Daylight Saving 2015

Just a friendly reminder to everyone that Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 8th. Before you go to bed the night of the 7th, make sure to turn your clock ahead by one hour to reflect the change.

State Climatologist Talks Weather and Climate at Wiregrass Cotton Expo

The annual Wiregrass Cotton Expo in Dothan, Alabama was held on February 6th. The event is hosted by the Wiregrass Research Station and Auburn University Extension. State Climatologist David Zierden has been a regular part of the program for over ten years now and area farmers look forward to his climate and weather summary for the past year and particularly the outlook for the coming planting and growing season. This is the time of year when decisions are made about varieties, acres planted, and planting date and growers use the climate forecast to help make these decisions. David Zierden reviewed the cool and wet conditions that plagued the early season last year and the ensuing dryness during the summer months. This year we are under the influence of a weak El Nino and that should mean cooler temperatures and more rainfall than normal as the Southeast heads into spring.

Assistant State Climatologist Attends FISE Workshop

Sponsored by the Florida Forest Service, the Florida Department of Agriculture, Georgia Forestry Commission and Normandeau Environmental Consultants, the Fire in the Southern Ecosystem (FISE) Workshop is a curriculum and training program that gives educators information and tools to teach about fire in the Southeastern U.S. The program began in 1999 and has reached more than 3,200 educators. Workshops are free to educators of all types - teachers, nature center or park staff, homeschool parents, Scout and 4-H leaders, camp counselors, and others. Assistant State Climatologist, Melissa Griffin, along with COAPS Outreach Coordinator, Brittany Pace, attended the day-long professional development event at the Tallahassee Natural History Museum and participated in conducting a prescribed burn.

Florida Climate Center and COAPS Help Farmers Tackle Climate Change

The Florida Climate Center and COAPS hosted the 11th meeting of the Tri-State Climate Working Group for Row Crop Famers on February 9th. The meeting's theme was "WHAT IF" scenarios for row crops in the SE USA. The goals for the day-long meeting were to examine future scenarios for row crop production in the SE US based on past trends; discuss potential changes in climate, competing land uses, and water availability; identify possible strategies that different stakeholder groups might use to anticipate and prepare for changes (producers, industries, cooperatives, universities, USDA, etc.); and determine interest in exploring these issues more deeply together.

There were 54 people in attendance, including farmers and ranchers, Extension professionals, and scientists. Participants saw a range of presentations on climate futures, crop responses to climate, land use change and economics in the Southeast, new crops in the Southeast, and water quantity and quality issues. Participants also answered questions using clickers, and showed that they are optimistic, with the majority agreeing that the row crop industry is willing to adapt to climate change. One climatologist from FSU said, "...climate change is coming, but it is coming slowly. Technology is also changing and you have new opportunities. Climate change is part of those decisions." On the other hand a crop modeler from UF notes that, "Yes, climate change might be slow, but slow changes can have fast and cascading impacts with implications for other systems...so we need to be prepared."

Florida Extension and Sea Grant learn about Climate Change

The Climate Change Work Action Group comprised of University of Florida Extension and Sea Grant professionals conducted a two-day in service training program for county agents on February 23rd and 24th. The training was held at picturesque Weedon Island Preserve near St. Petersburg Florida. State Climatologist opened the program with an overview of Climate Change Science and sea level rise. There were also presentations by University of South Florida on the measurement and prediction of sea level rise and how the growing flooding threat could change insurance practices in the state. The second day focused on the demonstration of a variety of tools and resources available to help communities plan for and adapt to rising water levels and changing climate conditions.