The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a world leader in climate research, including active research in climate modeling, regional climate modeling, remote sensing, ecology, agronomy and plant sciences, health, and Extension. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office is poised to be a valuable partner in these efforts.
Recent Research Highlights
Wisconsin Rainfall Project
Provides improved statistics of extreme precipitation in Wisconsin; calculates extreme precipitation estimates for the present climate and projections for future climates.
The Changing Character of Wisconsin’s Heat Waves
Analysis showing extreme heat in Wisconsin has been weakening during daytime relative to nighttime.
Cause of Decades-Long, Increasing Precipitation Trend in Madison
Analysis showing the primary contributor is more frequent “moderate extremes” (daily precipitation amounts of 1 to 2 inches).
Extreme Weather Index (EWI)
Quantifies extreme weather in Wisconsin by equally weighting temperature and precipitation rankings on timescales of at least one month.
Future Research Topics
Is Wisconsin becoming snowier?
The data suggest that the state has experienced a pronounced increase in annual snowfall since records began in the late 1800s, but are the data reliable or is this trend an artifact of changing methods for measuring snowfall?
Why hasn’t Wisconsin experienced more extreme summer (daytime) heat as the climate has warmed?
Is the absence of a trend explained by human land-use changes, due to intensifying agricultural production causing more evapotranspiration from crops (so-called “corn sweat”)?
Submit a Research Idea
Do you have a Wisconsin climate question that could be investigated by the State Climatology Office? Share your inquiry here.