Laura Stevens
National Climate Assessment science support
Phone: +1 828.257.3006
Email: laura.stevens@ncics.org
Orcid: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8842-702X
Biography
Laura Stevens provides primary scientific and technical expertise for NOAA and the National Climate Assessment (NCA). This includes the development of climate data analysis products, as well as research on Assessment-relevant topics. Her research involves the analysis of observational and climate model data sets, including downscaled and regional climate projections. Recent highlights include authorship and other scientific contributions to several peer-reviewed papers and Assessment reports, including the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4), NOAA’s State Climate Summaries, and the North Carolina Climate Science Report.
In addition to her role with the National Climate Assessment, Ms. Stevens works as a climate indicator expert and technical advisor to the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Indicators Interagency Working Group in order to facilitate the development and maintenance of indicators on the USGCRP Indicator Platform. She has been instrumental in efforts to improve the integration between USGCRP Indicators and the NCA and was recently appointed as lead author for the NCA5 Indicators Appendix. Ms. Stevens also regularly participates in weather- and climate-related outreach activities with the local community and works to organize volunteer events for NCICS personnel on an annual basis.
Ms. Stevens has authored/co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications. She received her undergraduate degree in meteorology from the University of Reading, UK and her master’s degree in atmospheric science from the University of Leeds, UK.
Curriculum Vitae
View CVPublications
Stevens, L.E., M. Kolian, D. Arndt, J. Blunden, E.W. Johnson, A.Y. Liu, and S. Spiegal, 2023: Appendix 4. Indicators. In: Fifth National Climate Assessment. Crimmins, A.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock, Eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.A4
Kunkel, K.E., R. Frankson, J. Runkle, S.M. Champion, L.E. Stevens, D.R. Easterling, B.C. Stewart, A. McCarrick, and C.R. Lemery, Eds., 2022: State Climate Summaries for the United States 2022. NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 150. NOAA/NESDIS, Silver Spring, MD., 251 pp. https://statesummaries.ncics.org/
Kunkel, K.E., X. Yin, L. Sun, S.M. Champion, L.E. Stevens, and K.M. Johnson, 2022: Extreme Precipitation Trends and Meteorological Causes Over the Laurentian Great Lakes. Frontiers in Water, 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2022.804799
Stevens, L.E., T.K. Maycock, and B.C. Stewart, 2021: Climate change in the human environment: Indicators and impacts from the Fourth National Climate Assessment. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 71 (10), 1210–1233. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2021.1942321
Kunkel, K. E., D. R. Easterling, A. Ballinger, S. Bililign, S. M. Champion, D. R. Corbett, K. D. Dello, J. Dissen, G. M. Lackmann, J. Luettich, R. A., L. B. Perry, W. A. Robinson, L. E. Stevens, B. C. Stewart, and A. J. Terando, 2020: North Carolina Climate Science Report. 233 pp. https://ncics.org/nccsr
Kunkel, K. E., D. R. Easterling, T. R. Karl, J. C. Biard, S. M. Champion, B. E. Gleason, K. M. Johnson, A. Li, S. Stegall, L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, M. Squires, L. Sun, and X. Yin, 2020: Incorporation of the Effects of Future Anthropogenically Forced Climate Change in Intensity-Duration-Frequency Design Values: Final Report. North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies, North Carolina State University, 104 pp. https://precipitationfrequency.ncics.org/pdfs/RC_2517_Final_Report_version2_Sep_04_2020_clean.pdf
Kunkel, K. E., S. E. Stevens, L. E. Stevens, and T. R. Karl, 2020: Observed Climatological Relationships of Extreme Daily Precipitation Events with Precipitable Water and Vertical Velocity in the Contiguous United States. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2019GL086721. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2019gl086721
Runkle, J., K. Kunkel, and L. Stevens, 2018: Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands State Climate Summary. NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 149-PR, 4 pp., https://statesummaries.ncics.org/pr
Kunkel, K., R. Frankson, J. Runkle, S. Champion, L. Stevens, D. Easterling, and B. Stewart, 2017: State Climate Summaries for the United States. NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 149., http://stateclimatesummaries.globalchange.gov/
USGCRP, 2017: Climate Science Special Report: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume I. D. J. Wuebbles, D. W. Fahey, K. A. Hibbard, D. J. Dokken, B. C. Stewart, and T. K. Maycock, Eds., 470 pp., U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA. http://dx.doi.org/10.7930/J0J964J6
Kunkel, K. E., R. S. Vose, L. E. Stevens, and R. W. Knight, 2015: Is the monthly temperature climate of the United States becoming more extreme? Geophysical Research Letters, 42, 2014GL062035. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014GL062035
Sun, L., K. E. Kunkel, L. E. Stevens, A. Buddenberg, J. G. Dobson, and D. R. Easterling, 2015: Regional Surface Climate Conditions in CMIP3 and CMIP5 for the United States: Differences, Similarities, and Implications for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. NOAA Technical Report, NESDIS 144, 111 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5RB72KG
Konrad, C. E., C. M. Fuhrmann, A. Bilot, B. D. Keim, M. C. Kruk, K. E. Kunkel, H. Needham, M. Shafer, and L. Stevens, 2013: Climate of the Southeast USA: Past, Present, and Future. Climate of the Southeast United States: Variability, Change, Impacts, and Vulnerability. K.T. Ingram, K. Dow, L. Carter, and J. Anderson, Eds., Island Press, Washington, D.C., 8-42.
Kunkel, K. E., L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, L. Sun, E. Janssen, D. Wuebbles, J. Rennells, A. DeGaetano, and J. G. Dobson, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. Part 1. Climate of the Northeast U.S., NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-1, 79 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-1-Climate_of_the_Northeast_US.pdf
Kunkel, K. E., L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, L. Sun, E. Janssen, D. Wuebbles, C. E. Konrad II, C. M. Fuhrman, B. D. Keim, M. C. Kruk, A. Billet, H. Needham, M. Schafer, and J. G. Dobson, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. Part 2. Climate of the Southeast U.S., NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-2, 94 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-2-Climate_of_the_Southeast_US.pdf
Kunkel, K. E., L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, L. Sun, E. Janssen, D. Wuebbles, S.D. Hilberg, M. S. Timlin, L. Stoecker, N. E. Westcott, and J. G. Dobson, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. Part 3. Climate of the Midwest U.S., NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-3, 95 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-3-Climate_of_the_Midwest_US.pdf
Kunkel, K. E., L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, L. Sun, E. Janssen, D. Wuebbles, M. C. Kruk, D. P. Thomas, M. Shulski, N. Umphlett, K. Hubbard, K. Robbins, L. Romolo, A. Akyuz, T. Pathak, T. Bergantino, and J. G. Dobson, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. Part 4. Climate of the U.S. Great Plains, NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-4, 82 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-4-Climate_of_the_US_Great_Plains.pdf
Kunkel, K. E., L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, L. Sun, E. Janssen, D. Wuebbles, K. T. Redmond, and J. G. Dobson, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. Part 5. Climate of the Southwest U.S., NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-5, 79 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-5-Climate_of_the_Southwest_U.S.pdf
Kunkel, K. E., L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, L. Sun, E. Janssen, D. Wuebbles, K. T. Redmond, and J. G. Dobson, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. Part 6. Climate of the Northwest U.S., NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-6, 75 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-6-Climate_of_the_Northwest_U.S.pdf
Stewart, B. C., K. E. Kunkel, L. E. Stevens, L. Sun, and J. E. Walsh, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. Part 7. Climate of Alaska, NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-7, 60 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-7-Climate_of_Alaska.pdf
Keener, V. W., K. Hamilton, S. K. Izuka, K. E. Kunkel, L. E. Stevens, and L. Sun, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment. Part 8. Climate of the Pacific Islands, NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-8, 44 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-8-Climate_of_the_Pacific_Islands.pdf
Kunkel, K. E., L. E. Stevens, S. E. Stevens, L. Sun, E. Janssen, D. Wuebbles, and J. G. Dobson, 2013: Part 9. Climate of the Contiguous United States, NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 142-9, 78 pp. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-9-Climate_of_the_Contiguous_United_States.pdf
Stevens, L. E., 2012: Climatological color schemes suitable for color-blind readers, CICS-NC (white paper).
Stevens, L., 2011: Influence of varying droplet concentrations on properties of marine stratocumulus clouds and climate. M.Phil. thesis, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, 123 pp.
Latham, J., P. Rasch, C. C. Chen, L. Kettles, A. Gadian, A. Gettelman, H. Morrison, K. Bower and T. Choularton, 2010: Global temperature stabilization via controlled albedo enhancement of low-level maritime clouds. Geo-engineering Climate Change: Environmental Neccessity or Pandora's Box? B. Launder and J. Thompson, Eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 207-228.
Gadian, A., A. Blyth, J. Latham, S. Salter, and L. Stevens, 2009: Whitening the clouds. Planet Earth, Winter, 9-11.
Latham, J., P. Rasch, C. C. Chen, L. Kettles, A. Gadian, A. Gettelman, H. Morrison, K. Bower, and T. Choularton, 2008: Global temperature stabilization via controlled albedo enhancement of low-level maritime clouds. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, A366, 3969–3987. http://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2008.0137
Presentations
Stevens, L.E. and K.E. Kunkel, 2022: Climate modeling and downscaled data for impact and vulnerability assessments, EPRI Enel Foundation Climate Resilience Workshop on Physical Climate Risk, Virtual, March 2, 2022.
Stevens, L.E., 2021: Climate change in the human environment: Indicators and impacts from the Fourth National Climate Assessment, RTP Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association Meeting, Virtual, June 22, 2021.
Stevens, L.E., 2021: From Data to Indicator, CCHHG Indicators Workstream Meeting, Virtual, May 25, 2021. Stevens, L.E., Arndt, D.S., J. Blunden, and D.R. Easterling, 2021: Cultivation, Management and Value of Interagency Indicators, 101st AMS Annual Meeting, Virtual, January 15, 2021.
Maycock, T.M., L.E. Stevens, K.M. Johnson, A. McCarrick, J. Griffin, S. Veasey, and B.C. Stewart, 2021: Making Climate Change Assessments Accessible, 101st AMS Annual Meeting, Virtual, January 13, 2021.
Kunkel, K.E., T.R. Karl, D.R. Easterling, X. Yin, L. Sun, J.C. Biard, S.E. Stevens, L.E. Stevens, and S.M. Champion, 2020: Incorporating Climate Change Into Intensity-Duration-Frequency Value for the United States, 2020 AGU Fall Meeting, Virtual, December 14, 2020.
Stevens, L.E., K.M. Johnson, T.K. Maycock, A. McCarrick, J. Griffin, S. Veasey, and B.C. Stewart, 2020: Accessibility Considerations in Climate Communication: Efforts and Lessons Learned from the Fourth National Climate Assessment, 2020 AGU Fall Meeting, Virtual, December 11, 2020.
Stevens, S.E., Stevens, L.E., and Kunkel, K.E., 2020: More Weather or More Water: What is Driving Increases in Extreme Precipitation? 2020 AGU Fall Meeting, Virtual, December 8, 2020. Stevens, L.E. and D.S. Arndt, 2020: Advancing Indicator Science Through Agency Engagement, 2020: NOAA Environmental Data Management Workshop, Virtual, August 20, 2020.
Griffin, J., L.E. Stevens, and S.M. Champion, 2020: Using Teamwork as a Tool for Scientific Communication, 2020 NOAA Environmental Data Management Workshop, Virtual, August 20, 2020.
Johnson, K.M., S.M. Champion, L.B. Copley, A. Li, L.E. Stevens, K.E. Kunkel, and J. Griffin, 2020: From Data to Decisions: Use of NOAA Datasets in the Fourth National Climate Assessment, 2020 NOAA Environmental Data Management Workshop, Virtual, August 20, 2020.
Stevens, L.E., 2020: From Data to Indicator, USGCRP Forest Related Climate Indicators Development Workshop, Virtual, July 30, 2020.
Stevens, L.E., 2019: Highlights from the Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States. Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists 62nd Annual Meeting, Asheville, NC, September 18, 2019.
Stevens, L. E., J. Blunden, and D. S. Arndt, 2019: Curating a multi-agency set of Federal climate indicators. ESRL 47th Global Monitoring Annual Conference, Boulder, CO, May 21, 2019.
Stevens, L. E., J. Blunden, and D. S. Arndt, 2019: Curating a multi-agency set of Federal climate indicators. 2019 National Adaptation Forum, Madison, WI, April 23, 2019.
Stevens, L., 2019: Climate Change in the United States. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Environmental Biology class, Asheville, NC, March 27, 2019.
Stevens, L. E., D.S. Arndt, and J. Blunden, 2019: From Climate Indicators to Action. The Collider Lunch & Learn Series, Asheville, NC, February 5, 2019.
Hassol, S.J., T.K. Maycock, L.E. Stevens, and K.E. Kunkel, 2019: 4th National Climate Assessment Panel Series. The Collider, Asheville, NC, January 24, 2019.
Stevens, L. E., and D.S. Arndt, 2018: Managing a multi-agency set of climate indicators. NCEI Seminar Series, Asheville, NC, August 28, 2018.
Stevens, L., and A. Ballinger, 2018: Climate Communications and Careers. Visiting UNC Asheville graduate students, Asheville, NC, April 26, 2018.
Arndt, D. S., J. Blunden, L. E. Stevens, and S. M. Champion, 2018: Managing a Multi-Agency Set of Climate Indicators. American Meteorological Society 2018 Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, January 9, 2018.
Stevens, L. E., K. E. Kunkel, and S. Stevens, 2018: The Role of Atmospheric Water Vapor in the Observed Upward Trend in Extreme Precipitation. American Meteorological Society 2018 Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, January 9, 2018.
Thompson, T. R., K. Kunkel, L. E. Stevens, D. R. Easterling, J. Biard, and L. Sun, 2017: GC33E-1117: Localized Multi-Model Extremes Metrics for the Fourth National Climate Assessment. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA, December 13, 2017.
Stevens, L., 2017: Weather and Climate. North Carolina Arboretum ecoEXPLORE Lunch with a Scientist, Asheville, NC, September 23, 2017.
Stevens, L. E., K. E. Kunkel, D. R. Easterling, J. C. Biard, L. Sun, and T. R. Thompson, 2017: Climate Scenarios Development for the Fourth National Climate Assessment. American Meteorological Society 23rd Conference on Applied Climatology, Asheville, NC, June 27, 2017.
Thompson, T. R.,K. E. Kunkel, L. E. Stevens, D. R. Easterling, J. C. Biard, and L. Sun, 2017: Localized Trend Analysis of Multi-Model Extremes Metrics for the Fourth National Climate Assessment. American Meteorological Society (AMS) Applied Climatology Conference, Asheville, NC, June 26, 2017.
Stevens, L., 2017: Meteorology and Climatology as Career Options. Franklin School of Innovation Career Day, Asheville, NC, March 29, 2017.
Champion S. M., L. E. Stevens, K. E. Kunkel, B. C. Stewart, D.R. Easterling, R. Frankson, J. Runkle, L. Sun, J. Griffin, and S. Veasey, 2017: NOAA’s State Climate Summaries for the National Climate Assessment: A Resource for Decision Makers. 12th Symposium on Societal Applications: Policy, Research and Practice, 97th AMS Annual Meeting, Seattle, January 24, 2017.Stevens, L. E., 2017: NOAA’s State Climate Summaries for the National Climate Assessment: State Level Trends in Temperature and Precipitation. American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, January 24, 2017.
Rennie, J., L. Stevens, and S. Stevens, 2016: NCEI weather and climate observations. Asheville Middle School, Asheville, NC, October 11-13, 2016.
Stevens, L. E., 2016: NOAA’s State Summaries for the National Climate Assessment. 2016 Carolinas Climate Resilience Conference, Charlotte, NC, September 13, 2016.
Stevens, L. E., 2015: Climate Change Impacts in the United States. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Environmental Biology class, Asheville, NC, March 10, 2015.
Rennie, J., A. Buddenberg, K. Gassert, R. Leeper, L. E. Stevens, and S. E. Stevens, 2015: Computation, Analysis and Visualization of In-Situ and Remote Sensing Data using Python. 95th AMS Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, January 5, 2015.
Stevens, L. E., K. E. Kunkel, R.S. Vose, and R.W. Knight, 2014: Has the Temperature Climate of the United States Become More Extreme? AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 16, 2014.
Taylor, R., and L.E. Stevens, 2014: Teaching Climate Using the Third National Assessment. AGU-NESTA Geophysical Information for Teachers (GIFT) Workshop, San Francisco, CA, December 15, 2014.
Stevens, L. E., 2014: Climate Change Impacts in the United States. NCDC AB Tech Environmental Biology Students visit, Asheville, NC, November 3, 2014.
Stevens, L. E., 2014: Climate Change Impacts in the United States. French Broad Mensa Meeting, Asheville, NC, September 13, 2014.
Stevens, L. E., 2014: Climate Change Impacts in the United States. North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, NC, July 31, 2014.
Stevens, L. E., and R. Taylor, 2014: Climate Change Impacts in the United States. Black Mountain Presbyterian Church Friends of Creation group presentation. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Asheville, NC, June 6, 2014.
Stevens, L. E., and K.E. Kunkel, 2014: Climate Change in the Carolinas. 2014 Carolinas Climate Resilience Conference, Charlotte, NC, April 29, 2014.
Stevens, L. E., 2014: National Climate Assessment: An Overview. Montreat Presbyterian Earth Care Team presentation. NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC, March 21, 2014.
Stevens, L. E., 2014: National Climate Assessment Panel Discussion. 13th Annual American Meteorological Society Student Conference, Atlanta, GA, February 2, 2014.
Taylor, R., and L. E. Stevens, 2014: Teaching Climate Using the Third National Assessment. AGU-NESTA Geophysical Information For Teachers (GIFT) Workshop 2014, San Francisco, CA, December 15, 2014.
Seyller, E., K. E. Kunkel, and L. E. Stevens, 2013: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the United States. GreenGov Workshop on Climate Science and Adaptation Planning, Washington, D.C., August 2, 2013.
Stevens, L. E. and A. Buddenberg, 2013: Climate Modeling for the National Climate Assessment. UNC Asheville, Asheville, NC, September 11, 2013.
Stevens, L. E. and K. E. Kunkel, 2012: Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the United States: Input to the National Climate Assessment. 2012 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 3, 2012.
Stevens, L. E., 2012: Regional Climate Trends and Outlooks for the United States. Systemic Impacts of Climate on Transportation Workshop, Washington, D.C., October 11, 2012.
Stevens, L. E., and K. E. Kunkel, 2012: Climate Trends and Outlooks for the United States. NCA Technical Workshop on Rural Communities, Charleston, SC, February 13, 2012.
Stevens, L. E., K. E. Kunkel, and S. E. Stevens, 2011: Analysis of CMIP3 Daily Statistically-Downscaled Data. CICS Science Meeting 2011, Asheville, NC, November 2, 2011.