Tracking the Changing Climate of the World and Our Members: The State of the Climate report Turns 25

The annual assessment now known as the State of the Climate report has been in publication for a quarter-century, the last 19 years as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Beginning as a NOAA Technical Publication (then named Climate Assessment), the series has encapsulated understanding of long-term and recent trends in various climate indicators, and placed the events of the year into a historical perspective.

It has since grown to many times its original size and scope, and incorporated a diverse authorship, both geographically and in representation of scientific discipline. This diversity has also worked into the report's leadership. Despite this growth, the series has maintained a strict focus on the physical state of the climate system and our progress in observing it.

When considered longitudinally, the series can serve as a useful historiographical artifact. Its history reflects an era of rapid change, in the physical climate system itself, but also in climate's importance to the meteorological community, and in the breadth and quality of climate data available. This presentation will provide insights into the series' evolution, progress and challenges over a quarter century.