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Title: Climate services for coping with climate change, drought, and extreme heat in the Mexico-U.S. border region

Author
item GARFIN, GREGG - University Of Arizona
item LEROY, SARAH - University Of Arizona
item MUTH, MEREDITH - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
item JONES, HUNTER - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
item OCHOA, MARTIN IBARRA - Non ARS Employee
item SHAFER, MARK - University Of Oklahoma
item Brown, David
item COLIN, JUAN SALDANA - Non ARS Employee
item ANGULO, GILBERTO - Universidad Autonoma De Ciudad Juarez
item AGUILAR, MARIA LOURDES - Non ARS Employee
item AGUIRRE, JORGE - University Of Veracruzana

Submitted to: Grazinglands Research Laboratory Miscellaneous Publication
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2017
Publication Date: 3/16/2018
Citation: Garfin, G., Leroy, S., Muth, M., Jones, H., Ochoa, M., Shafer, M., Brown, D.P., Colin, J., Angulo, G.V., Aguilar, M.R., Aguirre, J.L. 2018. Climate services for coping with climate change, drought, and extreme heat in the Mexico-U.S. border region. In: Martinez, M. J. M., Hernández, O. F. I., editors. La Cuenca Del Rio Conchos: Una Mirada Desde Las Ciencias Ante El Cambio Climatico. Juitepec, Morelos, Mexico. Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua. p.23-57.

Interpretive Summary: One of the challenges inherent in the provision of regional climate services is the frequent disconnect between the spatial scales of weather and climate variability and change and the local, state, national, and international boundaries they cross. It is therefore necessary for effective climate service organizations to build networks of partners that span these political and organizational boundaries to best facilitate the delivery of science, tools, and information to stakeholders. One regional example where such a network exists is the Rio Grande and Rio Bravo river basins, where the North American Climate Services Partnership (NACSP) facilitates the tri-lateral delivery of regional climate services in a cooperative partnership among Canada, Mexico, and the United State. The NACSP umbrella has provided a foundation for specific collaborations in the areas of drought, wildfire, and human health, with associated climate services targeted at stakeholders in the basins including seasonal climate impact assessments and forecasts, early warning systems for extreme heat events, and long-term climate adaptation exercises. The Rio Grande-Rio Bravo climate services initiative will continue to serve as a focal point for new and enhanced climate services initiatives, with an increasing emphasis on transboundary impacts on agriculture, water, and ecosystems.

Technical Abstract: Climate change poses challenges for northern México and the southern United States, including drought, extreme heat, and flooding. To aid society in preparing for climate- and weather-related risks, partners in the North American Climate Services Partnership have initiated several collaborations. These partners currently produce the Rio Grande|Bravo Climate Impacts and Outlook, a monthly bulletin of seasonal climate assessments and forecasts for drought, water supply, and wildfire. The partners initiated a pilot heat-health initiative in the cities of El Paso, Texas, Ciudad Júarez, Chihuahua, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, for the National Integrated Heat Health Information System. Extreme heat affects these border cities, and climate models project more frequent and hotter regional heat waves. The initiative has brought together climatologists, public health researchers and practitioners, and urban planners, to improve preparedness and responses to extreme heat. Participants are currently developing information services, outreach to vulnerable communities, and sustainable infrastructure projects to reduce urban heat.