Skip to Main Content

Physical Geography: Climate

Guide for research assignment for GEOG 101: Physical Geography (Christine Hansell)

Search Stretegies

Focus your topic. Not too broad, not too specific.

Examples:
 

Climate: 

What are the weather patterns that affect the climate in the city of (your city)

Divide the topic into concepts:

  • (your city)
  • climate 
  • weather patterns 
  • global pressure

Google Search

To do a Google search with the same search words already entered in your OneSearch, click “Search” in the Google box on the “Extend Your Search” column on the right side of the results page

 

Google Search Tips!

To search for multiple concepts: 
- use ORs between words for the same concept,
- use quotes (" ") around phrases.
-  Google does not use the *

To limit to a specific domain, use site: in front of the domain name (no spaces)

site:.edu   will limit a search to just .edu sites 
site:.edu OR site:.gov   
will limit a search to either .edu or .gov sites
-site:.com  
will exclude .com

Example of Google search limiting to domain:

(site:.gov Los Angeles AND  climate)   Example of search result: 

Climate of Los Angeles - National Weather Service - National Oceanic ...

www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/climate/climate_intro.php
A description for this result is not available because of this site's robots.txt

Database Searching

DATABASE SEARCHING

OneSearch search engine located on the Library's home page will save you time as it searches across most of our article databases and book catalog to find sources matching your search terms with one click.  Sources include a wide range of articles from academic journals, popular magazines, newspapers and reference sources, e-books & other documents, plus print books available in the library. 

Preparation Needed BEFORE you search:  Use the key terms discussed above to write out your search string of key concepts.

Search tips to help you narrow or broaden your search results: 

  • Type an OR between synonymous words for the same concept.
  • Use AND between concepts to narrow and focus your research 
  • Use an * to search for multiple words from the same root, e.g. legislat* will find articles with the words: legislate, legislation, legislator or legislated
  • Use quote marks (“ ”) around search phrases (multiple words that should be searched together), e.g. “racial discrimination”

Here are some examples: 

(your city) AND climate AND "weather patterns"

(your city) AND "weather patterns" OR "climate change" 

You can also click on the "Advanced Search" feature and it will assist you in focusing your search. In each search box, type the search word(s) for a separate concept.   

Example:

Search box 1: San Francisco

Search box 2: climate  

Search box 3: "weather patterns"

Click on the link below to begin your search.

OneSearch (To log into our databases off-campus you'll need to use your email or Canvas login.)

Below is an example of a search result using the search string:  (San Francisco AND "weather patterns")  
 

  • Click the “Search” button to begin a search
  • When the results page is displayed, click on an article title to see detailed information and a summary of the article.
  • To see the full-text of an article, click on PDF Full Text or HTML Full Text at the left of the detailed information page
  • To print or e-mail an article, click on the print or e-mail buttons on the right task bar. A source citation will also be sent when you email a document. You can select the citation format (MLA, APA, Chicago) from the menu in the email box.
     
  •