What is C-CHARM doing?
As the global environment changes, communities in the Western Upper Peninsula face new challenges — from stronger storms and flooding to changes in our electrical energy and heating systems. Our team works directly with local communities to understand which challenges communities in the Western U.P. are most interested in learning about and finding practical solutions. We study how changes in the Great Lakes environment affect long-term local and regional weather patterns, map flood risks in rural areas, plan for new forms of reliable clean energy, and look at how these changes impact our local economy. By bringing together local knowledge and scientific research, we’re helping communities prepare for and adapt to changing conditions.
Climate Variability and Climate Extremes
How is Climate Risk Affecting Our Great Lakes Region? To answer this and other questions, we use advanced computer models that help us understand how the Great Lakes, the atmosphere, and local land all work together – kind of like putting together pieces of a puzzle. These models help us look into the future to see what might happen as temperatures continue to rise.
For example, we’re looking at extreme events like the Father’s Day Flood of 2018 to understand how similar storms might behave in a warmer future. This helps communities better understand and prepare for future weather challenges in the Western Upper Peninsula.
This research can help community members, local organizations, and planners make better decisions about:
- Emergency preparedness
- Infrastructure planning
- Shoreline protection
- Seasonal activities and events
Area Contact: Pengfei Xue
Geohazards
How Can Rural Communities Prepare for Increasing Flood and Landslide Risks? As the climate continues to warm, we expect to see more extreme rainfall events that could lead to flooding and landslides in our area. Small towns and rural communities face unique challenges in preparing for these risks, but there are ways we can work together to protect our neighborhoods. To help our communities prepare, we’re using special tools designed specifically for rural areas that help us:
- Map out areas that are most likely to flood during heavy rains
- Identify hillsides that might be at risk for landslides
- Understand how water moves through our local streams and rivers
- Compare current rainfall patterns with what we might see in the future
We work with tools developed by FEMA and other experts to create maps and assessments that make sense for rural communities. This helps local leaders and community members to build stronger, more resilient communities by:
- Knowing which areas need the most attention
- Making smart decisions about where to focus limited resources
- Planning ahead for extreme weather events
This research is specifically focused on the Western Upper Peninsula, where our unique landscape and rural setting require solutions that fit our local needs and resources.
Area Contact: Ana Dyreson
Energy Infrastructure
How Can We Keep Rural Power Systems Reliable through Extreme Weather? As our region moves toward cleaner energy, we’re studying how extreme weather affects the electric power supply in rural areas. Working with community members, we create “what-if” scenarios to understand factors like:
- How floods, heat waves, high winds, wildfire, and heavy snow affect our power lines
- When communities have the highest use of electricity
- Ways that electricity supply reliability may increase or decrease as we switch to cleaner energy sources
- How we can minimize power outages during extreme weather
This research helps communities plan to keep electricity reliable and affordable, even as our energy systems change, electricity demand increases, and weather becomes more extreme.
Socioeconomic Baseline and Economic Impact
How Do Changes in Climate and Energy Systems Affect Our Local Economy? We’re studying how extreme weather events and the shift to cleaner energy might impact jobs and businesses in our region. Using economic analysis tools, we look at:
- How many jobs might be created or affected by different changes to the energy system
- Changes in local business activity from changes in weather patterns
- Effects on local tax revenue from changes to both weather patterns and energy systems
- Impacts on the natural amenities that are treasured in our region, like forests and waterways
This information helps communities understand the economic implications of:
- Protecting areas from flooding
- Updating our power systems
- Preserving our natural resources
By understanding these connections, local leaders can make better decisions to support the economy, the environment, and the community.
Area Contact: Jenny Apriesnig
Community Engagement and Co-production Exchange
How Are Community Members Helping Shape This Research? Local wisdom is essential to this work. Every three months, we meet with community leaders to:
- Learn about their biggest concerns
- Identify existing community strengths
- Find opportunities to work together
- Guide our research to meet local needs
Input from a Community Co-Production Team composed of stakeholders working in management, planning, education, and economic development helps us focus on what matters most to our communities as we plan for extreme weather and energy changes.
Would you like to join these conversations?
Area Contact: Chelsea Schelly
Center for Climate-driven Hazard Adaptation, Resilience, and Mitigation
Our goal is to strengthen the climate resilience of rural communities through cutting-edge climate research, community engagement, and translation to actionable science.