California
Application Program (CAP)
CAP
is a collective of university, federal and private agency scientists
studying the impacts of climate variability and attempting to
improve climate and extended weather forecasts in the California
region. CAP, operating under funding by the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration , is working
to improve climate information and forecasts for fire prevention
and management, water resources and hazards, and human health.
To evaluate the utility of this information, the program has identified
and is collaborating with a selected set of partners at the federal,
state, and local level to address the needs of these specific
applications.
Mission Statement
The California Applications Program (CAP) aims to develop and
provide better climate information and forecasts for decision
makers in California and the surrounding region. By working directly
with users, CAP is working to evaluate climate information needs
and utility from the user perspective.
Program Objectives
- Evaluate
weather and climate forecasts for California
- Improve
local models and forecasts of water resources and fire risks
- Tailor
and disseminate forecasts to local users
Program
Approach
- Downscale
climate forecasts and simulations from global to regional to
local scales
- Provide
a variety of forecasts in real time
- Determine
forecast reliability using historical hindcasts
- Work directly
with users to develop useful forecast applications
Research
Foci
CAP provides
Climate Information for California decisions makers in partnership
with the Experimental Climate
Prediction Center; Climate
Research Division / Scripps
Institution of Oceanography and collaborators.
CAP is funded by the NOAA Office
of Global Programs.
