California Applications Program (CAP) &
The California Climate Change Center (CCCC)
Climate information for California decision makers
Funded by the NOAA Office of Global Programs and
California Energy Commission
CAP is a NOAA/OGP Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) member
Our partner site: California Climate Data Archive
State of California: California Climate Change Portal
2006 Annual Report
References
Conferences
Requests for Proposals
Contacts
Weather and Climate Newsletter -- May 1, 2008

Success Stories

The California Applications Program (CAP) and the California Climate Change Center (CCCC) aim to develop and provide better climate information and forecasts for decision makers in California and the surrounding region. By working directly with users, CAP and CCCC are working to evaluate climate information needs and utility from the user perspective.

Objectives
  • Evaluate climate forecasts and projections for California
  • Improve understanding of mechanisms linking climate and its impacts
  • Develop local models and forecasts of water resources and fire risks
  • Disseminate climate information, including forecasts and projections, to California decision makers
Approach
  • Work directly with users to develop useful forecast applications
  • Downscale climate forecasts and simulations from global to regional to local scales
  • Determine forecast reliability using historical hindcasts
  • Provide a variety of forecasts in real time
Lessons Learned
  • Interest level of public and private sectors varies; Climatologists must be ready to strike when iron is hot
  • Simple, clear illustrations are needed
  • Relationships with end-users need to be cultivated
  • Communication enhances credibility
  • More focus is needed on non-winter seasons and broader regions
  • Collaborations with large institutional programs are key
  • Climate data needs to be updated and maintained
Lessons learned from testimony to U.S. House of Representatives; click here for detailed contribution


Tioga Pass
Please visit
http://tenaya.ucsd.edu/tioga
for the latest image.


Special CAP/CCCC Topics

Volunteers across the Nation to Track Climate Clues in Spring Flowers
Starting this week, citizen-scientist volunteers will be able to help track climate change by observing and recording the timing of flowers and foliage. Project BudBurst allows participants to enter their observations into an online database that, over time, will give researchers a more detailed picture of global climate change.
Please click here to learn more about Project BudBurst.

The State of Bay-Delta Science 2008
Summary for Policymakers and the Public
A "sunny day" levee failure in June 2004 results in the flooding of Upper Jones Tract
This CALFED summary presents important new policy perspectives arising from recent advances in how scientists now understand the Bay-Delta ecosystem.
Please click here to learn more about CALFED and for a link to this summary.

Previous Special Topics
Please click here for previous special topics

CAP/CCCC Research
Scripps Hydroclimate Weather Observations
San Diego Forecast
California Current Radar
Western Infrared Image
Current southern California Santa Ana Conditions are indicated by the color of the button to the right
RED = YES Meteorological parameters indicate Santa Ana conditions are occurring
GREEN = NO Meteorological parameters indicate Santa Ana conditions are NOT occurring
Click here for more information
Western Regional Climate Center
IRI Forecasts
ECPC Forecasts
SIO Weather Page
Data Resources
Reading Room

Recent articles of interest to climate and climate change
PACLIM 2006
PACLIM XXII to be held 26-29 March 2006 at Asilomar

MTNCLIM 2006
MTNCLIM 2006 to be held 19-22 September 2006 at Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon

Climate Variability and CALFED

Links
Forecast Resources


Mosquitos! A good catch!
Read more about CAP/CCCC research linking mosquito abundance to climate
Thank you for visiting the California Applications Program/California Climate Change Center website!

CAP/CCCC is directed from the Climate Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California - San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0224
Phone: (858) 534-4507; FAX: (858) 822-2028

Last update: 1 May 2008
Please direct any comments or questions to:
Mary Tyree

This website was prepared by Mary Tyree partially under award NA17RJ1231 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Commerce.


Folsom Dam; built 1955-1956
Read more about CAP/CCCC project INFORM: Integrated Forecast and Management; increasing water-use efficiency for northern California reservoirs