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NE CSC Newsletter

Monday, May 4, 2015

------ NE CSC NEWS: ----------------------

Fellow Highlight: Kyle Gill     Jack pine forests are ecologically and economically critical in the upper Great Lakes region and regeneration of these forests has been increasingly challenging in range margin populations due to drought, land conversion to agriculture, and other stressors. For this reason, John Almendinger, a seasoned member of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, is grateful for NE CSC Graduate Fellow Kyle Gill’s recent research on jack pine forest dynamics.  Read more >>

 

Understanding Climate Projections: Guidance for Climate Change Adaptation Planning    As leader of the project, NE CASC Postdoctoral Fellow Alex Bryan investigates how the climate is changing with respect to our natural ecosystems and resources, assesses the predictability of those changes, and educates managers on those predictions. Additionally, Alex provides technical support for users of climate model data and guides potential users to data sets that best fit their needs. Got a question about climate information?  Give Alex a call!  Read more >>

 

Upcoming webinar: “Are conservation organizations configured for effective adaptation to global change?”     Wednesday, June 10, 3:30pm. Paul Armsworth, Univ Tennessee will present. As the climate warms and other global changes progress, species move outside their historical ranges, new ecological communities form and ecosystems transition to new states. To cope, conservation organizations will need to adapt. But to what extent are conservation organizations configured in a way that positions them to adapt effectively and what steps can they take to enhance their adaptive capacity? Read more >>

 

New Project - Please Take a Survey: Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife Climate Action Tool      Are you worried about the impacts of climate change on the wildlife, natural resources or infrastructure you care about?  Do you feel overwhelmed by the information available but still not sure what local actions you can take to help prepare for the changes ahead? Please help us build a tool that will support the efforts of leaders in Massachusetts by completing our online questionnaire. Read more >>

 

Storm model brings climate preparations to local decision-makers    How society should respond to climate change may be a global-scale debate, but NE CSC PI Kenneth Potter and Affiliate Investigator David S. Liebl know that preparing for climate change’s impact on weather is a profoundly local problem. Read more >>

New TranStorm Tool Flyer >>

 

Dynamic Dead Zones Alter Fish Catches in Lake Erie     New research from the NE CSC shows that Lake Erie’s dead zones are actually quite active, greatly affecting fish distributions, catch rates and the effectiveness of fishing gear.  Read more >>

 

NE CSC Fellow Speaks to Forest Managers in West Virginia    Postdoctoral fellow Alex Bryan presented to state forest managers at the Climate Change and West Virginia's Forests adaptation workshop at West Virginia University on April 14. Topics included projected climate changes for West Virginia and guidelines for using climate models in forest management. Read more >>

 

Upcoming Presentations from the NE CSC:

•                Harvard Plant Biology Symposium: “Covergence in the temperature response of leaf respiration across biomes and plant functional types.” M Heskel et al. May 6, 2015. 

•                National Adaptation Forum, St. Louis, MO: “Communicating about climate adaptation: Opportunities and potential pitfalls.” Guckian, M and Markowitz, E.  May 12-14

•                National Adaptation Forum, St. Louis, MO:  "Adapting to climate change impacts across the Northeast and Midwestern United States: Case studies from the Northeast Climate Science Center.” Staudinger, M.  May 12-14

•                National Adaptation Forum: Action today for a better tomorrow, St. Louis, MO. “Tribal and Community Colleges: Education, Equity, and Climate Change.” C Caldwell. May 12-14, 2015. 

•                Society for Freshwater Science. Milwaulkee, WI. "Not all scientific uncertainties are created equal for landscape scale headwater stream management.” Katz RA, EH Campbell-Grant, MC Runge, DJ Hocking, BH Letcher and AH Roy.  May 17-21, 2015. 

•                ASCE EWRI Conference, Austin, TX. “A vulnerability framework for assessing the risks to water supply systems under climate uncertainty in the northeastern United States. S Whateley, R Palmer, C Brown.” May 17-21, 2015. 

•                ASCE EWRI Conference, Austin, TX. “Developing a Screening Model for the Prioritization of Culvert Repair and Replacement.” R Palmer, D Ahlfeld, R Weiter, G Clark. May 17-21, 2015. 

•                ASCE EWRI Conference, Austin, TX. “Evaluating the performance of multiple alternative operating rules under climate change: case study of New York City.” L DeCristofaro, R Palmer. May 17-21, 2015.     

 

Recent Publications from the NE CSC: 

•                Kraus, R. et al., 2015.  Dynamic hypoxic zones in Lake Erie compress fish habitat, altering vulnerability to fishing gears. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

•                Ning, L. and R.S. Bradley, 2015.  Influence of Eastern Pacific and Central Pacific El Niños on winter climate extremes over the eastern and central United States.  Int. J. Climatology.

•                Telander, A., R.A. Slesak, A.W. D’Amato, B.J. Palik, K.N. Brooks, and C.F. Lenhart. 2015.  Sap flow of black ash in wetland forests of northern Minnesota, U.S.A.: hydrologic implications of tree mortality due to emerald ash borer. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.

 

 

 

------ FEATURED RESOURCE: --------------------------------------

NIACS launches online Adaptation Workbook for forest management and conservation    The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science is pleased to announce the release of www.AdaptationWorkbook.org, a new web-based tool for natural resource professionals.  The new website is an online edition of the Adaptation Workbook, previously published in Forest Adaptation Resources: Climate change tools and approaches for land managers. This step-by-step process was designed to help people consider climate change at the scale of their own management decisions and design their own customized adaptation actions. The new online environment allows users to seamlessly explore content from regional climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation strategies and approaches, all while working at their own pace. Read more >>

 

 

------ UPCOMING EVENTS: ----------------------------------------------------

16th Annual National Tribal Forum on Air Quality      May 19-21 in Battle Creek, MI. The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, the National Tribal Air Association, and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi invite you to attend the 16th Annual National Tribal Forum on Air Quality.  Read more >>

 

Quad Cities Pollinator Conference     June 10-11, 2015 in Rock Island, IL.  Hosted by Nahant Marsh, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Rock Island, Scott and Henry counties, the goal is to provide a platform for knowledge-sharing, open dialogue, networking opportunities and pollinator-related goods and services. Register by June 1. Read more >>

 

Climate and Human Security Symposium    June 3-4, 2015 in Boulder, CO. The focus of this workshop will be developing collaborative relationships across government, civil sector, academia, international partners, and non-government organizations that will identify fundamental geospatial data critical to enhancing our understanding of climate change and its implications for society within a human geography framework. Read more >>

 

Marine Biology Laboratory’s Ecosystems Center is Celebrating 40 years    June 5-6, Woods Hole, MA.  Celebrate 40 years of contributions to ecology and ecosystems science, featuring keynote by John Holdren, Science Advisor to President Obama, and discussions with Jerry Melillo, Penny Chisholm, and William Schlesinger. Read more >>

 

2015 Rising Voices Meeting - Learning and Doing: Education and Adaptation through Diverse Ways of Knowing    June 29 - July 1, Boulder, CO. The Rising Voices workshops facilitate cross-cultural approaches for adaptation solutions to climate variability and change. Register by June 19. Read more >>

 

 

------ OTHER NEWS: ----------------------------------------------------

Reclaiming Our Coastal Home    The Upper Midwest and Great Lakes LCC’s work to protect coastal wetlands in the Great Lakes was selected as a Resilient Lands and Waters partnership. The designation is part of the Administration’s Climate and Natural Resources Priority Agenda that recognizes where federal agencies are working with state, tribal and local partners to conserve vital natural resources in the face of climate change. Read more >>

 

Midwest and Northern Forests Regional Climate Hubs Vulnerability Assessment Published     Provides stakeholders with an introduction to the region, regional sensitivities and adaptation strategies for working lands, a greenhouse gas emissions profile with mitigation opportunities, and an overview of how partner USDA agencies are being affected by a changing climate. Read more >>

 

Tiny Songbird Discovered to Migrate Non-Stop, 1,500 Miles over the Atlantic     NE CSC Postdoctoral Fellow Bill DeLuca's work documents the amazing migration feats of the blackpoll warbler, and the news is spreading far and wide! Read more >>

 

Too Hot for Take-off    Using global climate model temperature projections, NE CSC Fellow Ethan Coffel and NE CSC PI Radley Horton, from Columbia University, have shown that the number of weight restriction days for Boeing 737-800s at four major US airports will increase by as much as 200% by the summers of 2050 and beyond. Read more >>

 

Report: Climate Change Driving Native Plants Out Of New England    According to a new report on the state of New England’s native plants by the New England Flower Society, 22 percent of all native plant species in the region are either extinct, rare or disappearing. Read more >>

 

Climate Change in the Lake Champlain Basin      Researchers used CMIP5 data to simulate climate change impacts on flow regime within the Lake Champlain Basin and found that streamflow regime projections suggest an increase in low flows.  Read more >>

 

High Mountains Warming Faster Than Expected      NE CSC PI Raymond Bradley and international team of authors call for more aggressive monitoring of temperature changes in mountain regions and more attention to the potential consequences of warming. Read more >>

 

Soil Organic Carbon Beneath Croplands and Re-established Grasslands     Funded by the Plains and Prairie Potholes LCC, researchers studied soil organic carbon sequestration in the North Dakota Prairie Pothole Region. Read more >>

 

Projected Warming of Wisconsin Streams Could Negatively Affect Trout    Annual average stream temperatures in the Trout Lake watershed, Wisconsin, could increase from one to three degrees Celsius by the year 2100, which might negatively affect cold water fish like brook trout. Read more >>

 

 

 

------ RESOURCES: -----------------------------------------------------

A Complex Landscape has both Vulnerabilities and Resilience to Climate Change    A new report on the vulnerability of Central Appalachian forests is now available online, co-authored by NE CSC PI Frank Thompson:  "Central Appalachians forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Central Appalachians Climate Change Response Framework project." Read more >>

 

Shorebird Science? iPlover is the App for That    iPlover supports a long-established network of partners, including USGS and the North Atlantic LCC, working to address ongoing impacts on plover populations, such as habitat gain or loss due to storms. Read more >>

 

Hot-Cold Map Provides Blueprint for Protecting Ecosystems    A regional conservation partnership in Massachusetts needed to update their approach to evaluating land acquisitions. Adding the complexity of climate change to their map helped resolve their vision. Read more >>

 

New Interactive Education Module on Climate Change Effects    The US Forest Service’s Climate Change Resource Center has released a new interactive online education module on climate change effects on forests and grasslands. The CCRC’s first education module provides a basic climate change foundation, and this new module builds on that foundation, examining climate change effects around the country. Read more >>

 

CAKE Highlight: Madison, Connecticut Hazards and Community Resilience Workshops    This project was the culmination of a community-driven process in the Town of Madison, Connecticut to comprehensively reduce risk, improve resilience, and identify priority adaptation actions. Read more >>

 

New Release: Adaptation for Cities Project     The Great Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities pilot project worked closely with six mid-sized cities in the Great Lakes region to better understand what climate information and adaptation resources are needed to enhance resiliency across the region. Read more >>

 

 

 

 

------ OPPORTUNITIES: --------------------------------------------------------

Seeking MS student in floodplain ecology at UMass Amherst    Seeking a motivated graduate student to carry out the ecological component of an interdisciplinary project on reconnecting floodplains and restoring green space as a management strategy to minimize flood risk and increase resilience in the context of climate and landscape change. Read more >>

 

Climate Change Specialist Position with the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe   The specialist will  provide technical  expertise  and  coordination  support  to  develop  and  integrate Tribal  priorities regarding climate change and will take a lead in developing strategies to adapt to climate change effects  on Tribal  treaty  resources.  Read more >>

 

 

------ WEBINARS: --------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, May 7, 12:00pm ET

The National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center presents,

CRAVe, or the Climate Registry for the Assessment of Vulnerability

To join, visit: https://usgs.webex.com/usgs/j.php?MTID=m55486c8fd4723f9b8f5cec2613b63445

 

Thursday, May 7, 2:00pm ET

NCCWSC Climate Change Science and Management Webinar Series presents, 

Using State-and-Transition Simulation Models to Guide Sustainable Management of Ecosystems: Three Case Studies from across the US

Jennifer Costanza, NC State University; Megan Creutzburg, Portland State University; Brian Miller, Colorado State University

To register, visit: https://nccwsc.usgs.gov/webinar/455

 

Tuesday, May 12, 10:00 am, ET

NOAA Climate Services, including the Northeast Regional Climate Center presents,

Applied Climate Information System Training

Event number: 640 115 299; Event password: scACIS2

To join, visit: https://cornell.webex.com/cornell/onstage/g.php?d=640115299&t=a

 

Wednesday, May 13, 1:00pm ET

Urban Forest Connections Webinar Series presents, 

The Science Behind i-Tree

David Nowak, USDA Forest Service

To register, visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/research/urban-webinars/

 

Thursday, May 14, 1:00pm ET

Conservation Biology Institute presents, 

Navigating the Data Basin Platform: A Guided Tour

Tosha Comendant, Conservation Biology Institute

To register, visit: http://consbio.org/newsroom/events/data-basin-tour-May-2015

 

Thursday, May 14 1:00 pm ET

Climate Change Response Framework presents, 

New England Climate Change Atlas 

To join, visit: http://www.forestadaptation.org/NE-Atlas

 

Thursday, May 21, 1:00pm ET

NOAA Climate Information for Managing Risks in Water Resources Webinar Series presents, 

Precipitation Patterns, Supply Planning and Demand Curves: the Complexities of Assessing Water Supply Risks

Erica Brown

To register, visit: http://cpo.noaa.gov/AboutCPO/AllNews/TabId/315/ArtMID/668/ArticleID/232466/Webinar-Series-Climate-Information-for-Managing-Risks-in-Water-Resources.aspx

 

Thursday, May 21, 2:00pm ET

US Drought Portal presents, 

Midwest and Great Plains Drought Webinar

A state climatologist and a NOAA regional climatologist

To register, visit: http://www.drought.gov/drought/content/regional-programs/regional-drought-webinars

 

Wednesday, May 27, 1:00pm ET

Tribal Renewable Energy Webinar Series presents, 

Models and Tools for Evaluating Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Project Opportunities

To register, visit: http://energy.gov/indianenergy/events/models-and-tools-evaluating-energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy-project

 

Wednesday, May 27, 1:00pm ET

Safeguarding Wildlife from Climate Change Web Conference Series presents, 

Adapting Conservation Easements to Climate Change

Adena Rissman, University of Wisconsin-Madison

To register, visit: https://events-na8.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/1089783514/en/events/catalog.html

 

Thursday, June 4, 1:00pm ET

NOAA Climate Information for Managing Risks in Water Resources Webinar Series presents, 

Water Hazards and Community Resilience

Jim Schwab, American Planning Association

To register, visit: http://cpo.noaa.gov/AboutCPO/AllNews/TabId/315/ArtMID/668/ArticleID/232466/Webinar-Series-Climate-Information-for-Managing-Risks-in-Water-Resources.aspx

 

Tuesday, June 2, 1:00pm ET

OneNOAA Science Seminar Series presents, 

Lessons Learned: Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Tourism

Martha Honey, Center for Responsible Travel

To register, visit: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/seminars/index.html

 

Wednesday, June 3, 1:00pm ET

Security & Sustainability Forum Webinar Series presents, 

Achievements in Sustainability: A Look at Local Environmental Health Program Success

Past NEHA Sustainability Award winners

To register, visit: http://securityandsustainabilityforum.org/events

 

Wednesday, June 3, 4:00pm ET

CCRUN Webinar Series presents, 

Universities Green Infrastructure Research Round Table

To join, visit: http://ccrun.org/seminars

 

Wednesday, June 10, 3:30pm ET
Northeast Climate Science Center presents,
Are conservation organizations configured for effective adaptation to global change?
Paul Armsworth, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Univ Tennessee
To join, visit: https://necsc.umass.edu/webinars/are-conservation-organizations-configured-effective-adaptation-global-change