Climate Science Applications | Research Applications Laboratory

RAL carries out interdisciplinary research on social, economic, and health activities related to climate and weather at local, regional and global scales. Our research areas include natural resource governance, dynamics of urban systems, weather climate and health, GIS and regional climate for adaptation. RAL scientists address adaptation to climate change by generating scenarios of projected climate change, developing scientific tools and methods for analyzing current and future vulnerability, and conducting integrated analyses of climate change impacts and adaptation. An important component of this program is the integration of decision-makers and users of climate information into our societal research activities.

Focus Areas of Research

Climate and Weather Impacts on Human Health

Institutional Aspects of Vulnerability and Adaptation

Regional Climate for Adaptation

Urban Futures

Water Resources and Climate

Benefits and Impacts

Read how we have met meteorological challenges with creative, practical solutions, and measurable benefits.

Evaluating and Translating Climate Risk

CRMe is being used within the Climate Science Applications Program’s Regional Climate Science for Adaptation group to link into other national laboratory-level projects, such as the Department of… more

Evaluating the Risk for Dengue Fever

WHATCH’EM is now being leveraged for use in other model-based studies funded by NASA, NIH, and DTRA to develop an early warning system for dengue risk.

Evaluating Urban Heat Risk

Public health officials are now using this framework to reduce vulnerabilities.

Predicting Outbreak of Vector-Borne Diseases

The ability to predict when and where outbreaks will occur would help allocate limited public health resources. This research is leading to better placement of care givers and medicines to reduce… more