The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) recognized Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, climate researchers Dan Cayan and Mike Dettinger and Anne Steinemann, manager of a Scripps-based climate research program, as recipients of climate science service awards.
Cayan and Dettinger were among 14 people honored with the DWR’s Advisory Committee Climate Services Award, which is given to researchers and consultants who “have helped DWR incorporate climate change adaptation into water planning and management.” Konstantine Georgakakos of the Hydrologic Research Center in San Diego, who serves as an adjunct professor at Scripps, also received the honor.
“We are pleased and flattered to be so honored,” said Dettinger. “I'd say that we are really most genuinely happy when agencies like DWR come to us and give us these opportunities to apply our climate research to make a beneficial difference in addressing California's problems.”
Steinemann, program manager of the California-Nevada Applications Program (CNAP) that helps decision-makers incorporate climate science into natural resource and infrastructure management, was recognized with the DWR’s Climate Science Service Award for her contributions of “advice, data, analyses, publications, and presentations to help support DWR drought preparedness and response activities,” the agency said.
“DWR is pleased to acknowledge the exemplary support that these scientists have been providing us in the areas of drought, climate variability, and climate change,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin. “We appreciate their dedication in working with us to develop useful science that we can apply in our drought preparedness and climate change programs.”
Cayan and Dettinger, who also have appointments with the U.S. Geological Survey, Steinemann, and Scripps colleagues launched CNAP in 1999 in part to bridge the gap in the understanding of climate data between scientists and non-scientists. The program evaluates current climate research, creates computer models to help create forecasts of regional climate phenomena, and creates periodic reports on climate specific to the needs of California and the West.
“I’m thrilled and honored by this award,” said Steinemann. “It’s our goal to develop science that’s useful for society.”
CNAP is part of NOAA’s Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program.