The South Central U.S. is home to diverse climates and ecosystems, strong agricultural and energy sectors, and fast-growing urban areas. All share a critical need for water, which is becoming an increasingly scarce resource across the region as aquifers are overdrawn and populations grow. Understanding what brings rain to this region, and how the timing and amount of precipitation may be affected by climate change, is essential for effective water planning and management, yet community planners and managers have indicated that currently available precipitation forecasts for the South Central are insufficient, due largely to the high levels of uncertainty associated with precipitation projections for the region.
This project aims to improve scientific understanding of the local and large-scale atmospheric processes that bring moisture to the region and drive precipitation. The project will analyze long-term historical weather station records and atmospheric dynamics, improving our ability to interpret global climate model simulations and apply them to regional management questions. Researchers will project future changes in seasonal rainfall and drought risk to assist water resources planning and preparedness efforts.
Lessons learned from this work will be used to inform long-term projections for our region, making complex climate information and analyses more approachable, understandable, and actionable for regional policy-makers, planners, and managers.
