Eden Kinzel

October 13, 2017

9002(002) Information Organization, Curation, and Access

Analysis of the Library of Congress Classification of Meteorology/Climatology

Structural Analysis
I analyzed 551 Geology, Hydrology, and Meteorology within the Dewey Decimal
Classification (DDC). However, that domain has been divided over several disciplines within the
Library of Congress Classification (LCC) scheme. Geological information is located within QE1
through QE996.5, hydrological information is classified within GB61 through GB2998, and
meteorological information is located within QC851 through QC999. I have chosen to focus my
analysis upon the Meteorology/Climatology QC851-QC999 domain as it is the topic within my
scope that most interests me and covered a sufficiently narrow breadth. Meteorology and
climatology are quite similar disciplines in terms of subject matter as they both study the
atmosphere, weather and their effects on the environment. They differ in that meteorologists study
short term weather effects and forecasting, whereas climatologists study long term weather and
climate patterns. In this paper, I intend to analyze the structure of the LCCs classification of
Meteorology/Climatology, discussing the logicality of its placement, to determine the availability
of various vocabulary terms within the index, and compare the classification of multiple
meteorological and climatological resources within different OPACs and within DDC.
Superordinate to the Meteorology/Climatology class is the Physics QC class as well as the
Science Q class. Meteorology/Climatology is logically classified subordinate to the Science class,
however the Meteorology/Climatology class would be most logically subordinate to the Geology
class, rather than the Physics class. When browsing university undergraduate course outlines from
the University of Guelph, the physics courses did not study meteorology, however, there were
geology courses which studied climate (Physics Course Descriptions, n.d.; Geology Course
Descriptions, n.d.). Attached are screenshots of the course descriptions in the Appendix labelled
as Figures 1 and 2, respectively. The concepts are also covered more heavily in geology textbooks
rather than physics textbooks (Natural Sciences, n.d.; 5 Highly Recommended, n.d.). Attached are
screenshots of the synopses of physics and geology introductory textbooks in the Appendix
labelled as Figures 3 and 4, respectively.
Some coordinate classes within the domain are Aerosols QC882.4+, Dust QC882.5,
and Smoke Plumes QC882.6. They are each subordinate to Atmospheric Pollutants QC882+.
Aerosols is superordinate to Periodicals, Societies, Congresses, Serial Collections QC882.4,
General Works, Treatises, and Textbooks QC882.42, and Technique QC882.46. Attached is
a diagram of this hierarchy in the Appendix labelled as Figure 5, although it must be noted that
this does not encompass the entirety of the Meteorology/Climatology class.
The structure within the domain appears largely logical. It first moves through the first six
of Martels seven points, other than the second and the fifth, and then delves into all of the broad
subdisciplines and important factors which may influence climate before ending with climatology
information being classed geographically. The Meteorology/Climatology class moderately

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followed the order of topics of a popular Meteorology textbook Meteorology Today: An

Introduction to Weather, Climate, and the Environment, however, the textbook interwove aspects
of weather throughout the textbook whereas my domain left specific weather information to the
end (Ahrens, 2009). LCC classified the domain in a more user-friendly manner because the patron
need only to look in one section, rather than several locations throughout the QC class. This
domain frequently utilized geographical subclassification. This was particularly helpful for the
Meteorology/Climatology class as patrons would be able to readily locate information on specific
storms, volcanoes, earthquakes, or climates. The domain was designed in a reasonably flexible
manner. There were various spaces between many of the classes which remain available for future
allocation as knowledge expands over time. There were no noticeable gaps of information within
the Meteorology/Climatology class. When compared with the textbooks, it appeared to be a
comprehensive class which reflected current knowledge. There was even a section for the
classification of materials which examined global warming. However, the domain appeared to
have a Western bias as information on the North American countries of Canada and the United
States were given their own classes while the other countries were sorted within continent classes.
The tables located within the Q volume were predominantly irrelevant. The table of
chemical elements as well as the table for particles and rays were not applicable to the
Meteorology/Climatology domain. The notes, however, were helpful. Confer notes such as one
under Atmospheric Pollution which informs the reader that dust was classed elsewhere would be
helpful to redirect the reader to the correct information. Inclusion notes aid in reassuring the reader
that they are searching in the correct class.
Vocabulary and Index Analysis
Some of the key vocabulary terms within the discipline of Meteorology/Climatology are
wind, forecast, precipitation, temperature, monsoon, cumulus, blizzard, and mercury. Many could
be found within the index at the end of the Q volume or online on the LCC classification website.
There were several wind entries. Most of the aforementioned entries, such as classes associated
with the meteorological properties of wind, were located within the QC class. Wind-related
information could also be classified within other Sciences subdisciplines or within the Agriculture
class when, for example, the wind was affecting farmers crops. Forecast was not a term available
in the index. However it appeared online in various classes throughout the LCC volumes as there
are more items to forecast than weather, such as political and economic conditions. Precipitation
is not only a term for rain, but a term for chemical reactions, rendering it logical that this
vocabulary term can be found in multiple locations such as the chemistry domain within the
Science class. However, it was surprising to discover that there was no reference to the
Meteorology/Climatology class within the index. Temperature is logically found largely within
the Science and Agricultural classes, again in terms of its effect on crops. The only results for
monsoon, blizzards, and cumulus were located within the Meteorology/Climatology domain which
is logical given that those terms have no alternate meanings. Information regarding mercury could
be classified in various locations throughout the system, such as in the Technology, Medicine,
Science, and Agriculture classes, given its numerous definitions and widespread applications.

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Upon analyzing the availability of synonymous terms within the Q volume index, the LCC
referred the individual to the Climatic Changes class when searching for climate change, whereas
the information would have been more accurately classed within the distinct Global Warming
class. Every entry for weather within the index was classified within the Meteorology/Climatology
class which is logical given that meteorologists and climatologists study weather. The majority of
the results within the index for atmosphere were located in either Meteorology/Climatology or
Astronomy. This is plausible as the atmospheres of different planets are discussed within the
Astronomy class. In terms of synonyms, the index typically provided accurate classifications for
my domain, however it could be improved to facilitate users navigation. The domain also appears
to reflect current information without an abundance of outdated terms. While scientists believe
we are currently undergoing a devastating process known as climate change, for the most part, the
terminology used to describe such meteorological or climatological events remains largely the
same.
OPAC Analysis
Within Westerns libraries OPAC, I located a textbook entitled Meteorology (OPAC
Western, n.d.). Its call number was listed as QC861.3. This places the textbook within the General
Works, Treatises, and Advanced Textbooks from 2001-present class. Considering the book is an
advanced meteorological textbook published in 2003, it was classified it logically. The textbook
was not available within the University of Guelphs catalogue. Attached is a screenshot of the
OPAC in the Appendix labelled as Figure 6. Both the University of Guelph as well as Western
University classify Discourse on Method, Optics, Geometry, and Meteorology within the Q155
class Early Works 1500-1700 (OPAC Guelph, n.d.; OPAC Western, n.d.). Because the
information was originally authored by Renee Descartes within the 1600s and since the work
touches upon various scientific aspects, a general science class based upon temporal period is the
most logical location for classification of the work. Attached are screenshots of the OPACs in the
Appendix labelled as Figures 7 and 8, respectively. The book Desert Meteorology was classified
in both Guelph and Westerns OPAC as QC993.7 Meteorological Information in Deserts, which
is logical given the topic of the book (OPAC Guelph, n.d.; OPAC Western, n.d.). Attached are
screenshots of the OPACs in the Appendix labelled as Figures 9 and 10, respectively.
DDC Comparison
Within the DDC, Geology was subordinate to an Earth Sciences category which itself is
subordinate to the Science class, whereas within LCC, geology is classified directly subordinate
to Science. DDC also held separate classes for meteorology and climatology, distinguishing the
two classes, while LCC combined the two classes and makes no formal distinction. LCCs
treatment of the disciplines is superior since both fields of study cover the same material, although
on a different temporal scale. Also, DDC classes both Meteorology as well as Climatology
subordinate to Geology, whereas LCC classes Meteorology/Climatology as subordinate to
Physics. DDC uses the more effective scheme as individuals would be more inclined to associate
the weather with geology than with physics. The different OPACs were more closely aligned
when cataloguing information according to LCC rather the DDC. Overall, both classification
schemes treat materials quite differently, however, both have strengths as well as weaknesses.

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References
Ahrens, D. C. (2009). Meteorology today: An introduction to weather, climate, and the
environment (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Dewey, M., Mitchell, J. S., Beall, J., Martin, G., Matthews, W. E., & New, G. R. (2003). Dewey
Decimal Classification (22nd ed) (Vols 1-4). Dublin, OH: OCLC Online Computer
Library Centre, Inc.

El-Hoshy, L., Bellinger, B., & Griffiths, K. (Ed.). (2007). Library of Congress Classification
(Vol. Q). Washington DC: Library of Congress, Cataloguing Distribution Service.
Five highly recommended physics textbooks. (n.d.). In Physics database. Retrieved October 3,
2017 from http://physicsdatabase.com/2014/05/16/5-highly-recommended-physics-
textbooks/
Geology course descriptions. (n.d.). In the University of Guelphs undergraduate calendar.
Retrieved October 3, 2017 from https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/
undergraduate/2015-2016/c12/c12phys.shtml
Natural sciences. (n.d.). Open textbook library. Retrieved October 3, 2017 from
https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/SearchResults.aspx?subjectAreaId=8
OPAC. (n.d.). University of Guelph Library. Retrieved October 3, 2017 from http://primo.tug-
libraries.on.ca/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?mode=Advanced&vid=GUELPH&
reset_config=true
OPAC. (n.d.). Western Library. Retrieved October 3, 2017 from
http://uwo.summon.serialssolutions.com/advanced#!/advanced
Physics course descriptions. (n.d.). In the University of Guelphs undergraduate calendar.
Retrieved October 3, 2017 from https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/
undergraduate/2011-2012/c12/c12geol.shtml