The Southwest regional scoping workshop, held in September, 1997, had more momentum behind it than even many participants may have suspected. That very successful event quickly led to funding and establishment of the Southwest Climate Assessment Project, and set the stage for participation in the National Assessment process.

Housed at The University of Arizona's Institute for the Study of Planet Earth (ISPE) and focused primarily on the states of Arizona and New Mexico, the Southwest Climate Assessment Project seeks to identify and assess the impacts of climate variability and climate change at seasonal, interannual, decadal, and longer time scales on human and natural systems in the region. The project also seeks to provide the climate information people need to respond to climate conditions that pose significant threats, or significant opportunities. Because individuals and organizations in the area are the ultimate beneficiaries of the effort, the project is designed to integrate stakeholder participation in research projects all the way from the initial design phases through to development of final products.

With a three-year seed money grant from NOAA, the project provides an excellent platform for ISPE's participation in the National Assessment. The southwestern regional assessment, sponsored by the Department of the Interior, will provide information on the vulnerability of parts or all of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. These states share many environmental, social, and economic resources and the issues surrounding them. The September 1997 workshop participants noted that the most important of these resources is water; and that one of the most under-appreciated areas where potential impacts of climate variability could be significant is human health.

The Southwest Climate Assessment Project's first-year research agenda focuses on southern Arizona. For example, a vulnerability analysis will be conducted in the ranching sector, which was identified as one of the economic sectors of the region likely to be most affected by climate changes. Other research activities slated for the first year include an integrated assessment of a selected community in southeastern Arizona, an analysis of the sensitivity of existing policies and procedures in Arizona's urban water sector to climate variability and change, compilation of information on the climate history and current climate, and a cataloging and evaluation of climate and hydrologic forecasts issued for the southern half of Arizona. In subsequent years, research will be expanded into the rest of Arizona and New Mexico. Interim discussion papers on the first year's research activities will be produced in early fall of 1998, and formal reports, databases, and other products will be available in spring, 1999.

An extensive and broadly based survey of stakeholders in southern Arizona has already produced information about what kinds of climate information individuals such as farmers, government land managers, urban planners, and others use, and what sorts of information they would like to use if such information were available, or available in useful formats. Interviewers have gathered information on the purposes to which the climate information is put, and the time spans over which information is needed, and particular events that spurred use of climate information. A workshop to discuss climate forecasting has been scheduled for early July.

Crucial to achieving the goals of the project is developing strong teamwork among the participants and ongoing affiliations with other organizations, agencies and projects having common or overlapping interests. Integration at the researcher level is one key component of this process. For example, the first-year research draws upon University of Arizona social and physical science experts from areas such as the Laboratory for Tree Ring Research, Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, Department of Geography and Regional Development, Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology, Arizona State Museum, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, and Latin American Area Studies. In subsequent years, networks will be extended to researchers in other disciplines and academic institutions in Arizona, New Mexico and elsewhere. Interactions have also been initiated with a number of other entities such as the National Weather Service, the Arizona State Office of Climatology, and water managers. The stakeholder survey process has opened doors to further interactions with individuals in the private and nonprofit sectors as well, ranging from private economic development offices to farmers, ranchers, urban water companies, and others.

In parallel with the implementation of the initial research projects, the Climate Project Core Office has introduced a web site (http://www.ispe.arizona.edu/swclimate) and has been actively involved in communicating information about the assessment and soliciting participation in its activities at conferences, professional and business meetings, and in other venues.

For information on the Southwest Climate Project, contact:

• Barbara Morehouse, Program Manager, Institute for the Study of Planet Earth, University of Arizona, 1439 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721; (520) 621-9010; morehoub@u.arizona.edu

For information on ISPE's involvement in the southwestern portion of the National Assessment, contact:

• William Sprigg, Deputy Director, Institute for the Study of Planet Earth, University of Arizona, 1439 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721; (520) 621-9010; wsprigg@u.arizona.edu