CICS-NC
NOAA's National Climatic Data Center
Veach-Baley Federal Building
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
Telephone: +1 828.257.3006
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Ms. Stevens (née Kettles) recently completed a postgraduate research program in atmospheric science at the University of Leeds. Her research investigated the influence of modifying droplet concentrations on the properties of stratocumulus clouds and climate (using both global and cloud-resolving models), as well as examining the potential for a cloud droplet modification geoengineering technique. As a postgraduate student in 2007 she assisted with field measurements for the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS) in Southern Germany. She completed her undergraduate studies in Meteorology at the University of Reading in 2006, which also included an exchange year at the University of Oklahoma. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union.
Ms. Stevens joined CICS-NC as a Research Associate in Fall 2010. Her current research, in collaboration with the lead scientist for Assessments, Kenneth Kunkel, involves the analysis of daily statistically-downscaled climate data for the North American region. This includes the calculation, analysis and visualization of a suite of derived climate variables from an ensemble of CMIP3 climate models, in preparation of national and regional outlooks for the National Climate Assessment.
Laura's role also involves providing primary science and technical support to the Assessment lead scientist, including: the processing and analysis of observational and climate model data, the production of documents for the National Climate Assessment, and research on Assessment-relevant topics.
Providing primary science and technical support to NOAA and the NOAA Technical Support Unit of the National Climate Assessment (NCA), including: the processing and analysis of observational and climate model data, the production of documents for the NCA, and research on Assessment-relevant topics.
The National Climate Assessment (NCA) is an important resource for understanding and communicating climate change science and impacts in the United States. It informs the nation about already observed changes, the current status of the climate, and anticipated trends for the future. The Global Research Act of 1990 mandates that a national climate assessment be conducted every four years, resulting in a report to the President and Congress. The next report is due in 2013 and is currently in preparation, with a draft report to be completed in 2012.
Primary science and technical support is being provided to NOAA and the NOAA Technical Support Unit (TSU) of the National Climate Assessment. This includes the analysis of observational and climate model data, the development of climate data analysis products, and research on assessment-relevant topics.
Research is being conducted, in collaboration with the lead scientist for Assessments, Kenneth Kunkel, using several climate model datasets. This includes the processing and analysis of CMIP3 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Phase 3) daily statistically downscaled climate data (Daily_CMIP3) for the North American region, in preparation of national and regional outlooks for the NCA.
The calculation, analysis and visualization of a suite of derived climate variables has been performed for the North American region using daily data downscaled to 1/8° resolution from 16 different CMIP3 climate models (see figure for example). This includes the simulation of two IPCC emissions scenarios (A2 and B1), for four different time periods. Calculations of regionally averaged values have been made for six U.S. regions, and compared to those from NARCCAP (North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program) dynamically downscaled climate simulations. These results are included in documents prepared as technical input for the 2013 National Climate Assessment report (see below).
Figure 1: Projected annual mean daily maximum temperature for 2041-2070, simulating the IPCC A2 emissions scenario. This is a multi-model mean from 16 CMIP3 daily statistically downscaled simulations.
Research has been conducted to address specific scientific questions of direct relevance to the 2013 NCA report and the ongoing climate assessment regarding Daily_CMIP3, as well as additional non-downscaled climate model datasets.
Requests for tailored physical climate information from the NCA Development and Advisory Committee (NCADAC), the NCA office, and the NCA regional teams have been fulfilled, including the provision of mathematical analyses and graphical products.
One national and eight regional “Climate Trends and Outlooks” documents have been produced for the NCADAC, as technical input for the National Climate Assessment. Contributions to these documents include: data analysis, visualization of data, and scientific writing. An overview of these documents was presented at the NCA Technical Workshop on Rural Communities, Charleston, SC, in February 2012.
Kunkel, K., L. Stevens, and E. Janssen (in review), Climate of the Contiguous United States, prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
Kunkel, K., L. Stevens, S. Stevens, E. Janssen, and K. Redmond (in review), Climate of the Northwest U.S., prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
Kunkel, K., L. Stevens, S. Stevens, E. Janssen, and K. Redmond (in review), Climate of the Southwest U.S., prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
Kunkel, K., L. Stevens, S. Stevens, E. Janssen, J. Rennells, and A. DeGaetano (in review), Climate of the Northeast U.S., prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
Kunkel, K., L. Stevens, S. Stevens, E. Janssen, S. Hilberg, M. Timlin, L. Stoecker, and N. Westcott (in review), Climate of the Midwest U.S., prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
Kunkel, K., L. Stevens, S. Stevens, E. Janssen, C. Konrad, C. Fuhrman, B. Keim, M. Kruk, A. Billet, H. Needham, and M. Schafer (in review), Climate of the Southeast U.S., prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
Kunkel, K., L. Stevens, S. Stevens, E. Janssen, M. Kruk, D. Thomas, K. Hubbard, M. Shulski, N. Umphlett, K. Robbins, L. Romolo, A. Akyuz, T. Pathak, and T. Bergantino (in review), Climate of the U.S. Great Plains, prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
Stewart, B., J. Walsh, K. Kunkel, and L. Stevens (in review), Climate of Alaska, prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
Keener, V., K. Hamilton, S. Izuka, K. Kunkel, and L. Stevens (in review), Climate of the Pacific Islands, prepared for the National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee.
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