Progress and Updates
Exploratory Team, The University of Arizona, July-August 2007






This effort got officially started in mid May 2007 (for a full account on the various email exchanges leading to this effort please visit This history section. A Team was formed to explore and shape this initiative around May 2007. Initially, the Exploratory Team comprised Dr. Rob Kursinski, Dr. Stuart Marsh, and Dr. Alfredo Huete, and later Dr Kamel Didan joined the team to coordinate this effort and compile the white paper

In one of the earliest email exchanges, Dr. Kursinski framed this effort as "..I view the Southwest regional climate observational and modeling system [No official name exist for this effort so far] as centering around the Southwestern water cycle and ecology and their evolution over the coming decades, but it can, and certainly should be expanded as people think appropriate..."


It is not a surprise that much of this effort is still evolving and not very clear. However, the aim is very focused, that is, North America Southwest is undergoing profound changes and facing serious challenges, that will mostly likley be driven by climate change. None of these changes are propely understood, yet every body realizes their dire consequences. This effort aims then at improving our understading of these changes, and in doing so provide the region with a comprehensive system of measurments, modelling and forecasting abilities that will enable better decision to safegaurd the future of this fragile region.

Completed Tasks

Over the months of July and Augst 2007, the Exploratory Team accomplished the following tasks:

1. Put together this web page to dessiminate information about this initiative
2. Held four discussion/progress meetings
3. Held three advisory meetings with experts
• Dr. Dave Breshears, from RNR, The University of Arizona
• Dr. Peter Troch, from HWR, The University of Arizona
• Dr. Gregg Garfin, from CLIMAS/ISPE, The University of Arizona
4. A planning meeting for the white paper

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Planned Tasks

The exploratory team is planning the following activities for the months of September/October, 2007:

1. Propose an outline for the white paper
2. Finalize the white paper outline
3. Call a campus wide workshop/meeting to discuss, enlist ideas, and develop a consensus
4. Draft the white paper

This initial effort will conclude in a white paper to be shared with the contributing members, the campus community and eventually with all concerned parties. The exploratory team will seek comments and feedback and work on a final draft to be ready around October 2007.