ClimateCharts.net–an interactive climate analysis web platform

Abstract

This article describes the conception and implementation of a web platform which uses special charts and maps for climate monitoring and analysis. At first it gives an overview of related web applications and their advantages and limitations. This is followed by a basic introduction of current technologies and methods for working with climate data, geospatial web services and visualization techniques. Finally, the implementation based on prior defined requirements is presented and its strengths and limitations are discussed. The application provides several basic charts for climate analysis, as well as a more complex one which uses a standardized visualization concept which is suitable for comparing different local climates (Walter-Lieth-Standard). The charts are based on different interpolated datasets with global coverage as well as data from the Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN). Overall, the application enables users to generate individual historical climate charts from the beginning of the twentieth century until present day.