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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310212
Title: USDA southwest regional hub for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change

Author
item Rango, Albert
item ELIAS, EMILE - New Mexico State University
item STEELE, CAITI - New Mexico State University
item Havstad, Kris

Submitted to: American Geophysical Union
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2014
Publication Date: 12/15/2014
Citation: Rango, A., Elias, E., Steele, C., Havstad, K.M. 2014. USDA southwest regional hub for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change [abstract]. American Geophysical Union 2014 Fall Meeting. December 15-19, 2014. San Francisco, CA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA Southwest (SW) Climate Hub was created in February 2014 to develop risk adaptation and mitigation strategies for coping with climate change effects on agricultural productivity. There are seven regional hubs across the country with three subsidiary hubs. The SW Climate Hub Region is made up of six states: New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California and Hawaii (plus the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands). The SW Climate Hub has a subsidiary hub located in Davis, California because of the large agricultural productivity, wide variety of crops, and the high value of many of the crops. The Southwest region has a high climatic diversity. The lowest average r=annual rainfall (6.0 cm) and highest temperature recorded (57o C) in the U.S were located in Death Valley, CA. The highest average annual rainfall in the U.S. is located in Mt. Waialeale, Hawaii with 1169 cm. The lowest temperature recorded in the Region was in Peter’s Sink, UT with -56oC. Despite the fact that there are major deserts in four of the six states, most of the states, with exception of Hawaii, depend upon the melting of mountain snowpacks for their surface water supply. Additionally, many of the productive agricultural areas of the SW Regional Hub depend upon irrigation water for this high productivity.