The primary functions of CEFA are:
- Perform studies and applied research to improve the understanding of relationships between climate, weather, fire and ecosystems.
- Develop decision-support tools for fire applications incorporating climate and weather information.
- Serve as a liaison between the fire, natural resource and scientific research communities by providing product training, education, science delivery, and eliciting user feedback.
- Provide experimental fire weather, fire danger, fire behavior and smoke dispersion/transport forecasting products for operations and research.
- Perform societal interactions studies emphasizing partnerships and the role of climate in planning and policy.
- Provide climate and weather information directly for fire and ecosystem decision-making and strategic planning.
The Climate, Ecosystem and Fire Application program was formed on October 1, 1998, through an assistance agreement between the Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office and DRI.
CEFA resides within the Division of Atmospheric Sciences of DRI, and is integrated with the Western Regional Climate Center.
CEFA utilizes modern computing laboratories for data analysis and scientific visualization supporting the applications products that are routinely produced for wildland fire management agencies.
