Our Centers: SCOO

STATE CLIMATE OFFICE OF OHIO (SCOO)

Providing information to improve the lives of all Ohioans.How will Ohio adapt and build resilience to actual and future climate disruptions that are likely to occur more frequently in a warmer world? What will be the imprint of climate variability on our economy, food security, natural resources, energy infrastructure, health and well-being? What are the chances and potential manifestations of extreme floods and droughts?

Accurate climate information, education, and interpretation are vital not only for informing policy makers and all sectors of Ohio’s economy, but also enhance the quality of life, health, food and water security, and economic prosperity of all Ohioans. The State Climate Office of Ohio (SCOO) connects Ohioans with transformative climate information and functions as a partnership between the Department of Geography, the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center (BPCRC), and Extension at Ohio State. Information about SCOO can be found at climate.osu.edu.

Major Activities

• Publish and archive weekly video hydrologic and climatological outlook, including online maps and analyses of drought/flood conditions.

• Provide access to timely climate information and data via a website and server/data portal.

• Develop precipitation forecasting website (FARM App) for use by the agricultural community to better plan field-specific fertilizer applications and limit nutrient runoff from fields into watersheds across the state.

• Collaborate with OSU Extension to provide in-service training for county and state level personnel and participate in the annual Farm Science Review.

• Provide professional development programs to specific stakeholder groups (including farmers, planners, utility managers, public health professionals) in use of online tools and data analysis/ application.

• Upgrade OARDC weather system network to improve weather/soil observations across Ohio.

• Travel throughout Ohio to build external partnerships and share information with stakeholders.

• Assist in recruiting and managing volunteer citizen precipitation observers as part of nation- wide community collaborative network (CoCoRaHS.org).

• Perform regionally-downscaled climate model simulations to advise the National Climate Assessment and assess Ohio’s risks to future extreme weather and climate change.