CLIMAS - Southwest Climate Podcast
El Niño and La Niña, the southwestern monsoon, tropical storm activity, increasing temperatures, fire risk and weather, drought and snowpack, and dwindling reservoir storage all pose challenges to the Southwest. In the ‘Southwest Climate Podcast’, we focus on details and nuance, but (generally) avoid excessive technical jargon. Our goal is to synthesize information and data from experts, forecasts, and models to provide listeners with a better understanding of climate and weather in the Southwest, as well as the lessons we can learn from recent events and long term experiences.
Listen on:
Episodes
Friday Feb 06, 2015
Friday Feb 06, 2015
We're trying something new. The regular monthly Southwest Climate Podcast will not change format or timing, and Mike, Zack, and Ben will continue to bring you monthly updates on SW climate issues. We're expanding our focus to something a bit broader than just the Southwest to take advantage of the numerous people who are living and breathing work on climate science, communication, outreach, education, and engagement on a daily basis.
The first episode is an interview that Dan Ferguson (CLIMAS program director) conducted with Dr. Susanne Moser, during the time she was visiting Tucson as a CCASS Distinguished Visiting Fellow in early 2015. They discuss the state of climate research, alternative or creative ways to engage people or even to think about climate and society, the power of social change, the challenges/rewards of working in this field, and perspectives on future directions for research, education, and engagement.
For now, these episodes will be embedded within the SW Climate Podcast Feed, so if you're not interested, you can skip this until next months podcast, but we think this conversation offers a lot of insight into climate science and communication, as well as possible solutions moving forward.
CLIMAS Member(s):
Daniel Ferguson
Wednesday Jan 21, 2015
Wednesday Jan 21, 2015
In the January Southwest Climate Podcast, Zack Guido is back and joins Mike Crimmins to discuss the state of the climate in 2014, including the record year for Arizona and the near record year for New Mexico. They also talk about weather systems that affected our most recent temperature and precipitation patterns, the ongoing uncertainty with El Niño, or as some have started referring to it, "El Limbo", and the state of precipitation and drought in the southwest. They wrap things up looking at the seasonal outlooks and the projected trends for the coming year.
Intro
0:00
Climate Summary: Temperature and Precipitation, weak and spotty storms in December and January
1:50
Winter Storms: Water storage and winter precipitation patterns
8:00
Weather vs. Climate: Weather variability vs. Climate patterns, "El Limbo", and winter precip patterns given these trends
13:00
2014 Record Year: 2014 Temperature Records Recap
22:00
Precip and Drought: Winter patterns and drought - how much moisture "solves" the drought
24:00
Looking Forward: Jetstreams & Winter Weather Patterns + Seasonal Forecasts
27:30
If you have a question you'd like answered, you can email Zack Guido (zguido@email.arizona.edu) or Ben McMahan (bmcmahan@email.arizona.edu) with "CLIMAS Podcast Question" in the subject line. You can also tweet us @CLIMAS_UA or post a question on facebook
Suggested Source/Citation:
CLIMAS: Climate Assessment for the Southwest, (2015). 2014 Year in Review, and Stuck in El Limbo . [podcast] CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast. Available at: climas.arizona.edu/podcast/jan-2015-sw-climate-podcast-2014-year-review-and-stuck-el-limbo [Date Accessed]
CLIMAS Member(s):
Michael Crimmins
Zack Guido
Tuesday Dec 09, 2014
Tuesday Dec 09, 2014
In the November Southwest Climate Podcast, Ben McMahan and Mike Crimmins discuss the warm autumn weather in the southwest, the transition to winter weather patterns, the ongoing uncertainty of El Niño forecasts, a recap of El Niño conditions and definitions, and the possibility of interaction between El Niño conditions and weather patterns in the southwest looking forward.
Intro
0:00
A Wet and Warm Autumn: Warmer than average temps, higher than average humidity, and a recent "cold" snap
1:00
Recap of 2014 Tropical Storm Season: A more active season in the E Pacific
7:30
El Niño Forecast Models: More on how El Niño is defined, models that go into them, and the current state of "now-casting"
13:44
El Niño Definition: Revisiting a more precise definition of El Niño and the conditions we might expect (if it ever arrives)
22:00
Looking toward the Future: Impact of El Niño conditions on the SW, and looking forward into 2015
27:00
Recap on Long Term Forecasts & Looking Forward
34:00
If you have a question you'd like answered, you can email Zack Guido (zguido@email.arizona.edu) or Ben McMahan (bmcmahan@email.arizona.edu) with "CLIMAS Podcast Question" in the subject line. You can also tweet us @CLIMAS_UA or post a question on facebook
Also, as we mentioned last month, we have a new podcast feature: video mini-segments from the podcast. We have four segments posted from previous podcasts, including:
Monsoon & Drought Q&A
SW Tropical Storm Climatology
ENSO (El Niño) Models Q&A
Norbert vs. Odile - SW Tropical Storm Comparison
And we have decided to release approximate transcripts of the podcast.
Suggested Source/Citation:
CLIMAS: Climate Assessment for the Southwest, (2014). A Warm End to Autumn and Waiting for ENSO. [podcast] CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast. Available at: climas.arizona.edu/podcast/nov-2014-sw-climate-podcast-warm-end-autumn-and-waiting-enso [Date Accessed]
CLIMAS Member(s):
Ben McMahan
Michael Crimmins
Thursday Oct 23, 2014
Thursday Oct 23, 2014
In the October Southwest Climate Podcast, CLIMAS climate scientists Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins discuss the 2014 monsoon, focusing on the influence of tropical storm systems, record and near-record precipitation events, monsoon intensity and duration, and the ever-present promise of El Niño.
Intro
0:00
Monsoon/Precipitation Recap: Including influence of tropical storms, record/near-record precipitation, comparison to 2013
1:00
Tropical storm influence: Extending the monsoon and driving seasonal totals
10:00
El Niño Forecast Models: Predicting a wet fall/winter, El Niño influence, Kelvin wave effects and warm waters in the Pacific
15:10
El Niño "Now-Casting": Unique case to watch, why El Niño has been hard to predict
20:00
Drought Mitigation and Winter Precip: - El Niño conditions are favorable and it's almost here
26:00
Recap & Looking Forward: (Arctic Oscillation)
31:30
If you have a question you'd like answered, you can email Zack Guido (zguido@email.arizona.edu) or Ben McMahan (bmcmahan@email.arizona.edu) with "CLIMAS Podcast Question" in the subject line. You can also tweet us @CLIMAS_UA or post a question on facebook
Also, as we mentioned last month, we have a new podcast feature: video mini-segments from the podcast. We have four segments posted from previous podcasts, including:
Monsoon & Drought Q&A
SW Tropical Storm Climatology
ENSO (El Niño) Models Q&A
Norbert vs. Odile - SW Tropical Storm Comparison
And we have decided to release approximate transcripts of the podcast.
Suggested Source/Citation:
CLIMAS: Climate Assessment for the Southwest, (2014). Monsoon Recap and an El Niño Double Dip. [podcast] CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast. Available at: climas.arizona.edu/podcast/oct-2014-sw-climate-podcast-monsoon-recap-and-el-ni%C3%B1o-double-dip [Date Accessed]
CLIMAS Member(s):
Michael Crimmins
Zack Guido
Wednesday Oct 01, 2014
Wednesday Oct 01, 2014
In the September Southwest Climate Podcast, Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins talk about tropical storm climatology, details about Norbert and Odile, explore the details of the "Kelvin Wave", and answer a question about El Niño models submitted by a listener.
Intro & Recap:
0:00
Tropical Storm Climatology
10:06
Norbert Vs. Odile
14:45
What is a Kelvin Wave?
27:53
El Niño Models (Question from listener)
29:45
We are introducing a new feature: video mini-segments from the podcast. The first of which comes from last month's podcast, and addresses monsoon & drought in response to a listener question, and is viewable on youtube. This month's video podcasts will be added to this page as we release them
If you have a question you'd like answered, you can email Zack Guido (zguido@email.arizona.edu) or Ben McMahan (bmcmahan@email.arizona.edu) with "CLIMAS Podcast Question" in the subject line. You can also tweet us @CLIMAS_UA or post a question on facebook
Also, we are introducing a new feature: video mini-segments from the podcast. The first of which comes from last month's podcast, and addresses monsoon & drought in response to a listener question, and is viewable on youtube.
CLIMAS Member(s):
Michael Crimmins
Zack Guido
Tuesday Aug 26, 2014
Tuesday Aug 26, 2014
In the August Southwest Climate Podcast, Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins talk about variability and timing of monsoon precipitation, and why frequent and sustained moisture might matter more than heavy infrequent rains (for drought, especially). El Niño is still dragging its heels, but it still looks good for a weak to moderate event this winter. Zack and Mike also answer questions submitted by listeners, including one on "weather" vs. "climate" and how the monsoon is a good way to think about this distinction, and another on whether the monsoon and El Niño can really help with a long term drought.
If you have a question you'd like answered, you can email Zack Guido (zguido@email.arizona.edu) or Ben McMahan (bmcmahan@email.arizona.edu) with "CLIMAS Podcast Question" in the subject line. You can also tweet us @CLIMAS_UA or post a question on facebook
CLIMAS Member(s):
Michael Crimmins
Zack Guido
Tuesday Aug 12, 2014
Tuesday Aug 12, 2014
1075’ – Shortage on the Colorado River is a CLIMAS podcast series that explores what the first ever shortage declaration on the Colorado River would mean to those living in the Southwest. In this episode, CLIMAS climate scientist Zack Guido speaks with Alan Forrest, Director of Tucson Water, about various strategies that Tucson implemented to deal with potential water shortages, the conservation and recapture efforts that municipalities in Southern Arizona, and the practical realities of providing municipal water to an growing population in the southwest.
CLIMAS Member(s):
Ryan Thomas
Zack Guido
Tuesday Aug 05, 2014
Tuesday Aug 05, 2014
1075’ – Shortage on the Colorado River is a CLIMAS podcast series that explores what the first ever shortage declaration on the Colorado River would mean to those living in the Southwest. In this episode, CLIMAS climate scientist Zack Guido talks to Dennis Rule, manager of the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD), about the importance of CAGRD in the management of Arizona groundwater and potential impacts on the system from continued drought in the Colorado River Basin.
CLIMAS Member(s):
Ryan Thomas
Zack Guido
Tuesday Jul 29, 2014
Tuesday Jul 29, 2014
1075’ – Shortage on the Colorado River is a CLIMAS podcast series that explores what the first ever shortage declaration on the Colorado River would mean to those living in the Southwest. In this episode, CLIMAS climate scientist Zack Guido and Mohammed Mahmoud, planning analyst with the Colorado River Programs department at the Central Arizona Project (CAP), discuss the CAP and its role in delivering Colorado River water throughout Arizona, as well as how a shortage would impact the CAP system.
CLIMAS Member(s):
Ryan Thomas
Zack Guido
Thursday Jul 24, 2014
Thursday Jul 24, 2014
In the July Southwest Climate Podcast, CLIMAS climate scientists Zack Guido and Mike Crimmins talk about the solid start to the monsoon, and seemingly inevitable monsoon breaks (like we just experienced). They also discuss the "inevitability" of this fickle El Niño event. There’s a feeling of Groundhog Day with these forecasts—and there continues to be uncertainty regarding the strength and duration of this El Niño event.
CLIMAS Member(s):
Michael Crimmins
Zack Guido