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Dear Florida Climate Center Friends,
We'd like to present you with the September 2011 edition of our newsletter. In this newsletter, you'll find our monthly climate summary, new ENSO and seasonal climate outlooks, highlights about the special events our staff attended, an example of a data request made to the office, and more. If you have any questions, please email us at climate@coaps.fsu.edu.
Thanks,
The Staff of the Florida Climate Center
 |  |  |  | David Zierden
State Climatologist | James O'Brien
Professor Emeritus | Melissa Griffin
Asst. State Climatologist | Preston Leftwich
Research Assistant |
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 FCC Issues Climate Outlook for Remainder of 2011 and Start of 2012
The Florida Climate Center has put together updated climate outlooks for the Southeast for the Fall/Winter of 2011-2012. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued a La Niņa Watch in early August, stating that the neutral conditions of this past summer could give way to a returned La Niņa in the next 1 to 3 months. The FCC reports summarize the current information available on the state of El Niņo-Southern Oscillation. Also discussed are the potential impacts a second year of La Niņa could have on the current hurricane season, the drought situation and temperatures for the next few months.
Climate Phase Forecast
Climate Outlook |
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State Climatologist Presents at Tri-State Row Crop Working Group
State Climatologist David Zierden represented FSU at the 4th meeting of the Tri-State Row Crop Working Group on August 3rd in Quincy, FL. The working group is sponsored by the Southeast Climate Consortium and is composed of farmers, extension staff, and researchers from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. The group is cooperating in the application of climate information and forecasts to the improvement of management options for row crop producers. Mr. Zierden presented a wrap-up of weather and climate conditions to date in this year's growing season and the climate outlook for fall, winter, and beyond. He warned of a second year of La Niņa, which would mean continued drought for the area. |
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Upcoming Events
November 2-4, 2011: Southeast Climate Consortium Fall Planning Meeting in Tallahassee, FL
November 9-10, 2011: UF Extension In-Service Training: Climate Change and Variability Task Force in Crystal River, FL
November 14, 2011: Annual Meeting of the Florida Climate Institute in Gainesville, FL |
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Example Data Request Each month, we highlight here recent examples of some of the many public services provided by the Florida Climate Center:
The Florida Climate Center handled a variety of interesting data requests during the month of August.  | | Orlando wind rose. |
An engineer of a manufacturing plant in the central part of the state contacted the office asking about wind roses. A wind rose is a diagram, for a given locality or area, showing the frequency and strength of the wind from various directions. Knowing the prevailing wind direction can be important for a variety of reasons. In this case, the plant was putting in sensors that would monitor levels of ammonia. Understanding what the wind directions and speeds are for the area would help them put the sensors in the best locations. Another request came from a gentleman in Minnesota who was interested in knowing what the average air and water temperatures are along the west coast of Florida in December. He and his wife were looking to rent a beach house for their family to celebrate Christmas in a warmer climate. "This year," he said, "we want to make sand castles instead of snowmen." Saltwater intrusion was the reason for another request for information. A small private utility company along the coast contacted the office inquiring about daily rainfall information for their surrounding area. With the drought conditions earlier in the summer, they were trying to see if there was a correlation between the lack of rainfall and possible saltwater intrusion into some of their wells. |
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About Us
The Florida Climate Center is part of a three-tiered system of national, regional, and state climate offices, including NOAA's National Climatic Data Center and the Southeast Regional Climate Center. The Florida State Climatologist and other staff at the Florida Climate Center provide the following information and services to the people of Florida:
· Climate Data:
Historical weather observations for weather stations throughout the state of Florida. We are able to provide data for most stations from 1948-present.
· Climate Information:
Long-term historical averages for various stations, climate divisions, and the entire state.
· Extreme Event Records:
Information and analyses on extreme events such as freezes, droughts, floods and hurricanes.
· Special Analysis:
With their vast knowledge of El Niņo, La Niņa and climate variability, the State Climatologist and staff can offer expert insight into Florida's climate trends.
· Outreach:
Activities, presentations, and workshops that inform and educate the people of Florida about current and emerging climate issues. We also coordinate volunteers for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS).
More About Us |
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