Climate and the CA drought

A study led by Woods Senior Fellow Noah Diffenbaugh (Earth System Science) found that the extreme atmospheric conditions associated with California’s crippling drought are far more likely to occur under today’s global warming conditions than in the climate that existed before humans emitted large amounts of greenhouse gases. The Diffenbaugh Lab followed up with a related study linking climate change, warmer temperatures and drought conditions. Both papers were widely reported on by the media and led to Diffenbaugh’s invitation to Sacramento to brief state officials and agency staff. Read more.

Weather extremes

A 2015 study co-authored by Stanford and Princeton University researchers found that trends in atmospheric circulation patterns can partially explain Earth’s increasingly severe weather. While scientists had previously surmised that the link existed, robust empirical evidence was lacking. Read more.

United Nations report

Woods Senior Fellow Chris Field, the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, spent five years leading a large team of international scientists as they prepared a major United Nations report on climate change impacts, observed vulnerabilities and opportunities for adaptation. The team ultimately produced a 2,000-page report as part of a massive, three-part U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report, which details a consensus view on the current state and fate of the world's climate. Read more or watch video.

Washington, D.C., dialogue

Stanford experts led a robust dialogue at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., during a panel discussion on climate change impacts and how to reduce them. The event drew a cross-sector audience of nearly 100 policy- and decision-makers from federal agencies, environmental nonprofits, development banks and other research institutions. Read more or watch video.

Agricultural impacts

A study by William Wrigley Senior Fellow David Lobell (earth system science) found U.S. corn yields are growing more sensitive to heat and drought. Farmers are faced with difficult tradeoffs in adapting to a changing climate in which unfavorable weather will become more common, the study found. Read more.

Clean energy roadmap

A study authored by Woods Senior Fellow Mark Z. Jacobsen (civil and environmental engineering) found that it is technically and economically feasible to convert California’s all-purpose energy infrastructure to one powered by clean, renewable energy by 2050. Read more.

Stephen Schneider honored

In October 2014, renowned Stanford climate scientist Stephen H. Schneider, Woods Senior Fellow (in memorium), was posthumously inducted into the California Hall of Fame by Gov. Jerry Brown. Well-known for his emphasis on science communication and a world expert on interdisciplinary climate science, Schneider had consulted with federal agencies and/or White House staff in every U.S. presidential administration since the Nixon era. Read more.