The Florida Climate The Florida Climate Center’s Approach to Center’s Approach to

Climate Services Climate Services

James J. O’BrienJames J. O’BrienState Climatologist for FloridaState Climatologist for Florida

Robert O. Lawton Distinguished ProfessorRobert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor

Florida State UniversityFlorida State University

StaffStaffDavid F. Zierden - Assistant State David F. Zierden - Assistant State ClimatologistClimatologist

Melissa Griffin - Coordinator of Research Melissa Griffin - Coordinator of Research Services and ProgramsServices and Programs

Mort Winsberg - Professor Emeritus, Mort Winsberg - Professor Emeritus, GeographyGeography

Preston Leftwich - Research AssistantPreston Leftwich - Research Assistant

BackgroundBackground

Prior to 1972, NWS employed all State Climatologists.Prior to 1972, NWS employed all State Climatologists.

Budget cuts and decentralization led to the elimination of the NOAA Budget cuts and decentralization led to the elimination of the NOAA State Climatologist program.State Climatologist program.

Florida continued to recognize a State Climatologist, but in name only Florida continued to recognize a State Climatologist, but in name only in recent years.in recent years.

December 1998 James O’Brien agreed to become the new Florida December 1998 James O’Brien agreed to become the new Florida State Climatologist.State Climatologist.

State Climate Office came with unfunded mandate to provide climate State Climate Office came with unfunded mandate to provide climate services and information to the state of Florida.services and information to the state of Florida.

Building the Florida Climate Building the Florida Climate CenterCenter

Established working relationship with Established working relationship with the NWS, NCDC and SERCC.the NWS, NCDC and SERCC.

Organize old climate records and Organize old climate records and publications.publications.

Built web site and other measures to Built web site and other measures to publicize the FCC.publicize the FCC.

Built relationships with other scientists Built relationships with other scientists and institutions.and institutions.

Found research and funding Found research and funding opportunities in private industry.opportunities in private industry.

Common Users of Climate Common Users of Climate ServicesServices

Students Students K-12K-12Undergraduates/GraduatesUndergraduates/Graduates

Private Citizens Private Citizens Engineering FirmsEngineering Firms ContractorsContractors Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement Government and State Agencies Government and State Agencies Liaison with the MediaLiaison with the Media

State newspapersState newspapersPublic radioPublic radioTelevisionTelevision

Law FirmsLaw Firms U.S Department of U.S Department of

LaborLabor State Attorney’s State Attorney’s

OfficeOffice Public Defenders Public Defenders

(state and federal (state and federal level)level)

Variety of Law Variety of Law Practices from the Practices from the state and around state and around the country the country

Interesting CasesInteresting Cases

Carver and FisherCarver and Fisher The Solomon The Solomon

Troop Law Group Troop Law Group – Horizon Horizon

Construction and Construction and Development vs. Development vs. City of LakelandCity of Lakeland

Robert EvansRobert Evans

Sports/Outdoor EventsSports/Outdoor Events

Disney’s Animal Disney’s Animal

KingdomKingdom Director of Director of

Planning and Planning and Research, Greater Research, Greater Miami Convention Miami Convention and Visitors Bureauand Visitors Bureau

Stadium Medical Stadium Medical Director, University Director, University of Floridaof Florida

Heat IndicesHeat Indices

~50 years of hourly ~50 years of hourly observations from 33 observations from 33 stations throughout stations throughout the Southeast USthe Southeast US

Investigated:Investigated:– Daily/Hourly Daily/Hourly

occurrences per yearoccurrences per year– Percentage of Percentage of

occurrences per yearoccurrences per year Livestock StressLivestock Stress

User Driven ProductsUser Driven Products

Common Requests Common Requests for specific for specific informationinformation

Wind ClimatologyWind Climatology– AviationAviation– ConstructionConstruction– Water SportsWater Sports– Engineering FirmsEngineering Firms– General UseGeneral Use

Wind ClimatologyWind Climatology

Based on daily Based on daily values of wind values of wind speed and speed and directiondirection

First Order First Order Weather Weather Stations in Stations in FloridaFlorida

Wrap UpWrap Up

First Contact for most requestsFirst Contact for most requests Listening to the userListening to the user Creating user driven Creating user driven

products/forecastsproducts/forecasts

For More Information:For More Information:

Visit Our WebsitesVisit Our Websites COAPS: COAPS: www.coaps.fsu.eduwww.coaps.fsu.edu

Florida Climate Center:Florida Climate Center:

www.coaps.fsu.edu/climate_centerwww.coaps.fsu.edu/climate_center

Email:Email:

Griffin@coaps.fsu.eduGriffin@coaps.fsu.edu