Advancing Place-Based Transboundary Climate Services: Lessons from the 2016 North American Drought, Wildfire, and Climate Services Forum

In June 2016, nearly 50 climate science and services experts representing the North American Climate Services Partnership, North American Drought Monitor Forum, and North American Fire Forecasting Workshop joined together for an integrated workshop on drought, wildfire, and climate services across North America. The workshop emphasized opportunities for collaboration across sectoral and jurisdictional boundaries in the areas of monitoring, assessment, and outlooks. In addition, it highlighted the place-based nature of climate services, such as the importance of utilizing regional demonstration pilot projects for proof-of-concept service delivery activities. In this presentation, major outcomes from the workshop are discussed within the broader context of U.S.-international climate services partnerships. These outcomes include: improving product reliability and the product development process; strengthening the timeliness of services through multiple communication pathways; enhancing user feedback and engagement efforts; and utilizing catalyzing weather and climate events, such as La Niña, as a context for exploring the effectiveness of climate services and strengthening early warning systems at a regional scale.