With an exciting balance between hands-on-learning, theory and real-world applications, the Department of Civil Engineering at Santa Clara University offers an excellent program that prepares civil engineers to be valued contributors to society through the planning, design, construction, maintenance and practical research of the infrastructure essential to our civilization and quality of life.
The California Nevada Applications Program (CNAP) and the California Climate Change Center (CCCC) aim to develop and provide better climate information and forecasts for decision makers in California, Nevada and the surrounding region. By working directly with users, CNAP and CCCC are working to evaluate climate information needs and utility from the user perspective.
Described in some of the visualizations as "actual" temperature for 1950-2000, these data represent the historic measured temperatures for each pixel. These data are described in detail in the reference: Maurer, E.P., A.W. Wood, J.C. Adam, D.P. Lettenmaier, and B. Nijssen, 2002, A Long-Term Hydrologically-Based Data Set of Land Surface Fluxes and States for the Conterminous United States, J. Climate 15(22), 3237-3251
Projected monthly temperature data for tmax (high), tair (avg), and tmin (low). These data layers were downscaled using a bias correction and spatial downscaling (BCSD) approach and include data for four different models (PCM1, CCSM3, GFDL, CNRM) for two different scenarios (A2, B1).
For more information, view the full CEC report:
Climate Change Scenarios and Sea Level Rise Estimates for California - 2008 Climate Change Scenarios Assessment - Final Report
Date Published: September 2009
For use in this visualization, we have made the following adaptations to the above mentioned data sources:
Gridded Meteorological Data: We are providing unedited monthly values for tmin (low), tavg (avg), and tmax (high) for all months 1950-1999. In order to provide data for the "annual" time step, we have averaged all months (January-December) for each year 1950-2000. These data are provided in degrees C, we have also converted the data to include degrees F.
Projected Temperatures: We are providing unedited monthly values for tmin (low), tair (avg), and tmax (high) for all months (1999-2099). In order to provide data for the "annual" time step, we have averaged all months (January-December) for each year 1999-2099. These data are provided in degrees C, we have also converted the data to include degrees F.
Overall temperatures are expected to rise substantially throughout this century. During the next few decades, scenarios project average temperature to rise between 1 and 2.3°F; however, the projected temperature increases begin to diverge at mid-century so that, by the end of the century, the temperature increases projected in the higher emissions scenario (A2) are approximately twice as high as those projected in the lower emissions scenario (B1).
These projections also differ depending on the time of year and the type of measurement (high's vs. lows), all of which have different potential effects to the state's ecosystem health, agricultural production, water use and availability, and energy demand.
There are several available models that project temperature, and this tool allows you to view the results of four of these models throughout different months and scenarios. Data lines represent historic temperature, followed by the four different climate projection models, and an average of these models. Adjust the options above to view different scenarios, models, and months.
The data presented in this tool represent a projection of potential future climate scenarios, they are not predictions. These data are meant to illustrate how the climate may change based on a variety of different potential social and economic factors. The default visualizations in this tool are comprised of the average values from a variety of scenarios and models. Find out more about climate change data.
This information is being made available for informational purposes only. Users of this information agree by their use to hold blameless the State of California, and its respective officers, employees, agents, contractors, and subcontractors for any liability associated with its use in any form.
This work shall not be used to assess actual coastal hazards, insurance requirements, or property values and specifically shall not be used in lieu of Flood Insurance Studies and Flood Insurance Rate Maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Data Set Contributed: Gridded Observed Meteorological Data
Described in some of the visualizations as "actual" temperature for 1950-2000, these data represent the historic measured temperatures for each pixel. These data are described in detail in the reference: Maurer, E.P., A.W. Wood, J.C. Adam, D.P. Lettenmaier, and B. Nijssen, 2002, A Long-Term Hydrologically-Based Data Set of Land Surface Fluxes and States for the Conterminous United States, J. Climate 15(22), 3237-3251
Data Set Contributed: Projected Temperatures
Projected monthly temperature data for tmax (high), tair (avg), and tmin (low). These data layers were downscaled using a bias correction and spatial downscaling (BCSD) approach and include data for four different models (PCM1, CCSM3, GFDL, CNRM) for two different scenarios (A2, B1).
For more information, view the full CEC report:
Climate Change Scenarios and Sea Level Rise Estimates for California - 2008 Climate Change Scenarios Assessment - Final Report
Date Published: September 2009
2011 April 12
California is the nation’s largest wine producer and the fourth largest wine producer worldwide. High-quality wines produced throughout the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and along the northern and central coasts generate $3.2 billion in revenue each year. High temperatures during the growing season can cause premature ripening and reduce grape quality. Temperature increases are expected to have only modest effect on grape quality in most regions over the next few decades. However, toward the end of the century, wine grapes could ripen as much as one to two months earlier, which will affect grape quality in all but the coolest coastal locations (Mendocino and Monterey Counties).
2011 April 13
By 2100, if temperatures rise to the higher warming range, there could be up to 100 more days per year with temperatures above 90°F in Los Angeles and above 95°F in Sacramento. As temperatures rise, Californians could face greater risk of death from dehydration, heat stroke/exhaustion, heart attack, stroke, and respiratory distress caused by extreme heat. By mid century, extreme heat events in urban centers such as Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino could cause two to three times more heat-related deaths than occur today.
2011 April 12
The agriculture industry of California is the largest and the most diverse of the country, producing 300 commodities and half of the country’s fruits and vegetables. As temperatures rise in the state, there will be a direct impact on the water supply, proliferation of pests, outbreak of diseases and overall quality and quantity of the produce.
