Map Server
Provides free access to Iowa geographic map data through online map viewers and web map services.
Iowa Open Data
Public data created by the State of Iowa's different branches and agencies.

More data resources

TRAIL: Technical Report Archive and Image Library This link opens in a new window
Full-text access to U.S. government technical reports from current and past agencies such as the National Bureau of Standards, U.S. Atomic Energy Commision, U.S. Bureau of Mines, NACA (National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics), and many others. The majority of content was published prior to 1975.

Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Resources for climate and vegetation data and more.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Data sources
An incomplete list of some of the data gathered and made available by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services.

Wait, there's more...

There are countless data sources openly available online and through library subscriptions. If you need help locating the type of data you need don't hesitate to ask!