NEW RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MAINE'S CLIMATE

October 20, 2009
Contact Catherine Schmitt (catherine.schmitt@umit.maine.edu)

ORONO - Recognizing the need for a centralized, neutral source of climate information specific to Maine, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant today announced the launch of Maine Climate News at http://extension.umaine.edu/maineclimatenews. Produced in partnership with Maine State Climatologist George Jacobson, the site is intended to be a portal to local climate change science and research at the University of Maine and beyond, as well as a resource for news and climate-related activities throughout the state.

"Climate change is a complex and dynamic issue, and it can be overwhelming. While much of our focus is on coastal climate change impacts, the information on the new site is also intended to provide useful information from our state climatologist to a broad audience," said project leader Esperanza Stancioff, a climate change educator with UMaine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant.
The site provides visitors with access to climate scientists, including Jacobson of UMaine's Climate Change Institute, who is also the designated State Climatologist for Maine. State climatologists bring their scientific expertise and climate resources to serve the citizens of their states with specific and first-hand support. Jacobson’s role is to interpret and analyze data from NOAA and the Northeast Regional Climate Center. In addition, Shaleen Jain, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Maine, is providing scientific content and oversight to the news outlet.

The site will be updated quarterly with new features and articles.
"We hope that people who live, work, and vacation in Maine will use this resource and provide feedback and suggestions for stories they’d like us to publish," said Stancioff.

Visit Maine Climate News at http://extension.umaine.edu/maineclimatenews