The Water Resources and Climate Change Workgroup (established in 2009 by the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force) recently released Updated Federal Interagency Report on Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate: Looking Forward: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate.
Eastern Region Climate Partners, including Southeast and Gulf of Maine, in partnership with the Southeast and Northeast Regional Climate Centers and NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information share the December edition of the NOAA Regional Climate Services Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook reports.
This Washington Post article notes while citing the National Snow & Ice Data Center that Arctic sea ice hit record low for November reflecting unusually high air temperatures, winds from the south and a warm ocean.
November is when sea ice in the Arctic usually begins to refreeze; RCI affiliate, Jennifer Francis is quoted by the New York Times explaining that she expects there to be an unusual winter as a result of this situation. In the Rutgers Targum, Professor Francis explains the phenomenon whereby losing sea ice allows more energy from the sun to be absorbed by the ocean and that when fall arrives, the ice is trying to refreeze but because the ocean is so warm it takes longer; heat from the water enters back into the atmosphere, further heating the air, reinforcing the process.
RCI affiliate, Bob Kopp, provides insights on climate policy in the incoming administration of President-elect Trump in the Rutgers Targum.
The EPA released an updated State and Local guide to U.S. EPA Climate and Energy Program Resources. Click here to view the document.
