11 October 2007
CSD Director A.R. Ravishankara is participating in an October 11 workshop on "Impacts of Climate Change on Air Quality in the Pacific Southwest." The meeting is being hosted by US EPA Region 9 and the EPA's Office of Research and Development. Ravi is giving a presentation as part of a panel discussion on future information needs at the climate-air quality interface.
Background: In addition to EPA scientists and air quality managers, the workshop includes participants from the California Air Resources Board, scientists from academia, State air quality officials from several states in the southwest U.S., and environmental officials from the Navajo Nation and Baja, California. The stated goal of the workshop is, "to provide EPA Region 9 and state/local/tribal air quality managers with information to help understand and plan for air quality issues resulting from climate change." In addition, the workshop will help guide future interagency research efforts on the topic.
Significance: Scientists in NOAA's Climate Goal and Weather and Water Goal are working together to foster future NOAA research efforts on climate-air quality linkages. The workshop illustrates the intense interest in this topic held by NOAA's stakeholders.