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Dear Florida Climate Center Friends,
We'd like to take this time to wish you a happy and safe holiday season and to present you with the December 2011 edition of our newsletter. In this newsletter, you'll find our monthly climate summary, a list of special events that 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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November Climate Summary for Florida
The Florida Climate Center's November 2011 Florida Climate Summary is now available. The summary provides an analysis of temperature and precipitation trends across the state, along with data on hazardous weather, drought, the impacts of the weather and any records tied or broken for the month. During November, average temperatures were near normal while rainfall totals were below normal. Past summaries are archived here.
| November average temperatures and departures from normal (° F) for selected cities. |  |
| November precipitation totals and departures from normal (inches) for selected cities. |  |
| A graphical depiction of the monthly rainfall departure from normal (inches) for November (courtesy of NOAA, NWS). |  |
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State Climate Office Attends Southeast Climate Consortium (SECC) Meeting
Members of the state climate office attended the Fall 2011 Meeting of the Southeast Climate Consortium in Tallahassee, FL. From November 2 to 4, staff engaged in discussions on climate variability and change, seasonal forecasting, agriculture and water resources, and downscale modeling in the southeast U.S. Members of the staff also presented posters on a variety of research that's currently being conducted within the office. About 75 researchers from different universities and state agencies were in attendance at the event.
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Emeritus State Climatologist Talks at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge
Professor Jim O'Brien briefed Florida refuge managers, workers and citizens on climate change in Florida at the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge in St Marks, FL. On November 3, Dr. O'Brien led a discussion on such diverse topics as sea level rise, hurricanes, warming and cooling temperatures across Florida to an audience of 35 folks. The talk was sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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In-service Training for Florida
The Florida Climate Center participated in an in-service training program for University of Florida Extension on November 8 and 9 in Crystal River, Florida. The program was conducted by the Climate Variability and Change Focus Group, for which State Climatologist David Zierden is an adjunct member. Mr. Zierden presented the climate outlook for winter and spring with an emphasis on how the climate could effect agricultural production in the area. Assistant State Climatologist Melissa Griffin also prepared a session on the new 1981-2010 normals and how they have changed from the previous "official" climate normals, and the material was presented by Chris Martinez of the University of Florida.
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2nd Annual Meeting of the Florida Climate Institute (FCI)
On November 14 and 15, scientists, agencies, and industry gathered at the University of Florida to discuss climate issues. The two-day event began with the Florida Climate Institute Annual Event (click here for event program) on Monday, which offered attendees diverse presentations about various climate scenarios for Florida and the impacts on the environment and economy. Many also participated in a communications workshop to better bridge the gap between science, policy, and citizenry. The evening keynotes, Steve Seibert and Virginia Burkett, presented an interesting balance of social responsibility and climate science. On Tuesday, November 15, The State University System of Florida Climate Change Task Force Event (click here for event program) featured Jayantha Obeysekera with a keynote that led to panel discussions with leaders from around the state and country about climate impacts. Over the 2 days, there were 17 presentations, 175 attendees, and 64 posters contributing the success of the events.
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State Climatologist Meets with Minority Farmers in Albany, GA
In conjunction with other members of the Southeast Climate Consortium, State Climatologist David Zierden met with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in Albany, GA, on November 16. The meeting was attended by dozens of minority farmers and representatives of the hosting organization. Mr. Zierden spoke about the El Niņo/La Niņa cycle, how the cycle affects climate and agricultural production in the Southeast, and what we can expect this winter and upcoming spring.
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Upcoming Events
December 1-2, 2011:
National Integrated Drought Information System Meeting in Lake Lanier, GA
January 9-13, 2012:
Florida 4-H Youth Development Institute in Ocala, FL
January 21, 2012:
11th Annual American Meteorological Society WeatherFest in New Orleans, FL
January 23-27, 2012:
92nd Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society in New Orleans, FL
February 2, 2012:
NIFA Technology and Agricultural Fair in Quincy, 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:
With the official start of winter fast approaching, the office has received a variety of requests from private citizens who will be traveling to the state over the upcoming holidays or making Florida their temporary home for a few months to escape the cold and snow.  | | A photo of Quebec's fall colors shared by the gentleman who contacted our office. |
One family from North Dakota will be making a trip to Disney World in Orlando as a Christmas present to their 3 children. They asked for information on the historical averages of maximum and minimum temperatures for their weeklong visit, as well as data about temperature extremes during the same time period. The family said they look forward to seeing decorated palm trees and enjoying a snow-free Christmas. Another gentleman contacted the office for a second year in a row inquiring about data from the Fort Pierce area. He's originally from Quebec, Canada, and for the past two years has been spending his winters on Hutchinson Island. He was curious as to why it had been "rather cool" and wanted to compare observations he had taken to historical data. |
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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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