| Authors: | Stanley A. Changnon |
| Volume: | Volume 2007, No. 1, 1 Jun 2007 |
| DOI: | http://www.doi.org/10.46275/JoASC.2007.06.001 |
| Abstract: | Climate information has been the foundation upon which the nation’s weather-sensitive activities and infrastructure have been developed over the past 200 years. By 1970, climate services had begun to move to a new level of recognition and ever higher value to the climate-sensitive sectors of the nation. The past four decades have seen a series of scientific advances and technological changes that have vastly enhanced the provision of climate information. Atmospheric scientists created major improvements in weather-sensing instruments, in data quality and its archival, in the ease of accessing data and climate information, and in the generation of user-friendly climate products. Coupled with these advances have been national and global economic conditions and government policies that have acted to greatly increase the demand for climate products. On the government side, there has been establishment of state climatologists in all states, a national network of six regional climate cen ters, and an enhanced national data center. On the business side, there has been a rapid expansion into climatology, bringing new climate-based products and services to a vast array of climate-sensitive businesses and government agencies. However, not all aspects of climate services are at an optimum level. Five limitations need future attention to achieve optimum usage of climate information: better climate training; stabilization of weather/climate measurements; enhanced outreach to users; better information on climate impacts; and knowledge of effects of climate change. Regardless, provision of climate data and information is the oldest atmospheric sciences activity in service to society and its most successful. |
| Link: | https://stateclimate.org/pdfs/journal-articles/2007_1-Changnon.pdf |
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