"Use reference books, also called reference or background sources, to get quick specific facts or information or an overview of a subject...Some examples of reference sources are: dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, almanacs, directories, atlases, and handbooks. These can be online or in print" ["What are reference books (or reference sources)?", Simon Fraser University Library].
Reference sources can also point to scholarly sources in their list of references or suggested resources for further reading.
Use the index (at the back of the book) to see if there are particular pages that may discuss a particular aspect of your topic. In online reference sources, you can typically run a search and be directed to a particular entry if there is a match. The index may also be searchable.
Encyclopedia of Climate Change by