This month the California Energy Commission rolled out Cal-Adapt, an online resource that allows users to visualize the progressive effects of climate change over time.  Based on an extensive Statewide database of spatial information from multiple sources, Cal-Adapt provides localized visual snapshots (over time) of numerous climate change parameters. 

 

Using interactive maps, you can watch how climate-related effects are projected to change over time as you move sliders that take you from 1950 to 2099.  Or the changes can be played as a time-lapse movie.  You can explore parameters such as temperature, snow pack, precipitation, sea level rise, and wildfire risk.  Built on Google base maps and satellite views, the user can switch between map, satellite, and atlas views.  Results can be displayed on a graph showing both low-emissions and high-emissions scenarios.  The maps can also be switched between these two scenarios.

 

Each of the tools can be based on one of four user-selected climate change models, or on the average of all four models.  The maps can be easily navigated by zooming and panning the same way you do with Google Maps, or by typing a location in the search bar.

 

For those wishing to dive deeper into the tools analytically, the data sets can be downloaded in tabular or raster form.  Among the data sources are Scripps Institution of Oceanography, U.S. Geological Survey, UC Merced Climate Applications Lab, UC Berkeley, Pacific Institute, and Santa Clara University Department of Engineering. 

 

The site was developed by UC Berkeley's Geospatial Innovation Facility, and will be updated frequently with new features and data sets.  The website also provides links to an extensive list of scientific publications and research papers on climate change.

 

You can view a demonstration of Cal-Adapt's capabilities at Cal-Adapt Intro Tour or you can just head straight to the resource at:  Cal-Adapt Tools.  Have fun exploring!
 

In our last issue, we told you about Google's big investments in alternative energy technologies here in California (solar towers) and in Oregon (world's biggest wind farm).  If you missed it, you can catch up here:  May 2011 eAlert.   Google really upped the ante this month when the tech behemoth committed $280 million to fund San Mateo-based SolarCity's installation of rooftop solar panels on 8,000 to 9,500 single-family homes.  This brings Google's investments in clean energy to about $680 million to date.

Douglas Herring & Associates (DHA) works with public agencies, developers, and other businesses in California to expertly obtain the environmental and planning approvals needed to move projects from the conceptual stage to physical, benefit-generating reality in an efficient and cost-effective manner.  Since 1997, DHA has helped dozens of California cities and counties and scores of other businesses and organizations save money while obtaining high-quality planning and environmental analysis services necessary to get their projects expeditiously approved and built. Learn more on our website:  Douglas Herring & Associates.

 
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