NE CSC 2012 Annual Report now available
The Northeast Climate Science Center recently produced its 2012 Annual Report, the first since the CSC was established in March 2012. The document details the research capacity of the NE CSC Consortium, highlights several projects and research areas, and sets out the Priority Science Themes established through stakeholder feedback during the CSC's first year of operation. During a year of unprecedented climate impacts to the natural resources of the Northeast region, the NE CSC assembled a leadership team to guide the enterprise in expanding its stakeholder base and delivering high quality science. The first steps of the CSC included completing a Draft Strategic Science Agenda, establishing a Stakeholder Advisory Committee, hosting 2 Stakeholder Outreach and Science Planning Meetings, funding $550,000 in stakeholder-driven climate research, and training the first 15 Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellows in stakeholder-driven climate science techniques.
2012 was an important year for climate in the Northeast US. Many records were set for average warmth, earliest spring, lowest Great Lakes water levels, and warmest sea surface temperatures off the Northeast Shelf.
- Record warmth in contiguous US Many Northeast states experienced warmest average temps in recorded history
- Record low water levels in Great Lakes High temperatures and low precipitation mean less water for the Great Lakes
- Record cost for weather and climate-related disasters Second costliest year with 11 disasters totaling more than $110 billion in damages
- Year long drought in Midwest Largest drought extent since 1930s plagued Midwest and Plains region farmers
- Earliest spring on record Warm temperatures promoted early leafing and flowering across many parts of the US
- Record warm sea surface temperatures Elevated water temperatures in the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem
Read more about climate trends as well as the people and the research behind NE CSC activities accomplished in 2012!
--> Download 2012 Annual Report
Photo: Karner blue butterly on Hawkweed (credit: Joel Trick, USFWS)