Understanding Observational, Proxy, and Modeled Climate Data

Project ID: G12AC20043

Federal Agency: U.S. Geological Survey

Partner Institution: University of Washington

Fiscal Year: 2012

Initial Funding: $16,150

Total Funding: $16,150

Project Type: Technical Assistance

Project Disciplines: Physical

Principal Investigator: Littell, Jeremy

Agreement Technical Representative: Pederson, Gregory

Abstract: The USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK) is funding research to ensure that data products meet the objectives of stakeholders, uncertainties and limitations are explored and conveyed, and the vast amounts of available data are being appropriately applied to research and management questions. The intent is to begin addressing this by 1) analyzing sources of uncertainty in projected ranges and changes in climatic means and extremes, 2) producing informational products tailored for users with a diversity of backgrounds and needs, 3) developing user awareness of strengths and weaknesses (i.e. uncertainties) in observed, proxy, and modeled climate data, and 4) providing targeted workshops for GNLCC scientists and resource managers.

In the proposed work, the objective would be to work with the Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GNLCC) to develop products derived from existing base data (including gridded data and watershed summaries, in parallel with those for the PNW CSC project). An objective would also be to prepare materials (presentations and outreach materials) required to make use of and understand the limitations of the products described in Littell et al. (2011) and the CSC project.