By Scout Nelson
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which severely impacted the National Centers for Environmental Information in North Carolina, the High Plains Regional Climate Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has played a pivotal role in maintaining the continuous flow of crucial climate data.
The hurricane, striking western North Carolina in September, temporarily halted operations at the nation's primary weather and climate data hub.
William Sorensen, a senior programmer at the High Plains center, emphasized the importance of adapting quickly to ensure that essential climate information remains available nationwide. "So many people depend on this data for decision-making across various sectors," Sorensen said, highlighting its use in agriculture for planting and irrigation, in industry for energy planning, and in science for climate analysis.
The center, operational since 1987 and housed in the School of Natural Resources, swiftly coordinated with other regional climate centers to fill the information gap left by the Asheville-based facility. The team managed to continue delivering data without interruption, thanks to its robust infrastructure that regularly acquires information from multiple sources.
The High Plains center's response involved enhanced coordination and collaboration rather than significant procedural changes or equipment adjustments. For example, they sourced specific raw data directly from Colorado State University to meet urgent needs.
While the Asheville center works towards full restoration, the High Plains center, along with its sister institutions including the National Drought Mitigation Center and the Nebraska State Climate Office, remains a critical node in the network supporting nationwide climate data dissemination.
The center offers several specialized services like ACISClimateMaps and AgClimate View, which provide valuable tools for generating climate maps and analyzing temperature and precipitation data relevant to agricultural yields. These services, alongside the CliGrow service for tracking growing degree days, illustrate the center's comprehensive approach to climate data management.
Gannon Rush, a service climatologist at the High Plains center, noted the diverse clientele that relies on their data, from individual agricultural producers to major corporations in sectors like agribusiness, transportation, and energy.
"Climate risk translates directly into financial risk," Rush explained, pointing to the keen interest from investors, especially given the economic losses linked to extreme weather events which totaled $313 billion in 2022.
In summary, the proactive efforts of the High Plains Regional Climate Center ensure that essential climate data continues to support critical decision-making processes across various sectors, highlighting the interconnectedness of climate information with economic and environmental stability.
Photo Credit: freepik-upklyak
Categories: Nebraska, Weather