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Stephanie McAfee, Ph.D.

Stephanie McAfee is the Regional Administrator of the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC), one of the nine regional centers that form the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center Network. This position was formerly known as "Center Director". 

Steph McAfee is an applied and service climatologist with experience in analyzing both historical climate and projections of future climate and in applying that information to resource management and conservation question. Steph’s research has focused on in-depth analysis of climate data and tools to inform their use in research and adaption planning. Coupled with an interest in meeting local and regional needs, this research area led to projects ranging from developing downscaled snow projections for Alaska to evaluating the impact of warming on Colorado River flow.  

Prior to joining the USGS, she was the state climatologist for Nevada and an Associate Professor in the Geography Department and with Extension at the University of Nevada, Reno.  

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Geosciences, University of Arizona

  • M.S. Forest Soils, University of Washington

  • A.B. Environmental Earth Science, Dartmouth College

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Geophysical Union

  • American Meteorological Society

  • American Association of State Climatologists

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Sadoti, G., McAfee, S. A., Nicklen, E. F., Sousanes, P. J., & Roland, C. A. (2021). Evaluating multiple historical climate products in ecological models under current and projected temperatures. Ecological Applications, 31(2), e02240.
Albano, C. M., McCarthy, M. I., Dettinger, M. D., & McAfee, S. A. (2021). Techniques for constructing climate scenarios for stress test applications. Climatic Change, 164(3-4), 33.
Striplin, R., McAfee, S. A., Safford, H. D., & Papa, M. J. (2020). Retrospective analysis of burn windows for fire and fuels management: an example from the Lake Tahoe Basin, California, USA. Fire Ecology, 16, 1-16.
McAfee, S. A., Walsh, J., & Rupp, T. S. (2014). Statistically downscaled projections of snow/rain partitioning for Alaska. Hydrological Processes, 28(12), 3930-3946.

**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.

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Sadoti, G., McAfee, S. A., Nicklen, E. F., Sousanes, P. J., & Roland, C. A. (2021). Evaluating multiple historical climate products in ecological models under current and projected temperatures. Ecological Applications, 31(2), e02240.
Albano, C. M., McCarthy, M. I., Dettinger, M. D., & McAfee, S. A. (2021). Techniques for constructing climate scenarios for stress test applications. Climatic Change, 164(3-4), 33.
Striplin, R., McAfee, S. A., Safford, H. D., & Papa, M. J. (2020). Retrospective analysis of burn windows for fire and fuels management: an example from the Lake Tahoe Basin, California, USA. Fire Ecology, 16, 1-16.
McAfee, S. A., Walsh, J., & Rupp, T. S. (2014). Statistically downscaled projections of snow/rain partitioning for Alaska. Hydrological Processes, 28(12), 3930-3946.

**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.

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government