4 UCSD Scripps Institution Scientists Receive DWR Climate Science Service Award

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) presented Climate Science Service Awards to four early-career scientists with the University of San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography at this year’s Winter Outlook Workshop. The award recognizes their ongoing assistance and partnership with the Department on climate science projects.

These partnerships fuel innovations that help DWR and other water agencies respond to water supply and flood-risk management challenges associated with climate change adaptation and California’s growing population.

“We appreciate the partnership with Scripps’ Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes in developing applied research projects that can support water management decision-making,” said Jeanine Jones, DWR Interstate Resources Manager.

The award recipients are: Dr. Michael DeFlorio; Dr. Peter Gibson; Dr. Julie Kalansky; and Dr. Anna Wilson.

Dr. DeFlorio and Dr. Gibson have both worked with DWR on experimental sub-seasonal forecasts for atmospheric river storms and atmospheric ridging that blocks storms from reaching California. Sub-seasonal forecasts are forecasts that can extend several weeks beyond the two-week timeframe of a conventional weather forecast.

Dr. Kalansky is the operations manager for Scripps’ Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, and Dr. Wilson serves as the field research manager.

The research being carried out by these scientists helps support the development of new technologies for water management, such as Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) projects.

DWR and the Yuba County Water Agency, in partnership with Scripps, are currently taking part in a FIRO pilot program for Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar Reservoir.

FIRO is an operations strategy that will help agencies make better informed decisions on retaining or releasing water.

The annual Winter Outlook Workshop was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.