John Buntin is a GOVERNING staff writer. He covers health care, public safety and urban affairs.
E-mail: jbuntin@governing.comTwitter: @governing
Energy & Environment
The Wave of Influence
Florida state climatologist David Zierden is also an activist.
In this era of instant climate information from The Weather Channel, Weatherunderground.com and Accuweather.com, the United States' 49 state climatologists might seem like dinosaurs. But instead of facing extinction, state climate offices are experiencing a golden age of influence, thanks to the efforts of action-oriented climatologists like David Zierden.
Zierden, who studied at Florida State University's Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, embodies something new: the climatologist as activist. He's played a leading role in the Southeast Climate Consortium--one of the most impressive examples of applied climatology. It uses cutting-edge modeling to predict the likely impact of the El Niño/La Niña weather cycle on the Southeast United States. Zierden has also worked with local governments, such as Tampa Bay Water, to help them understand what increasingly variable rainfall might mean for customers in the future.
Local initiatives, Zierden concedes, "aren't going to stop what's going on globally or the impact of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere." But he insists that they can still make a difference.
"Temperatures around urban centers such as Miami-Ft. Lauderdale have already warmed 1 to 2 degrees, just due to urban growth, sprawl and the heat island effect," Zierden says. "If we can plan more effectively, we can certainly stop that from happening."
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe for updates.
Twitter: @governing
Latest from Energy & Environment
- California Governor Heads to China Seeking Big Investments
- In his first official trip abroad since taking office in 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown is going to China to promote California exports, tourism and greenhouse gas reduction policies, and to open a foreign trade office in Shanghai.
- Oil and Gas Bills Pit Legislature vs. Governor in Colorado
- For Gov. Hickenlooper, who supports oil and gas development, the Democrat-sponsored and -supported bills create a dilemma.
- Despite Rise in Drilling, Shale Revenue Dropped in Pennsylvania
- Although energy companies have drilled more natural gas wells in Pennsylvania, towns will see fewer dollars from them this year.
- Canadian City Seeks to Sell Its Trash Expertise
- The Canadian city of Edmonton has created a for-profit agency to sell its expertise in waste management to other cities around the world.
- Oil Revenue Fuels Fighting Among Alaska Legislators
- A 2007 oil production tax increase has helped the state save up $17 billion. But now Republicans want to roll back the hike to lure more business.
GOVERNING Data
- Gay Marriage States Map
- Map shows state laws legalizing or prohibiting gay marriage and civil unions.
- 2012 Population Estimates for Metro Areas
- Public Transit Agency Ridership Statistics
- Average Tax Refund by State
- Which Services Are Citizens Most, Least Satisfied With?
- 2013 State of the State Speeches Word Cloud
Events & Webinars
- It’s A Paperless, Paperless World..... Thinking Outside the Box to Gain Efficiencies through Prepaid Cards
- April 23, 2013
- Public sector organizations are under intense scrutiny to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible and with maximum transparency. An important consideration is the way in which payments are made and managed. Prepaid cards can offer flexibility, security and accountability to governments as a method of dispersing benefits, healthcare and social care payments, child benefits and housing benefits to their constituents.
- GOVERNING - Michigan Leadership Forum 2013
- May 1, 2013
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved. |