The Florida Climate Center

1
The Florida Climate Centers Approach to Climate
Services

• James J. OBrien
• State Climatologist for Florida
• Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor
• Florida State University
• Staff
• David F. Zierden - Assistant State Climatologist
• Melissa Griffin - Coordinator of Research
  Services and Programs
• Mort Winsberg - Professor Emeritus, Geography
• Preston Leftwich - Research Assistant

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Background

• Prior to 1972, NWS employed all State
  Climatologists.
• Budget cuts and decentralization led to the
  elimination of the NOAA State Climatologist
  program.
• Florida continued to recognize a State
  Climatologist, but in name only in recent years.
• December 1998 James OBrien agreed to become the
  new Florida State Climatologist.
• State Climate Office came with unfunded mandate
  to provide climate services and information to
  the state of Florida.

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Building the Florida Climate Center

• Established working relationship with the NWS,
  NCDC and SERCC.
• Organize old climate records and publications.
• Built web site and other measures to publicize
  the FCC.
• Built relationships with other scientists and
  institutions.
• Found research and funding opportunities in
  private industry.

4
Common Users of Climate Services

• Students
• K-12
• Undergraduates/Graduates
• Private Citizens
• Engineering Firms
• Contractors
• Law Enforcement
• Government and State Agencies
• Liaison with the Media
• State newspapers
• Public radio
• Television

5
Law Firms

• U.S Department of Labor
• State Attorneys Office
• Public Defenders (state and federal level)
• Variety of Law Practices from the state and
  around the country

6
Interesting Cases

• Carver and Fisher
• The Solomon Troop Law Group
• Horizon Construction and Development vs. City of
  Lakeland
• Robert Evans

7
Sports/Outdoor Events

• Disneys Animal Kingdom
• Director of Planning and Research, Greater Miami
  Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Stadium Medical Director, University of Florida

8
Heat Indices

• 50 years of hourly observations from 33 stations
  throughout the Southeast US
• Investigated
• Daily/Hourly occurrences per year
• Percentage of occurrences per year
• Livestock Stress

9
User Driven Products

• Common Requests for specific information
• Wind Climatology
• Aviation
• Construction
• Water Sports
• Engineering Firms
• General Use

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Wind Climatology

• Based on daily values of wind speed and direction
• First Order Weather Stations in Florida

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Wrap Up

• First Contact for most requests
• Listening to the user
• Creating user driven products/forecasts

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For More Information

• Visit Our Websites
• COAPS www.coaps.fsu.edu
• Florida Climate Center
• www.coaps.fsu.edu/climate_center
• Email
• Griffin_at_coaps.fsu.edu