Wednesday, January 18, 2017
 
About CPO Societal Challenges

Societal Challenges

Americans’ health, security, and economic well-being are tied to weather and climate. Every day citizens grapple with impacts resulting from extreme weather events and changing climate conditions. Individuals, businesses, and communities are increasingly turning to NOAA as a trusted source for science and information to help them understand how and why climate conditions are changing and how they can prepare.

Drawing upon NOAA’s foundation in science, NOAA is preparing the nation for impacts of anticipated climate variability and change by focusing on four societal challenge areas. Download the information sheets below to read about the various ways NOAA is accomplishing the task. 

 

CPO’s programs are helping U.S. farmers prepare for dry soil, scorching heat, and other climate impacts in recent summers. The map above, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor, shows drought and abnormally dry conditions across the contiguous U.S. on July 10, 2012. View large image and description.

Recent Accomplishments

Observations and Monitoring

  • Completed the Climate Reference Network— NOAA’s benchmark United States climate observing network

  • Worked with more than 70 partners to implement over 50% of the sustained Global Ocean Observing System

Understanding and Modeling

  • Over 300 active grants

  • Over 700 published papers per year, contributing to our understanding of climate variability and change

Informing Decisions

  • Supported climate training workshops, and reports directed to needs of resource managers

  • Funded National Research Council reports, including America’s Climate Choices to provide advice to the nation on responding to climate change

Program Development

  • 647K unique visits to NOAA Climate.gov last year (62.5% more than previous year), communicating climate science to the public

  • 186 Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellows, 35 AMS Graduate Fellows, and 11 Post Docs Applying Climate Expertise (PACE) since inception of programs

Visit us online at www.climate.gov to learn more about our science and services and how they’re benefitting society; or at www.cpo.noaa.gov to learn more about the Climate Program Office and its grants programs.

Email: oar.cpo.office@noaa.gov