Society is increasingly affected by climate impacts, from prolonged water shortages to damaging coastal floods and wildfires. Scientists studying climate variations are eager to have their knowledge used in adaptive decision making. To achieve this, science and society must engage productively around complex management and policy challenges. For over 20 years, the science-society interface has been fertile ground for the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) programs sponsored by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
 
Climate in Context describes what it takes to help scientists and stakeholders work together to “co-produce” climate science knowledge, policy, and action. This state-of-the art synthesis reflects on lessons learned by RISA programs, and provides a sober assessment of the challenges ahead. Through case studies from various US regions, this book provides lessons and guidance for organizations and individuals who want to work at the science-society interface on a range of climate challenges.

Table of Contents:

List of contributors vii

Foreword xiii

Preface xix

Acknowledgments xxiii

Background on RISA xxv

Section I: Understanding context and risk

1 Assessing needs and decision contexts: RISA approaches to engagement research 3
Caitlin F. Simpson, Lisa Dilling, Kirstin Dow, Kirsten J. Lackstrom, Maria Carmen Lemos and Rachel E. Riley

2 Understanding the user context: decision calendars as frameworks for linking climate to policy, planning, and decision-making 27
Andrea J. Ray and Robert S. Webb

3 Climate science for decision-making in the New York metropolitan region 51
Radley Horton, Cynthia Rosenzweig, William Solecki, Daniel Bader and Linda Sohl

Section II: Managing knowledge-to-action networks

4 Connecting climate information with practical uses: Extension and the NOAA RISA program 75
John Stevenson, Michael Crimmins, Jessica Whitehead, Julie Brugger and Clyde Fraisse

5 Participatory, dynamic models: a tool for dialogue 99
Laura Schmitt Olabisi, Stuart Blythe, Ralph Levine, Lorraine Cameron and Michael Beaulac

6 Not another webinar! Regional webinars as a platform for climate knowledge-to-action networking in Alaska 117
Sarah F. Trainor, Nathan P. Kettle and J. Brook Gamble

Section III: Innovating services

7 The making of national seasonal wildfire outlooks 143
Gregg Garfin, Timothy J. Brown, Tom Wordell and Ed Delgado

8 Challenges, pitfalls, and lessons learned in developing a drought decision-support tool 173
Greg Carbone, Jinyoung Rhee, Kirstin Dow, Jay Fowler, Gregg Garfin, Holly Hartmann, Ellen Lay and Art DeGaetano

9 Managing the 2011 drought: a climate services partnership 191
Mark Shafer, David Brown and Chad McNutt

Section IV: Advancing science policy

10 Evaluation to advance science policy: lessons from Pacific RISA and CLIMAS 215
Daniel B. Ferguson, Melissa L. Finucane, Victoria W. Keener and Gigi Owen

11 Navigating scales of knowledge and decision-making in the Intermountain West: implications for science policy 235
Eric S. Gordon, Lisa Dilling, Elizabeth McNie and Andrea J. Ray

12 Evolving the practice of Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments 255
Adam Parris, Sarah L. Close, Ryan Meyer, Kirstin Dow and Gregg Garfin

Acronyms 263

Index 267