The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center at the University of Arizona has received a five-year, $4.5 million grant from the United States Geological Survey.
The center researches climate science and adaptation throughout the region.
The center was established in 2011 and with renewed funding it will build on its previous research in partnership with the USGS.
UA’s Gregg Garfin is university director of the center. He said the grant will allow researchers to examine the Southwest’s most pressing issues with regard to climate change.
“Something that we’re doing a little bit differently this time is really a much greater focus on producing actionable science in collaboration with our natural resource manager partners," Garfin said.
Garfin said the next phase in research will also focus on collaboration with tribal nations and state agencies. He said monitoring climate change is especially important in the Southwest.
“It’s a region where, you know, we’re already kind of on the margins, because it’s an arid region and we have really tremendous year to year variations in climate," Garfin said.
