Climate and Weather Resources

Since other pine species in the Southeast United States (from Virginia to Texas) may be more susceptible to global warming and climate change, a strong case is being made and embraced by many as to why longleaf pine ecosystem restoration should be the centerpiece of forest-based climate adaptation and carbon sequestration efforts in the Southeast.

The realities of climate change will stress natural ecosystems and put southern forests at risk.  Increasing frequency of fires, hurricanes, droughts and floods will directly impact existing forests.  Longleaf is more resilient and better suited to thrive in these "stressed" conditions than other pine species.  Longleaf is more tolerant (even dependent) on fire, can grow in a variety of wet/dry conditions, better able to withstand severe storms, and more resistant to disease and insect infestation fostered by warmer conditions.

Longleaf can help wildlife and biodiversity cope with rapid change, plus be a tool in the effort to reduce carbon dioxide.  Below are some climate and weather resources potentially relevant to longleaf restoration.

data.giss.nasa.gov     key objective of GISS research is prediction of atmospheric and climate changes in the 21st century; principal NASA center for Earth observations

blueice.gsfc.nasa.gov    basic research primarily through utilization of satellite passive microwave radiometry.  Major research areas include the study of the long-term variability of the polar sea ice cover and the relationship to climate change

sealevel.colorado.edu    data models that allow for estimation of the global mean sea level

ngdc.noaa.gov    information related to environmental influences caused by the sun

swpc.noaa.gov   Space Weather Prediction Center; data related to the sun and weather on Earth and impacts on climate

spaceweather.org   provides broad range of services, including forecasts, warnings, and alerts of solar, magnetospheric, space environment data, and long-range predictions of the solar cycle

cdc.ncep.noaa.gov  Climate Prediction Center; current UV index forecast map for the United States; delivers real-time products and information that predict and describe climate variations on timescales from weeks to years

cdc.noaa.gov  National Center For Environmental Information; data sets derived from natural sources such as tree rings, ice cores, corals, and ocean and lake sediments.  These data sets provide information scientists need to understand natural climates variability and future climate changes.