SAIC created the Climate Enterprise for government to address sea level rise, wildfires and other climate change impacts to public health, infrastructure and national security. We help customers mitigate risk and improve their adaptation and sustainment goals by utilizing climate science and our technology solutions and services. These include computer modeling, analytic design and application development.
Building resilience to climate change and a sustainable future
ENTERPRISE
The CLIMATE
SAIC developed and maintains a geospatial and tabular data repository and technology platform called the Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) belonging to U.S. Forest Service (USFS), a USDA agency. EDW data is published via multiple services, and the platform provides tools for integrating the USFS data for analysis and reporting, internal and external map services and web services that make the data accessible for other agency applications.
SAIC ensures that EDW data is refreshed regularly, that data is drawn from trusted and authoritative systems of record and that data is USFS-approved or meets generally accepted reference standards. The EDW has hundreds of datasets spanning dozens of dataset themes.
SAIC Runs Forest Service Data for Other Agencies to Leverage
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change objectively assesses studies and research from the scientific community to better predict global climate change and set goals. Predominant among these laboratories is NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), where SAIC supports data management, high performance computing, programming, AI and modeling efforts.
SAIC scientists are enhancing GFDL’s climate simulation codes and providing computational insights to better model extremely complicated atmospheric interactions. SAIC performs myriad tasks, including developing climate models, executing simulation experiments, visualizing simulation results and delivering simulation data. Our core modeling framework lets research scientists integrate GFDL’s atmospheric and oceanographic models for better prediction efforts.
SAIC Improves NOAA’s Ability to Predict Climate Change
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NASA
SAIC helps NASA track and monitor the globe from the ocean depths to the clouds in the sky to understand climate trends. Our scientists help the agency understand what phytoplankton populations in the ocean tell us about shifts in carbon emissions. They also use topography and computer algorithms to understand how effects of erosion shape the Earth's surface. And they read cloud patterns and air currents to help NASA decipher the shifting skies and prepare for the worst-case scenarios.
SAIC Helps NASA See What Is Coming from Clues in the Ocean and Sky
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Our Success Stories
SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist, Steve Ambrose hosted a panel of climate experts to discuss the impacts and causes of Climate Change. This Forum of distinguished scientist leaders defined a clear picture of what the U. S and the World are dealing with in climate change. In her keynote address, Dr. McPherson offered four response options to limit warming to 1.5-2 deg C through 2050. They are limiting greenhouse gas emissions, removing CO2 that currently exist in the atmosphere, reduce vulnerabilities to climate and exploiting opportunities to benefit from new technologies/techniques. The panelists addressed a myriad of topics that improved understanding of climate change, such as;
Panelists:
- Keynote Address – Dr. Renee McPherson, University Director for the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, University of Oklahoma
- Dr. Waleed Abdalati, Director, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
- Dr. Betsy Weatherhead, Senior Scientist, Jupiter Intelligence
- Mr. David Herring, Director of Communications and Education, NOAA Climate Office
- Ms. Lori Garver, CEO of Earthrise Alliance (Former Deputy Administrator of NASA)
Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change, 22 September 2021
How do we observe climate change?
What are the human drivers?
How are human health and the health of the planet affected by climate change?
How do we reach society to educate, respond, cooperate, and implement solutions?
How do we study and report on climate change?
What are the most notable gaps in how we respond to climate change?
What type of technologies can be brought to bear to mitigate and adapt to climate change?
What role should government play in addressing climate change and partner with industry and the public to bring about meaningful solutions?
How do government agencies begin to address climate change within their mission scope and funding?
WATCH: FORUM 1 | FORUM 2
Need Forum 2 Video
SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist, Steve Ambrose, hosted a panel of climate experts from government, industry and academia to address the impacts climate policy has on the progress in impelling climate action. Policy is the driver for advancing climate change science and technological diffusion, and provides the framework for implementation of effective, and equitable, responses to climate change. This talented group of people provided insights on their role in formulating, educating, and responding to, climate policies, including efforts to ensure that said policies further principles of environmental justice, those communities potentially most disadvantaged by climate change, energy and sustainability, as well as implications to national security.
Panelists:
- Mr. Michael McGee - Executive Director for Climate Resilience at the Department of Defense
- Ms. Pari Kasotia - New Jersey Council on the Green Economy
- Dr. Joseph Majkut – Director, Energy Security and Climate Change Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
- Dr. Will Burns - Visiting Professor, Environmental Policy & Culture Program, Northwestern University
How Climate Policy Can Drive Change, 24 February 2022
WATCH: FORUM 1 | FORUM 2
Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change in Industry, Government and Society
Join SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist Steve Ambrose as he hosts fireside chats with leaders and practitioners in climate and climate change. The far-reaching effects of climate touch every aspect of life, economy, and even national security.
SAIC Fireside Chats with Steve Ambrose
Frameworks for reslience and adaptation related to climate change
Gavin Dillingham, Director Clean Energy, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)
David Herring, Director of Education and Communications, NOAA Climate Program
Mason Fried, Managing Consultant, Climate Scientist, ICF
Beth Gibbons, Executive Director, American Society of Adaptation Professionals
Pari Kasotia, Sr. Director and Head of Policy for Distributed Solar Development (DSD) Renewables
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Ned Gardiner, NOAA, Climate Program Office
Adam Eaton, Senior Water Resilience Planner, WSP
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How Energy and Climate Policy Drives Change, a Special Earth Week Fireside Chat
Pari Kasotia, Sr. Director and Head of Policy for Distributed Solar Development (DSD) Renewables
For this special Earth Week event, Steve Ambrose, SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist discusses energy and climate policy with we talk with our guest Pari Kasotia on the impacts of energy policy on our economy and our environment. Pari is an energy policy and regulatory expert with 15+ years of experience in the clean energy space. In her role as the Sr. Director and Head of Policy for Distributed Solar Development (DSD) Renewables, she leads all the state and federal policy undertakings within this company. With a focus on energy renewables, Pari discusses the policies and actions of states, and the Federal Government, towards moving to wind and solar, as well as other ways to produce energy and reduce the impact on the Earth and climate change. She also discussed the impacts of renewables on cost and efficiency, recycling parts, what are the incentives, and how will fossil fuels continue to serve society in a world trying to move away from oil and gas?
Clicking on the above image will take you to LinkedIn.com for the replay.
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Dr. Ned Gardiner, NOAA, Climate Program Office
Steve Ambrose, SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist discusses climate resilience and adaptation with Dr. Ned Gardiner, at NOAA’s, Climate Program Office. Dr. Gardiner is responsible for implementing the engagement strategy for NOAA’s US Climate Resilience Toolkit. A major aspect of his current job is to help quantify climate risk for communities through the U.S. Dr. Gardiner highlighted current progress in NOAA’s High Resolution Heat Maps that can provide heat loads on specific urban areas to include individual buildings. This allows for planners at all levels to address heat stress in targeted urban areas. He also referenced the term “Social Cohesion” which is the fusion of climate science with social science. Having “Social Cohesion” enables better collaboration within urban areas and communities and provides the residents a participatory voice. Dr. Gardiner commented that the benefits for planning for extreme weather events (heat, flooding, and tropical storms) can yield financial benefits of $5 for every $1 spent. To close out the discussion, Dr. Gardiner applauded the US in leading the way in global climate resilience with cutting edge science and data sharing. Future plans include kicking off the Climate Smart Communities Initiative, which will bring tested practices to communities (including local and tribal) to enable resilience to climate change related weather events.
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Mr. Adam Eaton, Senior Water Resilience Planner, WSP
Steve Ambrose, SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist talks about climate resilience and adaptation with Adam Eaton, Senior Water Resilience Planner at WSP. Mr. Eaton talked about the One Water Project which is considering drinking water, storm water and waste water as one entity. Understanding the interplay between the three sources of water when establishing policy and programs. Mr. Eaton also discussed the importance of resilience planning in being able to better anticipate impacts of coastal storms and heavy rain events but also drought. However, it may be difficult to measure progress of storm water programs because many of the programs are built around extreme events (e.g. rainfall from Hurricane Harvey in 2017). These events occur so infrequently that it may be decades before you experience a similar event and are able to gleam whether the storm reduction program was effective or not. The discussion also focused on the type of data used to evaluate impacts of an extreme event. Mr. Eaton presented an example that using flood insurance claims to assess impacts from an extreme event can be misleading because underserved communities are going to have less people who have flood insurance. Hence, modeling data is being used to avoid evaluate extreme rain events to ensure all populations are being considered. Lastly, Mr. Eaton stressed the value of the private sector in helping to implement change. Private industry is an apolitical force that can positively affect water policy and programs regards of what political administration is in office.
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Dr. Gavin Dillingham, Director Clean Energy, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)
Steve Ambrose, SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist talks about climate resilience and adaptation with Dr. Gavin Dillingham, Director Clean Energy, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC). Dr. Dillingham joined HARC in 2012 where he leads multi-stakeholder efforts focusing on policy and programs to improve the climate resilience of power infrastructure and built environment and to help usher in the energy transition via a variety of clean energy initiatives. A recent success is HARCs “Solar Plus Storage” initiative which is able to provide mobile sources of power to communities in need and reduce the cost burden. Dr. Dillingham stressed the importance of being a participant with the local communities rather than trying to push solutions which are not desired or needed. Another success of HARC is their strong Public/Private partnership advocacy. HARC works with Houston and industry leaders, like BP and Shell, to offer energy capabilities to underserved communities. Companies like BP and Shell bring strong program management expertise and are able to better serve communities in need. HARC most recently established an air monitoring network in the Greater Houston area to foster improved health in urban areas.
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Mr. David Herring, Director of Education and Communications, NOAA Climate Program
Steve Ambrose, SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist talks about climate resilience and adaptation with David Herring of NOAA’s Climate Program Office. David serves as Program Manager for both NOAA Climate.gov (www.climate.gov) and the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit (https://toolkit.climate.gov) websites. Mr. Herring’s major focus over the past 6-7 years was to support regional, state and local jurisdictions in resilience planning. He discussed the upcoming Climate Smart Initiatives program that will fund and train a cohort of climate adaptation practitioners in industry, non-profit and academia to further educate local communities. He also stressed the importance of working with underserved communities to further climate change education. Lastly, Mr. Herring discussed recent advancements in working with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services to provide faster and better datasets that are being utilized by government, other commercial entities and academia.
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Dr. Mason Fried, Managing Consultant, Climate Scientist, ICF
Steve Ambrose, SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist talks about climate resilience and adaptation with Dr. Mason Fried, Managing Consultant, Climate Scientist at ICF and his role in building resilience. He specializes in using climate projections and remote sensing datasets to analyze and communicate climate change and extreme weather risks, such as from sea level rise and heat waves. Dr. Fried highlighted the work ICF is doing with California in determining climate impacts on increased wildfire risk to 2030, 2050 and out to 2099. He also stressed the need to address equity issues and to develop strong communication plans. The discussion concluded with discussing the impacts on providing risks to the insurance sector and establishing quantifiable metrics to improvements in adaptation or to determine areas for future improvement.
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Ms. Beth Gibbons, Executive Director, American Society of Adaptation Professionals
Steve Ambrose, SAIC’s Chief Climate Scientist discusses climate resilience and adaptation with Beth Gibbons, Executive Director, American Society of Adaptation Professionals In this role, she is responsible for strengthening the capacities of individual adaptation professionals, adaptation and resilience oriented organizations, and accelerating the evolution of the adaptation field of practice. Ms. Gibbons discusses the importance of elevating justice and equity in all climate adaptation planning. She cited an example where reduced tree canopies in urban areas leads to warmer temperatures and increased heat related illnesses in cities. Ms. Gibbons also explained the impact of the Task Force for Climate Financial Disclosure (TCFD) to ensure private industry is taking appropriate measures to reduce climate related risk in all aspects of businesses. She also explained that industry changes and progress can allow for continuity of Climate Change policies across multiple government administrations (federal, state and local levels).
Thought Leadership
Climate Change Forum
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Steve Ambrose
CONTACT
Chief Climate Scientist
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Steve Ambrose is a program management senior manager and SAIC's chief climate scientist. He joined SAIC in 2021 and leads the Climate Enterprise to support federal, state and local government customers with climate change mitigation solutions and services as well as program management according to climate patterns and trends. He has more than 40 years of experience, having served at NASA, EPA, NOAA, the Department of the Interior and numerous organizations within the private sector.
Meet Our Expert
applying SCIENCE AND TECH TO deploy solutions
LEARN
Koverse is our data solution empowering organizations with understanding and mission-impacting decisions and actions. It provides fine-grained access controls for complex and sensitive data while organizing data for analytics. SAIC uses Koverse to generate knowledge and insights for mission-critical operations amidst climate change challenges.
Advanced
Analytics
The Climate Enterprise provides support and solutions to help customers achieve their environmental, social and governance goals. For EPA, SAIC developed EJScreen, an environmental justice mapping and screening tool with a nationally consistent dataset enabling the agency to combine environmental and demographic indicators.
Environmental Sustainability Consulting
An example of our app solutions is the NOAA Port Gateway system, which receives the National Weather Service's Satellite Broadcast Network at full bandwidth. Our customers have information at their fingertips with the app and our warehouse of worldwide real-time meteorological data. Our products help customers get answers to weather changes.
Application
Products
our solutions: your first line of defense
Impact analysis of sea level rise on bases and installations in the U.S. and around the world
Navy Sea Level Project
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Artificial intuition for understanding wildfire risk better to improve response efforts
Wildfire Mitigation
Geospatial system and mapping tool for understanding socioeconomic implications
Environmental Justice
SAIC is supporting government agencies with solutions built from our analytical, geospatial and subject matter expertise. The Climate Enterprise helps customers improve our nation's resilience to climate change, bolster communications and achieve environmental justice, among other outcomes.
Problem: The U.S. Navy has bases and installations along coasts in the U. S. and around the world. According to NOAA, melt water from glaciers and ice sheets and thermal expansion of seawater are causing sea levels to rise, thus endangering the Navy's coastal infrastructure.
Solution: SAIC provides sea-level rise analyses based on the latest climate models and projections and presents them in geospatial maps that can be combined with other map layers so the Navy can make decisions to protect assets.
4.6 meters by 2035
5.2 meters by 2065
6.5 meters by 2100
Combined Sea Level Rise and 100 Year Storm Surge Risk– Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia
Navy Sea Level Project
image courtesy: nasa.gov
Problem: The U.S. Forest Service is tasked with sustaining the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands. Wildfires now can happen at any time of the year, and the agency needs solutions that help improve response efforts.
Solution: SAIC used a NASA applications grant to test artificial intuition in helping better understand wildfire risk. This approach requires less data and no training to produce useful results, when compared to conventional artificial intelligence. The approach can integrate into AI and machine learning functions to streamline and accelerate preprocessing to access the most impactful data.
Steve Ambrose, SAIC's chief climate scientist, discusses artificial intuition.
Wildfire Mitigation
Problem: When implementing climate change mitigation solutions, attention must be made to ensure they are applied equally to all populations regardless of race, income or other characteristics.
Solution: SAIC helped EPA build a geospatial system with census, air quality, water, flooding and other environmental data that can be used to identify and understand the impacts of climate change on disparate communities. EJScreen, an Esri-based environmental justice mapping and screening tool, provides users with a nationally consistent dataset and approach for combining environmental and demographic indicators for better decision-making.
Environmental Justice
Home > What We Do > Professional Services > Climate Enterprise
SAIC created the Climate Enterprise to address the growing challenges of climate change. Through a focused program utilizing climate science, technology and engineering, SAIC supports our customers. We examine the impacts of climate change on disasters, sea level rise, food security, wildfires, public health, infrastructure, energy, transportation, ecosystems, national security and many other areas. We leverage SAIC enterprise solutions and operations sectors for modeling, artificial intelligence and analytic design services that help decision makers respond and mitigate climate risk, adaptation and sustainment goals.
Addressing the challenges of climate change, resilience and adaptation for a more sustainable future
ENTERPRISE
The CLIMATE
SAIC developed and maintains a geospatial and tabular data repository and technology platform called the Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) belonging to U.S. Forest Service (USFS), a USDA agency. EDW data is published via multiple services, and the platform provides tools for integrating the USFS data for analysis and reporting, internal and external map services and web services that make the data accessible for other agency applications.
SAIC ensures that EDW data is refreshed regularly, that data is drawn from trusted and authoritative systems of record and that data is USFS-approved or meets generally accepted reference standards. The EDW has hundreds of datasets spanning dozens of dataset themes.
USDA Wildfire Data Warehouse
Learn More
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change objectively assesses studies and research from the scientific community to better predict global climate change and set goals. Predominant among these laboratories is NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), where SAIC supports data management, high performance computing, programming, AI and modeling efforts.
SAIC scientists are enhancing GFDL’s climate simulation codes and providing computational insights to better model extremely complicated atmospheric interactions. SAIC performs myriad tasks, including developing climate models, executing simulation experiments, visualizing simulation results and delivering simulation data. Our core modeling framework lets research scientists integrate GFDL’s atmospheric and oceanographic models for better prediction efforts.
SAIC Provides Leading Edge Climate Science to Improve NOAA’s Mission to Save Life and Property
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SAIC helps NASA track and monitor the globe from the ocean depths to the clouds in the sky to understand climate trends. Our scientists help the agency understand what phytoplankton populations in the ocean tell us about shifts in carbon emissions. They also use topography and computer algorithms to understand how effects of erosion shape the Earth's surface. And they read cloud patterns and air currents to help NASA decipher the shifting skies and prepare for the worst-case scenarios.
NASA
Learn More
Our Success Stories
applying SCIENCE AND TECH TO deploy solutions
applying SCIENCE AND TECH TO deploy solutions
LEARN
SAIC
FEATURE
ARTICLES
Koverse is our data solution empowering organizations with understanding and mission-impacting decisions and actions. It provides fine-grained access controls for complex and sensitive data while organizing data for analytics. SAIC uses Koverse to generate knowledge and insights for mission-critical operations amidst climate change challenges.
Advanced Analytics
The Climate Enterprise provides support and solutions to help customers achieve their environmental, social and governance goals. For EPA, SAIC developed EJScreen, an environmental justice mapping and screening tool with a nationally consistent dataset enabling the agency to combine environmental and demographic indicators.
Environmental Sustainability Consulting
An example of our app solutions is the NOAA Port Gateway system, which receives the National Weather Service's Satellite Broadcast Network at full bandwidth. Our customers have information at their fingertips with the app and our warehouse of worldwide real-time meteorological data. Our products help customers get answers to weather changes.
Application Products
Our Solutions
Impact analysis of sea level rise on bases and installations in the U.S. and around the world
Navy Sea Level Project
Wildfires are more frequent. SAIC uses Artificial Intuition to understand wildfire risk better.
Artificial Intuition to Fight Wildfires
Ensuring the EPA can better understand the social implications of climate mitigation
Environmental Justice
SAIC Impacts Climate Change Science and Technology
SAIC is focused on leveraging current science and technology that can be used to respond to climate change. We are on the cutting edge in developing climate change-related solutions by utilizing our superior analytical, geospatial and subject matter expertise. The SAIC Climate Enterprise is SAIC’s first line of defense to improve resilience and adaptation to climate change for humans, environment, disasters, space, communications, aviation and social justice.
Problem: The Navy has a number of bases and installations along the coasts in the U. S. and around the world. According to NOAA, melt water from glaciers and ice sheets and thermal expansion of seawater as it warms are causing rising sea levels, thus endangering the Navy's coastal infrastructure.
Solution: SAIC provides sea level rise analysis based on the latest climate models and projections and presents these in geospatial maps that can be combined with other map layers to help make decisions to protect Navy infrastructure.
SAIC is helping the U.S. Navy better plan their infrastructure before sea level rises.
4.6 meters by 2035
5.2 meters by 2065
6.5 meters by 2100
Combined Sea Level Rise and 100 Year Storm Surge Risk– Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia
Navy Sea Level Project
Problem: Wildfires have become so frequent now that California has declared there is no longer a wildfire season, since fires can happen at any time of the year. The USDA Forest Service is tasked with the mission to “sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands.” However, the number of wildfires has made its job more complicated and costly. They are always looking for solutions to help understand wildfire risk to improve their response efforts.
Solution: SAIC recently received a NASA applications grant to test Artificial Intuition to see if it can help better understand wildfire risk. This model-free approach requires less data and no training to produce useful results, when compared to conventional Artificial Intelligence. The Quantitative Complexity Approach also allows for integration into typical AI and ML functions to streamline and accelerate preprocessing to access the most impactful data.
SAIC Climate Enterprise has the experience and expertise to help the wildfire community as well as the disaster community better understand risk, and data analysis to prevent and respond to disasters.
SAIC’s approach to using Artificial Intuition can help wildfire risk and response.
Problem: When implementing climate change solutions, attention must be made to ensure those solutions are applied equally to all populations, regardless of race, income or other characteristics.
Solution: SAIC helped EPA build a geospatial system, with Census, air quality, water, flooding and other environmental data that can be used to identify and understand the impacts of climate change on disparate communities. EJScreen, an Esri-based environmental justice mapping and screening tool, provides users with a nationally consistent dataset and approach for combining environmental and demographic indicators for better decision-making.
The EPA and users can better understand socioeconomic implications of climate mitigation.
Environmental Justice: SAIC Support to the EPA
Climate Enterprise
Helping customers respond and adapt
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Ambrose was named one of the Top 25 Sustainability Consultants and Leaders of 2023.
Click here to learn more.
Navigating Coastal Science for Resilient Communities
April 2, 2024 at 12PM EST.
2024 ACT-IAC Climate Summit
Reston, Virginia
The Climate Summit addresses critical climate challenges by uniting experts from government, industry, and academia to explore adaptation strategies, innovative technologies, and partnerships to mitigate environmental, economic, and health impacts of global warming.
April 17, 2024
INFORMATION
Discover how SAIC transforms complex challenges into innovative solutions across space missions, climate initiatives, and advanced technologies. We specialize in integrating Systems of System across diverse domains like weather support, cloud tech, cybersecurity, and more. Join us in pioneering the future with our expertise in weather modeling, unmanned aircraft, geoengineering, and beyond. Let's navigate the data-rich landscape of remote sensing and geospatial technologies together!
