Assessment Research
California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment is a portfolio of reports, research, and resources that contribute to the scientific foundation for understanding climate-related vulnerability throughout the state to help communities understand and develop informed responses to the impacts of climate change. The Fifth Assessment’s research and tools are designed to fill knowledge gaps about California’s climate future, inspire strategic climate actions, and shape planning, investments, and policies at the state, regional, and local scales. These products are accessible below by category, or see the full list.
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Reports
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Influence of Future Sea Level Rise on Tsunami Hazards in California
The influence of future Sea-Level Rise (SLR) on tsunami hazards is likely to have substantial health and safety, economic, and societal impacts, especially as more people move to coastal California. Some research has been conducted to evaluate the potential impact of SLR on tsunami hazards in California, yet this work…
Resarch: Core Climate Research -
Climate Change-Related Occupational Hazards
Climate change-related rising ambient air temperatures and episodic air pollution events from wildland fires in the Western United States expose Californians to excess heat and reduced air quality which may have substantial, preventable adverse impacts on health and job performance. These direct and indirect impacts on vulnerable populations in California…
Resarch: Core Climate Research -
A Multi-Sector Assessment of Climate Change Adaptations in California Agriculture and Communities
Climate change continues to challenge California’s agricultural systems, resulting in economic losses that cascade into rural communities and the regional economies. This research aims to provide action-based science to enhance climate resilience in California by integrating, for the first time, the coordinated adaptations of crop and animal agriculture in the…
Resarch: Core Climate Research -
Surviving the Heat: Photosynthetic Heat Tolerance of California Trees and Shrubs in a Warming World
Despite the well-recognized threat of climate warming, impacts on native plant species are understudied. With over 6,000 plant taxa, predicting the consequences of climate change on the California flora is a significant challenge. There is a strong need for empirical data on plant heat tolerance across the state’s diverse ecosystems…
Resarch: Core Climate Research -
The Potential for Long-Term Soil Carbon Sequestration from Compost Amendments to California Rangelands
Rangelands cover almost 40% of the land area in California and have demonstrated potential to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, the lack of long-term data has hampered the wider incorporation of these lands into climate action planning. This project will use a 15-year experiment to determine the…
Resarch: Core Climate Research -
Climate-Informed Electric Grid Modeling for California and the West
This study developed climate-informed data and analytical tools to support long-term electricity system planning in California and the broader Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). It produced climate-informed electricity demand and peak load forecasts through mid-century and optimized resource portfolios that meet California’s electric sector decarbonization goals under two different electrification…
Resarch: Energy -
Climate-Informed Modeling of Renewable Resource Capacity for California
This work seeks to create climate profiles for renewable energy generation potential to support further analysis, use in decision making by Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) and state agencies, and be utilized by associated grants. Beyond the generation, this grant will perform initial analysis on the climate profiles and demand profiles generated…
Resarch: Energy -
WARP to Resilience: Demonstration of Achievable, Quantified Resilience Improvements through Weather-Adapted Resource Planning
The WARP to Resilience study supports three key efforts towards electricity sector resilience: (a) build tools and science-based research for holistic energy decision-making; (b) improve understanding of climate- and weather-related risks and resilience options; and (c) integrate climate readiness into electricity system operations, tools, and models. Institutional barriers include (a)…
Resarch: Energy -
Climate Analytics to Support Natural Gas Sector Utilities: Actionable, Responsive and Open Solutions for Historical Climate Needs in California
Climate and weather risk and hazard assessments by California’s gas utilities and the broader energy sector require high-quality historical weather observations that accurately represent local conditions. However, practitioners have faced substantial barriers to accessing consistent weather observations appropriate for use in energy systems modeling. Robust planning around historical extreme weather…
Resarch: Energy -
Next Generation Science and Wildfire Risk Forecast Models for Enhanced Electricity Grid Resiliency (Pyregence)
California is facing growing wildfire risks that threaten communities, natural resources, and the reliability of the electric system. Hotter temperatures, longer dry seasons, and expanding development in fire prone areas have increased the likelihood of extreme wildfires that can damage electric power infrastructure, disrupt service, and raise costs for electricity…
Resarch: Energy