The South Central CASC
The South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (SC CASC) was established in 2012 and is one of ten CASC Centers across the country. Each regional CASC is housed at a host university, which serves as a hub for a consortium of member organizations in the region. The CASC network generates actionable science, workshops, and products that address identified science needs that are useful in supporting resource management decisions, actions, and plans. The SC CASC accomplishes this through multi-disciplinary and decision-maker-driven approaches to funding projects that assess the impact of climate change on natural and cultural resources within our region of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana.
Highlighted Projects by State
State Visits
State and site visits provide an opportunity to build and strengthen relations and partnerships with natural and cultural resource managers and affiliated researchers. The CASC staff gain an in-depth understanding of the unique climate adaptation challenges in a specific part of the region, better understand the climate science needs of managers, explore opportunities for collaboration, and share information on climate activities with other interested parties. The information gained from these visits is vital in ensuring that SC CASC-funded research priorities align with the needs of managers throughout the South Central region. Key relationships and partnerships are built and strengthened.
Louisiana – April 26, 2024 – Discover how the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (SC CASC) and Louisiana State University (LSU) are exploring themes and topics necessary to advance climate adaptation efforts. This report highlights key discussions, innovative research, and collaborative actions that emerged during SC CASC’s recent site visit to LSU. From coral reef conservation to strengthening coastal resilience, explore the insights and strategies shaping climate adaptation in the South Central region. Dive in to see how these partnerships drive meaningful change for a more resilient future.
West Texas – April 25-27, 2023 – A small team of staff members from the South Central CASC conducted a state visit to West Texas from April 24-27, 2023, to meet with researchers from Texas Tech University (TTU) in addition to resource managers from Rio Grande Joint Venture (RGJV) and Big Bend National Park (BBNP). This visit provided the opportunity for the staff to learn about the impacts of climate change experienced in the region, understand climate-related research needs, explore areas of collaboration, and meet new partners. This report provides an overview of climate-related activities, research needs, and summaries from meeting notes.
New Mexico – June 27-30, 2022 – Stakeholder Listening Sessions – Staff from the South Central CASC visited New Mexico to conduct stakeholder listening sessions with the goal of gaining insight into the climate science needs of natural and cultural resource managers and to discuss the impacts of climate change on water, forestry, and agriculture, which we co-hosted with the USDA Southwest Climate HUB. These sessions provided an opportunity for CASC staff and others to learn about climate adaptation challenges experienced by these resource managers, explore opportunities for collaboration with state, federal, and tribal organizations, and for participants to share information on climate-related activities and research needs throughout the state. From across these listening sessions, research themes emerged. View our captured notes from these listening sessions to learn more.
View all of our Funded Projects
CASC Project Explorer
Discover Regional & National Climate Science Projects
SC CASC Project Map
Interactive map that highlights the spatial extent of each project
Climate Projection Maps
The South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center is pleased to release high-resolution temperature and precipitation climate projections for the south-central United States. Projection maps are viewable on the pages linked below. The resolution of these maps is 10km x 10km and is available for both mid-century and end-of-century time periods.
Other Resources
Managing for Climate Extremes
A free set of online courses that provides an integrative understanding of the components of the climate system, including the range of natural climate variability and external drivers of climate change, in addition to impacts of a changing climate on multiple sectors such as the economy, policy, ecosystems, and indigenous populations. Guest instructors represent the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center research and stakeholder networks and share their expertise on specific course topics.
Climate 101 Workshops for Resource Managers
Climate 101 workshops include an introduction to climate science, how to interpret climate projections, and regional impacts of changing climate.
Climate Variability and Adaptation
State Climate Summaries for the Region, Information on Climate Variability, & Tools for Adaptation & Planning