California Nevada Applications Program (CNAP) &
The California Climate Change Center (CCCC)

Climate information for California and Nevada decision makers
Funded by the NOAA Office of Global Programs and
California Energy Commission
CNAP is a NOAA/OGP Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) member


References
Contacts/Personnel
2010 Annual Report
Conferences
Letters from CNAP Collaborators

Our partner sites:
California Nevada Climate Data Archive
California Climate Change Portal

About CNAP

Please click here for a description of the CNAP program (last updated September 30, 2010). This document describes the goals of the CNAP program, core activities planned for 2010-2011, long-range planning decisions that CNAP supports, and common local decisions that scale up to regional significance.

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

Objectives
  • Evaluate climate forecasts and projections for California and Nevada
  • 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 and Nevada 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

Success Stories

Lessons learned from testimony to U.S. House of Representatives; click here for detailed contribution


Last update: 5 January 2012