Climate Change Research: Florida Specific

The Florida Oceans and Coastal Council was created by the 2005 Legislature through The Oceans and Coastal Resources Act. The Council is charged each year with developing priorities for ocean and coastal research and establishing a statewide ocean research plan. The Council also coordinates public and private ocean research for more effective coastal management.

Includes 2008 synthesis on potential ecological consequences of climate change in south Florida

The Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) is a center of excellence performing interdisciplinary research in ocean-atmosphere-land-ice interactions to increase our understanding of the physical, social, and economic consequences of climate variability.

COAPS is part of the Florida State University (FSU) College of Arts and Sciences and has over 70 people working on research grants totaling approximately six million dollars per year. COAPS teaching faculty are also members of the FSU Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science. Students in COAPS come from a wide variety of departments, including meteorology, oceanography, computer science, and mathematics.

University of Florida

The Florida Climate Center is part of three-tiered system that serves to provide climate data, information, and services for the United States. Affiliated with the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, NC and the Southeast Regional Climate Center (SERCC) in Columbia, SC, the Florida Climate Center should be the first stop for climate data and information for citizens, organizations, educational institutions and private businesses in the state of Florida.

Florida Atlantic University, the Florida State University and the University of Florida were awarded a Clustering Grant for a project titled “A State University System Climate Change Task Force: Science Addressing the Needs of Florida Agencies, Industry and Citizenry".

The Climate Change Task Force focuses on:
1. Identifying current State University climate change expertise, research and curricula;
2. Enhancing cooperation with State and Federal agencies to bring science into climate change-related decision making;
3. Developing a climate change information system and portal that will connect State University System assets with these agencies and other groups to facilitate communication.

Based on the priority climate change topics, four White Papers are developed by scientists actively involved in research on climate change. The White Papers are the major products of this project:
-Biodiversity and Land Use
-Climate Scenarios for Florida
-Education, Training, and Outreach on Climate Change
-Water Management and Coastal County Adaptation

The Florida Climate Institute (FCI), is a multi-disciplinary network of national and international research and public organizations, scientists, and individuals concerned with achieving a better understanding of climate variability and change.

The FCI was initially founded in 2010 by the University of Florida and the Florida State University and is supported by the two Universities' Affiliated Colleges, Centers and Programs.

Florida Sea Grant is a university-based program that supports research, education and extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida. Its a partnership between the Florida Board of Education, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Florida's citizens and governments.