The Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP), a CPO Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) team, in collaboration with the CPO-led National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), NOAA’s National Weather Service, the USDA Northwest Climate Hub, the Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, is launching a webinar series to address drought developments in Alaska. Originally envisioned as one or two in-person meetings, the new virtual format will provide multiple sessions through February and March. The organizers collected information in a drought survey last year to prepare for these conversations. The meetings will give participants a better sense of drought, its impacts, and its interconnections in Alaska.
In the first webinar on February 16, Rick Thoman, Alaska climate specialist, will review past climate information focusing on unusual dry times and will provide a statewide overview, including tools typically used to access drought/precipitation deficit. The next webinar, on February 18, will feature an overview of the U.S. drought monitor process. These webinars will be followed by regional listening sessions to learn what Alaskans have seen or experienced during unusually dry times.
Attendees are welcome to join other regional sessions and are encouraged to share information and resources to raise awareness about impacts and help improve drought response. The information shared will help to organize a future in-person workshop to help communities prepare for drought in the future.
