Start with a climate question, choose the right data and scale, then explore the map, analysis, outlook or projection that can help answer it.
Decide whether your question concerns current conditions, historical change, the coming weeks or season, or long-term climate change. Then choose the geographic view that best matches the decision.
Use station and gridded observations for historical and recent climate conditions. For future-facing questions, move to forecast, seasonal/S2S outlook or climate projection products.
Change variables, dates, time scales and geographic filters to compare conditions. The analysis tools help reveal climatology, anomalies, trends, extremes, monsoon behaviour and other patterns.
Use CLDB outputs as evidence alongside sector knowledge, local observations and operational guidance. Forecasts and projections describe possible conditions and should be interpreted with their uncertainty and intended timescale.
