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Ryan Boyles, Ph.D.

Dr. Ryan Boyles is the Senior Scientist for CASC Climate Adaptation Technical Support. He is an applied climatologist focused on using weather and climate science and data to support effective management of natural resources.

Ryan is an applied climatologist with emphasis on developing and delivering climate information and climate services relevant to decision making. His work is focused on how climate science can improve the understanding of impacts and adaptation for management of fish, wildlife, and ecosystems.

Ryan has lead development of climate datasets, web tools, and climate services targeted for use by human health, agriculture, and natural resource management sectors. These activities focus on the use of historical climate observations to assess the sensitivity of these sectors, experimental forecasting to provide short-term and seasonal guidance, and climate model downscaling to explore the potential changes in longer-term risk.  Ryan led the development of more than 40 online tools for climate data search, analysis, visualization and applied decision support. He received more than $11M in external grant funding between 2007-2016, authored dozens of scientific papers, and given hundreds of invited community and professional presentations. Prior to joining USGS, Ryan served as the State Climatologist for North Carolina and Extension Associate Professor in the Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences at NC State University.

Ryan provides broader government scientific support as Lead Advisor for the Dept. of Interior’s Climate Science Applications Coordination Team and as Co-chair for the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services’ Sub-committee for Climate Services.

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. in Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University

  • M.S. in Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University

Science and Products

link
Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

Characterizing Climate Change Impacts on Species Ecology to Support Species Status Assessments

Species Status Assessments provide vital information to US Fish and Wildlife for improving considerations for climate change impacts. In the constrained timeline of species listing decisions, it is not always feasible to conduct lengthy quantitative analyses so there is a need for better resources to provide input for rapid decision-making. In this project, the team will work with species status a
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Characterizing Climate Change Impacts on Species Ecology to Support Species Status Assessments

Species Status Assessments provide vital information to US Fish and Wildlife for improving considerations for climate change impacts. In the constrained timeline of species listing decisions, it is not always feasible to conduct lengthy quantitative analyses so there is a need for better resources to provide input for rapid decision-making. In this project, the team will work with species status a
Learn More
link
Managed pine forest in the South Central Plains

Webinar: Visualizing the Impact of Future Climate on Pine Forests

View this webinar to learn how scientists are exploring the potential future impacts of climate change on pine forests.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Webinar: Visualizing the Impact of Future Climate on Pine Forests

View this webinar to learn how scientists are exploring the potential future impacts of climate change on pine forests.
Learn More
link
Dead and dying mangrove trees in shallow water

Evaluating Downscaled Climate Models for Projecting Future Changes in the Southeast

Climate change is likely to have many effects on natural ecosystems in the Southeast U.S. While there is information available to conservation managers and ecologists from the global climate models (GCMs), this information is at too coarse a resolution for use in vulnerability assessments and decision making. To better assess how climate change could affect multiple sectors, including ecosystems,
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Evaluating Downscaled Climate Models for Projecting Future Changes in the Southeast

Climate change is likely to have many effects on natural ecosystems in the Southeast U.S. While there is information available to conservation managers and ecologists from the global climate models (GCMs), this information is at too coarse a resolution for use in vulnerability assessments and decision making. To better assess how climate change could affect multiple sectors, including ecosystems,
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 15

Approaches for using CMIP projections in climate model ensembles to address the ‘hot model’ problem

Several recent generation global-climate models were found to have anomalously high climate sensitivities and may not be useful for certain applications. Four approaches for developing ensembles of climate projections for applications that address this issue are:Using an “all models” approach;Screening using equilibrium climate sensitivity and (or) transient climate response;Bayesian model averagi
Authors
Ryan Boyles, Catherine A. Nikiel, Brian W. Miller, Jeremy Littell, Adam J. Terando, Imtiaz Rangwala, Jay R. Alder, Derek H. Rosendahl, Adrienne M. Wootten
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Alaska Science Center

User engagement testing with a pilot decision support tool aimed to support species managers

Species status assessments (SSAs) are required for endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and focus on the resiliency, redundancy, and representation of endangered species. SSAs must include climate information, because climate is a factor that will impact species in the future. To aid in the inclusion of climate information, a decision support system (DSS) entitled Climate Analy
Authors
Haven J. Cashwell, Karen S. McNeal, Kathie Dello, Ryan Boyles, Corey Davis
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Potential effects of climate change on Emydoidea blandingii (Blanding’s turtle)

Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838; Blanding’s turtles) are a species of medium-sized, long-lived, semiaquatic, freshwater turtles with a wide distribution across the northern and eastern United States and southern Canada. They have an annual activity cycle consisting of late autumn and winter overwintering and spring emergence, spring movement and foraging, spring and summer nesting, and summer
Authors
Marta P. Lyons, Catherine A. Nikiel, Olivia E. LeDee, Ryan Boyles
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Potential effects of climate change on Ambystoma barbouri (streamside salamander)

Ambystoma barbouri (streamside salamanders) are stream-breeding mole salamanders that rely on seasonally intermittent, fishless streams for egg and larval development but are primarily fossorial as adults. Climate-driven changes are likely to alter streamflow duration, peak, and seasonality within the range of A. barbouri, reducing reproductive habitat and larval survival. Although future changes
Authors
Marta P. Lyons, Olivia E. LeDee, Ryan Boyles

Potential effects of climate change on Appalachian stoneflies (Remenus kirchneri, Acroneuria kosztarabi, and Tallaperla lobata)

Plecoptera (stoneflies) are an order of insects where most species rely on clean, fast-moving freshwater for an aquatic larval stage followed by a short terrestrial adult stage. Most species of Plecoptera seem to be restricted to specific stream types and thermal regimes. Climate-driven changes are likely to alter stream temperatures and flow, resulting in physiological stress, reduced reproductiv
Authors
Marta P. Lyons, Catherine A. Nikiel, Olivia E. LeDee, Ryan Boyles
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Future changes in habitat availability for two specialist snake species in the imperiled rocklands of South Florida, U.S.A.

Rockland habitat in South Florida, USA, is a threatened ecosystem that has been lost, fragmented, or degraded because of urbanization or other anthropogenic disturbance. Furthermore, low-lying islands and coastal areas are experiencing sea level rise (SLR) and an increased frequency and intensity of tidal flooding, putting rockland habitats there at increasing risk of ecological change. We evaluat
Authors
Suresh C. Subedi, Susan C. Walls, William Barichivich, Ryan Boyles, Michael S. Ross, J. Aaron Hogan, John A. Tupy
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Potential effects of climate change on snail kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus) in Florida

The snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus), an endangered, wetland-dependent raptor, is highly sensitive to changes in hydrology. Climate-driven changes in water level will likely affect snail kite populations—altering reproductive success and survival rates. Identifying the mechanisms mediating the direct and indirect effects of climate on snail kite populations and the range of future clima
Authors
Marta P. Lyons, Olivia E. LeDee, Ryan Boyles
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Improving species status assessments under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and implications for multispecies conservation challenges worldwide

Despite its successes, the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) has proven challenging to implement due to funding limitations, workload backlog, and other problems. As threats to species survival intensify and as more species come under threat, the need for the ESA and similar conservation laws and policies in other countries to function efficiently has grown. Attempts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Authors
Reed Noss, Jennifer M. Cartwright, Dwayne Estes, Theo Witsell, Gregg Elliott, Daniel S. Adams, Matthew A. Albrecht, Ryan Boyles, Patrick Comer, Chris Doffitt, JoVonn G. Hill, William C. Hunter, Wesley M. Knapp, Mike Marshall, Jason R. Singhurst, Christopher Tracey, Jeffrey L. Walck, Alan Weakley
By
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

Science needs of southeastern grassland species of conservation concern: A framework for species status assessments

The unglaciated southeastern United States is a biodiversity hotspot, with a disproportionate amount of this biodiversity concentrated in grasslands. Like most hotspots, the Southeast is also threatened by human activities, with the total reduction of southeastern grasslands estimated as 90 percent (upwards to 100 percent for some types) and with many threats escalating today. This report summariz
Authors
Reed F. Noss, Jennifer M. Cartwright, Dwayne Estes, Theo Witsell, K. Gregg Elliott, Daniel S. Adams, Matthew A. Albrecht, Ryan Boyles, Patrick J. Comer, Chris Doffitt, Don Faber-Langendoen, JoVonn G. Hill, William C. Hunter, Wesley M. Knapp, Mike Marshall, Milo Pyne, Jason R. Singhurst, Christopher Tracey, Jeffrey L. Walck, Alan Weakley
By
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

Visually communicating future climate in a web environment

While there is growing demand for use of climate model projections to understand the potential impacts of future climate on resources, there is a lack of effective visuals that convey the range of possible climates across spatial scales and with uncertainties that potential users need to inform their impact assessments and studies. We use usability testing including eye tracking to explore how a g
Authors
Corey Davis, Heather D Aldridge, Ryan Boyles, Karen McNeal, Lindsay C. Mauldin, Rachel M. Atkins
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

High‐resolution dynamically downscaled rainfall and temperature projections for ecological life zones within Puerto Rico and for the U.S. Virgin Islands

The weather research and forecasting (WRF) model and a combination of the regional spectral model (RSM) and the Japanese Meteorological Agency Non‐Hydrostatic Model (NHM) were used to dynamically downscale selected CMIP5 global climate models to provide 2‐km projections with hourly model output for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Two 20‐year time slices were downscaled for historical (198
Authors
Jared H. Bowden, Adam J. Terando, Vasu Misra, Adrienne Wootten, Amit Bhardwaj, Ryan Boyles, William A. Gould, Jaime A. Collazo, Tanya Spero
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Website usability differences between males and females: An eye-tracking evaluation of a climate decision support system

Decision support systems, which are collections of related information located in a central place, can be used as platforms from which climate information can be shared with decision-makers. In this study, a web-based climate decision support system (DSS) for foresters in the Southeast United States was evaluated using eye-tracking technology. The initial study design was exploratory and focused o
Authors
Lindsay C. Mauldin, Karen McNeal, Heather D Aldridge, Corey Davis, Ryan Boyles, Rachel M. Atkins
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Non-USGS Publications**

Bhardwaj, A., V. Misra, A. Mishra, A. Wootten, R. Boyles, J. H. Bowden, and A. Terando, (2018). Downscaling Future Climate Change Projections over Puerto Rico using a Non-Hydrostatic Atmospheric Model. Climatic Change, in press
Mahmood,R., R. Boyles, K. Brinson, C. Fiebrich, S. Foster, K. Hubbard, D. Robinson, J. Andresen, and D. Leathers (2017). Mesonets: Meso-Scale Weather and Climate Observations for the U.S. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, July 2017, pp. 1349-1361
Coopersmith, E., M. Cosh, J. Bell, R Boyles (2016). Extrapolating in situ soil moisture data records to the near surface with machine learning:  A multi-depth analysis of USCRN profiles and an application for AMSR-E satellite validation with ECONet sensors. Advances in Water Resources.
Vol 98, 2016, pp. 122–131.
Ward. R. and R. Boyles (2016). Evaluation of a High Resolution SPI for Monitoring Local Drought Severity. J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Vol 55, pp. 2247-2262.
Wootten, A., J. Bowden, A. Terando, and R. Boyles (2016). The Sensitivity of WRF downscaled precipitation in Puerto Rico to Cumulus Parameterization and Interior Grid Nudging. J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Vol 55, pp. 2263-2281
Rejesus, R., K. Coble, M. Miller, R. Boyles, B. Goodwin, T. Knight (2015). Accounting for weather probabilities in crop insurance rating. Journal of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Vol 40, No 2, pp. 306-324
Wootten, A., K. Smith, R. Boyles, A. Terando, L. Stefanova, V. Misra, T. Smith, D. Blodgett, and F. Semazzi (2014). Downscaled climate projections for the southeast U.S.: Evaluation and use for ecological applications. USGS Open Open-File Report 2014–1190, 54 p
Wootten, A. and R. Boyles (2014). Comparison of NCEP Multi-sensor Precipitation Estimates with Independent Gauge Data Over the Eastern U.S. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Vol 53, pp. 2848-2862
Wootten, A., K. Smith, J. Bowden, T. Otte, and R. Boyles (2014). Regional Climate Variations and Change for Terrestrial Ecosystems Workshop Review. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 95:96–97
Coble, K.H., T.O. Knight, M.F. Miller, B.J. Goodwin, R. Rejesus, and R. Boyles (2013). Estimating Structural Change in U.S. Crop Insurance Experience. Agriculture Finance Review, Vol 73, Issue 1, 74-87
Pan, W., R. Boyles; J. G. White; J. L. Heitman (2012). Characterizing soil physical properties for soil moisture monitoring with the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vol 29, pp. 933-943.
Misra, V., J.-P. Michael, R. Boyles, E. P. Chassignet, M. Griffin, J. J. O’Brien (2012). Reconciling the Spatial Distribution of the Surface Temperature Trends in the Southeastern United States. J. Climate, 25, 3610–3618.
Breuer, N., H. Dinon, R. Boyles, and G. Wilkerson (2011). North Carolina extension agent awareness of and interest in climate information. Online. Journal of Service Climatology, No. 4.
Ojiambo, P. S., Holmes, G. J., Britton, W., Keever, T., Adams, M. L., Babadoost, M., Bost, S. C., Boyles, R., Brooks, M., Damicone, J., Draper, M. A., Egel, D. S., Everts, K. L., Ferrin, D. M., Gevens, A. J., Gugino, B. K., Hausbeck, M. K., Ingram, D. M., Isakeit, T., Keinath, A. P., Koike, S. T., Langston, D., McGrath, M. T., Miller, S. A., Mulrooney, R., Rideout, S., Roddy, E., Seebold, K. W., Sikora, E. J., Thornton, A., Wick, R. L., Wyenandt, C. A., and Zhang, S. (2011). Cucurbit downy mildew ipmPIPE: A next generation web-based interactive tool for disease management and extension outreach. Online. Plant Health Progress.
Raman, S., J. Kehoe, and R. Boyles (2010). Characteristics of land falling tropical cyclones in North Carolina. Journal of Marine Geodesy, Vol. 33, No. 4.
Reyes, M., H. Suda, M. Brooks, and R. Boyles (2010). Proposed standard for automatic calculation of rainfall erosivity. Applied Engineering for Agriculture, Vol 26(3), pp. 401-403.
Carbone, G., J. Rhee, H. Mizzell, and R. Boyles (2008). A regional-scale drought monitoring tools for the Carolinas. Bulletin of the American Meteorological, Vol 89, pp 20-28.
Boyles, R., S. Raman, and A. Sims (2007). Sensitivity of mesoscale precipitation dynamics to surface soil and vegetation contrasts over the Carolina Sandhills. Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol 164, pp 1547-1576.
Childs, Peter, Jr., S. Raman, and R. Boyles (2007): High resolution numerical simulations of Hurricane Isabel (2003) over North Carolina, Natural Hazards, Vol 41, pp 401-411.
Holder, C., R. Boyles, P. Robinson, S. Raman, and G. Fishel (2006). Calculating a daily normal temperature range that reflects daily temperature variability. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Vol 87, pp 769-774.
Holder, C., R. Boyles, A. Syed, D. Niyogi, and S. Raman (2006). Comparison of collocated automated (NCECONet) and manual (COOP) climate observations in North Carolina. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vol. 23, pp 671-682.
Childs, P., A.L.Qureshi, S.Raman, K.Alapaty, R.Ellis, R.Boyles, and D.Niyogi (2006). Simulation of convective initiation during IHOP_2002 using the flux-adjusting surface data assimilation system (FASDAS), Monthly Weather Review, 134, 134-148.
Raman, S., A. Sims, R. Ellis, and R. Boyles (2005). Numerical simulation of mesoscale circulations in a region of contrasting soil types. Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol. 162, pp 1698-1714.
Boyles, R. P. and S. Raman (2003). Analysis of climate trends in North Carolina (1949-1998), Environment International, Vol 29, pp 263 – 275.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Southeast CASC Helps Produce New Study on How Sea Level Rise Affects Birds in Coastal Forests

Southeast CASC Helps Produce New Study on How Sea Level Rise Affects Birds in Coastal Forests

When saltwater inundates coastal forests as sea levels rise, it kills salt-sensitive trees, leaving "ghost forests" of bare snags behind. A new study...

Read Article

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

    Characterizing Climate Change Impacts on Species Ecology to Support Species Status Assessments

    Species Status Assessments provide vital information to US Fish and Wildlife for improving considerations for climate change impacts. In the constrained timeline of species listing decisions, it is not always feasible to conduct lengthy quantitative analyses so there is a need for better resources to provide input for rapid decision-making. In this project, the team will work with species status a
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers
    link

    Characterizing Climate Change Impacts on Species Ecology to Support Species Status Assessments

    Species Status Assessments provide vital information to US Fish and Wildlife for improving considerations for climate change impacts. In the constrained timeline of species listing decisions, it is not always feasible to conduct lengthy quantitative analyses so there is a need for better resources to provide input for rapid decision-making. In this project, the team will work with species status a
    Learn More
    link
    Managed pine forest in the South Central Plains

    Webinar: Visualizing the Impact of Future Climate on Pine Forests

    View this webinar to learn how scientists are exploring the potential future impacts of climate change on pine forests.
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers
    link

    Webinar: Visualizing the Impact of Future Climate on Pine Forests

    View this webinar to learn how scientists are exploring the potential future impacts of climate change on pine forests.
    Learn More
    link
    Dead and dying mangrove trees in shallow water

    Evaluating Downscaled Climate Models for Projecting Future Changes in the Southeast

    Climate change is likely to have many effects on natural ecosystems in the Southeast U.S. While there is information available to conservation managers and ecologists from the global climate models (GCMs), this information is at too coarse a resolution for use in vulnerability assessments and decision making. To better assess how climate change could affect multiple sectors, including ecosystems,
    By
    Climate Adaptation Science Centers
    link

    Evaluating Downscaled Climate Models for Projecting Future Changes in the Southeast

    Climate change is likely to have many effects on natural ecosystems in the Southeast U.S. While there is information available to conservation managers and ecologists from the global climate models (GCMs), this information is at too coarse a resolution for use in vulnerability assessments and decision making. To better assess how climate change could affect multiple sectors, including ecosystems,
    Learn More
  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 15

    Approaches for using CMIP projections in climate model ensembles to address the ‘hot model’ problem

    Several recent generation global-climate models were found to have anomalously high climate sensitivities and may not be useful for certain applications. Four approaches for developing ensembles of climate projections for applications that address this issue are:Using an “all models” approach;Screening using equilibrium climate sensitivity and (or) transient climate response;Bayesian model averagi
    Authors
    Ryan Boyles, Catherine A. Nikiel, Brian W. Miller, Jeremy Littell, Adam J. Terando, Imtiaz Rangwala, Jay R. Alder, Derek H. Rosendahl, Adrienne M. Wootten
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Alaska Science Center

    User engagement testing with a pilot decision support tool aimed to support species managers

    Species status assessments (SSAs) are required for endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and focus on the resiliency, redundancy, and representation of endangered species. SSAs must include climate information, because climate is a factor that will impact species in the future. To aid in the inclusion of climate information, a decision support system (DSS) entitled Climate Analy
    Authors
    Haven J. Cashwell, Karen S. McNeal, Kathie Dello, Ryan Boyles, Corey Davis
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    Potential effects of climate change on Emydoidea blandingii (Blanding’s turtle)

    Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838; Blanding’s turtles) are a species of medium-sized, long-lived, semiaquatic, freshwater turtles with a wide distribution across the northern and eastern United States and southern Canada. They have an annual activity cycle consisting of late autumn and winter overwintering and spring emergence, spring movement and foraging, spring and summer nesting, and summer
    Authors
    Marta P. Lyons, Catherine A. Nikiel, Olivia E. LeDee, Ryan Boyles
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    Potential effects of climate change on Ambystoma barbouri (streamside salamander)

    Ambystoma barbouri (streamside salamanders) are stream-breeding mole salamanders that rely on seasonally intermittent, fishless streams for egg and larval development but are primarily fossorial as adults. Climate-driven changes are likely to alter streamflow duration, peak, and seasonality within the range of A. barbouri, reducing reproductive habitat and larval survival. Although future changes
    Authors
    Marta P. Lyons, Olivia E. LeDee, Ryan Boyles

    Potential effects of climate change on Appalachian stoneflies (Remenus kirchneri, Acroneuria kosztarabi, and Tallaperla lobata)

    Plecoptera (stoneflies) are an order of insects where most species rely on clean, fast-moving freshwater for an aquatic larval stage followed by a short terrestrial adult stage. Most species of Plecoptera seem to be restricted to specific stream types and thermal regimes. Climate-driven changes are likely to alter stream temperatures and flow, resulting in physiological stress, reduced reproductiv
    Authors
    Marta P. Lyons, Catherine A. Nikiel, Olivia E. LeDee, Ryan Boyles
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    Future changes in habitat availability for two specialist snake species in the imperiled rocklands of South Florida, U.S.A.

    Rockland habitat in South Florida, USA, is a threatened ecosystem that has been lost, fragmented, or degraded because of urbanization or other anthropogenic disturbance. Furthermore, low-lying islands and coastal areas are experiencing sea level rise (SLR) and an increased frequency and intensity of tidal flooding, putting rockland habitats there at increasing risk of ecological change. We evaluat
    Authors
    Suresh C. Subedi, Susan C. Walls, William Barichivich, Ryan Boyles, Michael S. Ross, J. Aaron Hogan, John A. Tupy
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Potential effects of climate change on snail kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus) in Florida

    The snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus), an endangered, wetland-dependent raptor, is highly sensitive to changes in hydrology. Climate-driven changes in water level will likely affect snail kite populations—altering reproductive success and survival rates. Identifying the mechanisms mediating the direct and indirect effects of climate on snail kite populations and the range of future clima
    Authors
    Marta P. Lyons, Olivia E. LeDee, Ryan Boyles
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    Improving species status assessments under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and implications for multispecies conservation challenges worldwide

    Despite its successes, the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) has proven challenging to implement due to funding limitations, workload backlog, and other problems. As threats to species survival intensify and as more species come under threat, the need for the ESA and similar conservation laws and policies in other countries to function efficiently has grown. Attempts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
    Authors
    Reed Noss, Jennifer M. Cartwright, Dwayne Estes, Theo Witsell, Gregg Elliott, Daniel S. Adams, Matthew A. Albrecht, Ryan Boyles, Patrick Comer, Chris Doffitt, JoVonn G. Hill, William C. Hunter, Wesley M. Knapp, Mike Marshall, Jason R. Singhurst, Christopher Tracey, Jeffrey L. Walck, Alan Weakley
    By
    Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

    Science needs of southeastern grassland species of conservation concern: A framework for species status assessments

    The unglaciated southeastern United States is a biodiversity hotspot, with a disproportionate amount of this biodiversity concentrated in grasslands. Like most hotspots, the Southeast is also threatened by human activities, with the total reduction of southeastern grasslands estimated as 90 percent (upwards to 100 percent for some types) and with many threats escalating today. This report summariz
    Authors
    Reed F. Noss, Jennifer M. Cartwright, Dwayne Estes, Theo Witsell, K. Gregg Elliott, Daniel S. Adams, Matthew A. Albrecht, Ryan Boyles, Patrick J. Comer, Chris Doffitt, Don Faber-Langendoen, JoVonn G. Hill, William C. Hunter, Wesley M. Knapp, Mike Marshall, Milo Pyne, Jason R. Singhurst, Christopher Tracey, Jeffrey L. Walck, Alan Weakley
    By
    Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

    Visually communicating future climate in a web environment

    While there is growing demand for use of climate model projections to understand the potential impacts of future climate on resources, there is a lack of effective visuals that convey the range of possible climates across spatial scales and with uncertainties that potential users need to inform their impact assessments and studies. We use usability testing including eye tracking to explore how a g
    Authors
    Corey Davis, Heather D Aldridge, Ryan Boyles, Karen McNeal, Lindsay C. Mauldin, Rachel M. Atkins
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    High‐resolution dynamically downscaled rainfall and temperature projections for ecological life zones within Puerto Rico and for the U.S. Virgin Islands

    The weather research and forecasting (WRF) model and a combination of the regional spectral model (RSM) and the Japanese Meteorological Agency Non‐Hydrostatic Model (NHM) were used to dynamically downscale selected CMIP5 global climate models to provide 2‐km projections with hourly model output for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Two 20‐year time slices were downscaled for historical (198
    Authors
    Jared H. Bowden, Adam J. Terando, Vasu Misra, Adrienne Wootten, Amit Bhardwaj, Ryan Boyles, William A. Gould, Jaime A. Collazo, Tanya Spero
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    Website usability differences between males and females: An eye-tracking evaluation of a climate decision support system

    Decision support systems, which are collections of related information located in a central place, can be used as platforms from which climate information can be shared with decision-makers. In this study, a web-based climate decision support system (DSS) for foresters in the Southeast United States was evaluated using eye-tracking technology. The initial study design was exploratory and focused o
    Authors
    Lindsay C. Mauldin, Karen McNeal, Heather D Aldridge, Corey Davis, Ryan Boyles, Rachel M. Atkins
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Bhardwaj, A., V. Misra, A. Mishra, A. Wootten, R. Boyles, J. H. Bowden, and A. Terando, (2018). Downscaling Future Climate Change Projections over Puerto Rico using a Non-Hydrostatic Atmospheric Model. Climatic Change, in press
    Mahmood,R., R. Boyles, K. Brinson, C. Fiebrich, S. Foster, K. Hubbard, D. Robinson, J. Andresen, and D. Leathers (2017). Mesonets: Meso-Scale Weather and Climate Observations for the U.S. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, July 2017, pp. 1349-1361
    Coopersmith, E., M. Cosh, J. Bell, R Boyles (2016). Extrapolating in situ soil moisture data records to the near surface with machine learning:  A multi-depth analysis of USCRN profiles and an application for AMSR-E satellite validation with ECONet sensors. Advances in Water Resources.
    Vol 98, 2016, pp. 122–131.
    Ward. R. and R. Boyles (2016). Evaluation of a High Resolution SPI for Monitoring Local Drought Severity. J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Vol 55, pp. 2247-2262.
    Wootten, A., J. Bowden, A. Terando, and R. Boyles (2016). The Sensitivity of WRF downscaled precipitation in Puerto Rico to Cumulus Parameterization and Interior Grid Nudging. J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Vol 55, pp. 2263-2281
    Rejesus, R., K. Coble, M. Miller, R. Boyles, B. Goodwin, T. Knight (2015). Accounting for weather probabilities in crop insurance rating. Journal of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Vol 40, No 2, pp. 306-324
    Wootten, A., K. Smith, R. Boyles, A. Terando, L. Stefanova, V. Misra, T. Smith, D. Blodgett, and F. Semazzi (2014). Downscaled climate projections for the southeast U.S.: Evaluation and use for ecological applications. USGS Open Open-File Report 2014–1190, 54 p
    Wootten, A. and R. Boyles (2014). Comparison of NCEP Multi-sensor Precipitation Estimates with Independent Gauge Data Over the Eastern U.S. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Vol 53, pp. 2848-2862
    Wootten, A., K. Smith, J. Bowden, T. Otte, and R. Boyles (2014). Regional Climate Variations and Change for Terrestrial Ecosystems Workshop Review. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 95:96–97
    Coble, K.H., T.O. Knight, M.F. Miller, B.J. Goodwin, R. Rejesus, and R. Boyles (2013). Estimating Structural Change in U.S. Crop Insurance Experience. Agriculture Finance Review, Vol 73, Issue 1, 74-87
    Pan, W., R. Boyles; J. G. White; J. L. Heitman (2012). Characterizing soil physical properties for soil moisture monitoring with the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vol 29, pp. 933-943.
    Misra, V., J.-P. Michael, R. Boyles, E. P. Chassignet, M. Griffin, J. J. O’Brien (2012). Reconciling the Spatial Distribution of the Surface Temperature Trends in the Southeastern United States. J. Climate, 25, 3610–3618.
    Breuer, N., H. Dinon, R. Boyles, and G. Wilkerson (2011). North Carolina extension agent awareness of and interest in climate information. Online. Journal of Service Climatology, No. 4.
    Ojiambo, P. S., Holmes, G. J., Britton, W., Keever, T., Adams, M. L., Babadoost, M., Bost, S. C., Boyles, R., Brooks, M., Damicone, J., Draper, M. A., Egel, D. S., Everts, K. L., Ferrin, D. M., Gevens, A. J., Gugino, B. K., Hausbeck, M. K., Ingram, D. M., Isakeit, T., Keinath, A. P., Koike, S. T., Langston, D., McGrath, M. T., Miller, S. A., Mulrooney, R., Rideout, S., Roddy, E., Seebold, K. W., Sikora, E. J., Thornton, A., Wick, R. L., Wyenandt, C. A., and Zhang, S. (2011). Cucurbit downy mildew ipmPIPE: A next generation web-based interactive tool for disease management and extension outreach. Online. Plant Health Progress.
    Raman, S., J. Kehoe, and R. Boyles (2010). Characteristics of land falling tropical cyclones in North Carolina. Journal of Marine Geodesy, Vol. 33, No. 4.
    Reyes, M., H. Suda, M. Brooks, and R. Boyles (2010). Proposed standard for automatic calculation of rainfall erosivity. Applied Engineering for Agriculture, Vol 26(3), pp. 401-403.
    Carbone, G., J. Rhee, H. Mizzell, and R. Boyles (2008). A regional-scale drought monitoring tools for the Carolinas. Bulletin of the American Meteorological, Vol 89, pp 20-28.
    Boyles, R., S. Raman, and A. Sims (2007). Sensitivity of mesoscale precipitation dynamics to surface soil and vegetation contrasts over the Carolina Sandhills. Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol 164, pp 1547-1576.
    Childs, Peter, Jr., S. Raman, and R. Boyles (2007): High resolution numerical simulations of Hurricane Isabel (2003) over North Carolina, Natural Hazards, Vol 41, pp 401-411.
    Holder, C., R. Boyles, P. Robinson, S. Raman, and G. Fishel (2006). Calculating a daily normal temperature range that reflects daily temperature variability. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Vol 87, pp 769-774.
    Holder, C., R. Boyles, A. Syed, D. Niyogi, and S. Raman (2006). Comparison of collocated automated (NCECONet) and manual (COOP) climate observations in North Carolina. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Vol. 23, pp 671-682.
    Childs, P., A.L.Qureshi, S.Raman, K.Alapaty, R.Ellis, R.Boyles, and D.Niyogi (2006). Simulation of convective initiation during IHOP_2002 using the flux-adjusting surface data assimilation system (FASDAS), Monthly Weather Review, 134, 134-148.
    Raman, S., A. Sims, R. Ellis, and R. Boyles (2005). Numerical simulation of mesoscale circulations in a region of contrasting soil types. Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol. 162, pp 1698-1714.
    Boyles, R. P. and S. Raman (2003). Analysis of climate trends in North Carolina (1949-1998), Environment International, Vol 29, pp 263 – 275.

    **Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

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