The demand for climate services continues to increase, as, more than ever, the value of weather and climate data and products is recognized by decision makers throughout the private and public sectors of commerce, public health and safety, and education, to name a few stakeholder communities. To satisfy the current and growing needs for climate services, climatological expertise must be readily available at the local level. State climatologists have the best understanding of the climate of their state, and the ability and knowledge to provide climate data and information to the user. Individual state climate offices engage in all or many of the following activities or services; we 1) coordinate and collect weather observations for the purpose of climate monitoring, 2) summarize and disseminate weather and climate information to the user community, 3) demonstrate to the user community the value of climate information in the decision making process, 4) perform climate impact assessments and weather event evaluations, and 5) conduct climate research, diagnosis, and projections.

Clearly, state climate offices cannot and should not act alone as they serve the citizens of their state. It is imperative that state climatologists partner with other public climate service providers. As such, the American Association of State Climatologists (http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/aasc.html) is in the midst of formalizing partnerships, with the National Climatic Data Center, Regional Climate Centers, and the National Weather Service's Climate Services Division. Our mutual objective is to develop coordinated climate services amongst the participatory parties.

This presentation will discuss further the role of state climatologists as service providers. So too, will progress in partnering be brought up to date.