the setting

Johnson Space Center’s Houston 

facility is located on nearly 1,700 

acres in Houston, Texas. The Center 

borders Clear Lake to the east, which 

drains east to Galveston Bay and the 

Gulf of Mexico. Ellington Field lies 

northwest of the Center property. 

Armand Bayou Nature Reserve is 

at JSC’s northern border. Another 

prominent feature in the Houston 

area, the nearby Port of Houston, 

generates $118B of statewide impact 

and more than $3.7B in state and local 

tax revenues from business activities 

related to the port.

Temperatures in the area range from 

an average of 54°F (January) to 85°F 

(July). Annual average precipitation is 

around 54 inches (average from 1971 - 

2000), with most rain falling between 

the months of June and November.

Johnson Space Center

Liberty

Galveston

Ellington Field

William P. Hobby 

Airport

George Bush 

Intercontinental 

Airport

Gulf of Mexico

45

610

Galveston 

Bay

90

Galveston 

Harris
the setting

Johnson Space Center’s Houston 

facility is located on nearly 1,700 

acres in Houston, Texas. The Center 

borders Clear Lake to the east, which 

drains east to Galveston Bay and the 

Gulf of Mexico. Ellington Field lies 

northwest of the Center property. 

Armand Bayou Nature Reserve is 

at JSC’s northern border. Another 

prominent feature in the Houston 

area, the nearby Port of Houston, 

generates $118B of statewide impact 

and more than $3.7B in state and local 

tax revenues from business activities 

related to the port.

Temperatures in the area range from 

an average of 54°F (January) to 85°F 

(July). Annual average precipitation is 

around 54 inches (average from 1971 - 

2000), with most rain falling between 

the months of June and November.

Johnson Space Center

Liberty

Galveston

Ellington Field

William P. Hobby 

Airport

George Bush 

Intercontinental 

Airport

Gulf of Mexico

45

610

Galveston 

Bay

90

Galveston 

Harris
the setting

Johnson Space Center’s Houston 

facility is located on nearly 1,700 

acres in Houston, Texas. The Center 

borders Clear Lake to the east, which 

drains east to Galveston Bay and the 

Gulf of Mexico. Ellington Field lies 

northwest of the Center property. 

Armand Bayou Nature Reserve is 

at JSC’s northern border. Another 

prominent feature in the Houston 

area, the nearby Port of Houston, 

generates $118B of statewide impact 

and more than $3.7B in state and local 

tax revenues from business activities 

related to the port.

Temperatures in the area range from 

an average of 54°F (January) to 85°F 

(July). Annual average precipitation is 

around 54 inches (average from 1971 - 

2000), with most rain falling between 

the months of June and November.

Johnson Space Center

Liberty

Galveston

Ellington Field

William P. Hobby 

Airport

George Bush 

Intercontinental 

Airport

Gulf of Mexico

45

610

Galveston 

Bay

90

Galveston 

Harris
J

ohnson Space Center (JSC) leads NASA’s flight-related scientific and medical research efforts. JSC 

professionals direct the development, testing, production and delivery of all U.S. human spacecraft 

and all human spacecraft-related functions. More than $4.0B of federal aerospace contracts are managed 

out of JSC, providing a local payroll of more than $1.9B annually. Approximately 9,400 people work 

within the Center; about 3100 are civil servants. JSC’s facilities are conservatively valued at $2.3B. 

JSC strives to make revolutionary discoveries and advances to benefit all humankind. Technologies 

developed originally for spaceflight are already applied in medicine, energy, transportation, agriculture, 

communications and electronics.

what’s at stake?

As the home of NASA’s astronaut corps, JSC is the foundation of the 

area’s human space exploration identity. The Center is responsible 

for training space explorers from the US and Space Station partner 

nations, including International Space Station crews. The Center’s 

famed Mission Control Center is often referred to as the nerve center 

for America’s human space program. A specialized pool at the Sonny 

Carter Training Center near Ellington Field simulates zero-gravity 

or weightless conditions experienced by spacecraft and crew during 

space flight. Beyond astronaut training, JSC endeavors to improve 

science, technology, engineering, and math education through many 

opportunities for students and educators. Education specialists prepare 

classroom materials, lead educational programs, and participate in 

partnerships to expand outreach to the community, touching the lives of 

students from kindergarten through university levels.

The natural resources on and around Johnson Space Center provide value 

as well. JSC biologists participate in an important breeding program for 

the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken. The Armand Bayou 

Nature Reserve, a 2500-acre preserve between JSC and the Bayport 

Industrial District, protects three Gulf Coast habitats – coastal flatwood 

forest, coastal tall grass prairie, and unchannelized estuarine bayou with 

surrounding wetlands. These local habitats host 370 species of birds, 

mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The preserve is home to 220 species 

of birds, both permanent residents and migrating flocks. 
J

ohnson Space Center (JSC) leads NASA’s flight-related scientific and medical research efforts. JSC 

professionals direct the development, testing, production and delivery of all U.S. human spacecraft 

and all human spacecraft-related functions. More than $4.0B of federal aerospace contracts are managed 

out of JSC, providing a local payroll of more than $1.9B annually. Approximately 9,400 people work 

within the Center; about 3100 are civil servants. JSC’s facilities are conservatively valued at $2.3B. 

JSC strives to make revolutionary discoveries and advances to benefit all humankind. Technologies 

developed originally for spaceflight are already applied in medicine, energy, transportation, agriculture, 

communications and electronics.

The 

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what’s at stake?

As the home of NASA’s astronaut corps, JSC is the foundation of the 

area’s human space exploration identity. The Center is responsible 

for training space explorers from the US and Space Station partner 

nations, including International Space Station crews. The Center’s 

famed Mission Control Center is often referred to as the nerve center 

for America’s human space program. A specialized pool at the Sonny 

Carter Training Center near Ellington Field simulates zero-gravity 

or weightless conditions experienced by spacecraft and crew during 

space flight. Beyond astronaut training, JSC endeavors to improve 

science, technology, engineering, and math education through many 

opportunities for students and educators. Education specialists prepare 

classroom materials, lead educational programs, and participate in 

partnerships to expand outreach to the community, touching the lives of 

students from kindergarten through university levels.

The natural resources on and around Johnson Space Center provide value 

as well. JSC biologists participate in an important breeding program for 

the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken. The Armand Bayou 

Nature Reserve, a 2500-acre preserve between JSC and the Bayport 

Industrial District, protects three Gulf Coast habitats – coastal flatwood 

forest, coastal tall grass prairie, and unchannelized estuarine bayou with 

surrounding wetlands. These local habitats host 370 species of birds, 

mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The preserve is home to 220 species 

of birds, both permanent residents and migrating flocks. 

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J

ohnson Space Center (JSC) leads NASA’s flight-related scientific and medical research efforts. JSC 

professionals direct the development, testing, production and delivery of all U.S. human spacecraft 

and all human spacecraft-related functions. More than $4.0B of federal aerospace contracts are managed 

out of JSC, providing a local payroll of more than $1.9B annually. Approximately 9,400 people work 

within the Center; about 3100 are civil servants. JSC’s facilities are conservatively valued at $2.3B. 

JSC strives to make revolutionary discoveries and advances to benefit all humankind. Technologies 

developed originally for spaceflight are already applied in medicine, energy, transportation, agriculture, 

communications and electronics.

The Climat

Scientists ha

indicators o

cores and tre

analyses of t

physical pro

developed so

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that climate 

US Global C

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NASA clima

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climate mod

space-based 

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Weather To

The subtrop

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flooding. Tw

of the area’s 

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Future Clim

NASA’s God

(temperatur

to generate p

what’s at stake?

As the home of NASA’s astronaut corps, JSC is the foundation of the 

area’s human space exploration identity. The Center is responsible 

for training space explorers from the US and Space Station partner 

nations, including International Space Station crews. The Center’s 

famed Mission Control Center is often referred to as the nerve center 

for America’s human space program. A specialized pool at the Sonny 

Carter Training Center near Ellington Field simulates zero-gravity 

or weightless conditions experienced by spacecraft and crew during 

space flight. Beyond astronaut training, JSC endeavors to improve 

science, technology, engineering, and math education through many 

opportunities for students and educators. Education specialists prepare 

classroom materials, lead educational programs, and participate in 

partnerships to expand outreach to the community, touching the lives of 

students from kindergarten through university levels.

The natural resources on and around Johnson Space Center provide value 

as well. JSC biologists participate in an important breeding program for 

the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken. The Armand Bayou 

Nature Reserve, a 2500-acre preserve between JSC and the Bayport 

Industrial District, protects three Gulf Coast habitats – coastal flatwood 

forest, coastal tall grass prairie, and unchannelized estuarine bayou with 

surrounding wetlands. These local habitats host 370 species of birds, 

mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The preserve is home to 220 species 

of birds, both permanent residents and migrating flocks. 

Model re

Variable 

Average Te

Annual Prec

Sea Level R

Sea Level R

Scenario (S

box for mor

Temperature 

averages for 

centered arou

TX (Hobby Ai

precipitation 

67% of value

National Clim
J

ohnson Space Center (JSC) leads NASA’s flight-related scientific and medical research efforts. JSC 

professionals direct the development, testing, production and delivery of all U.S. human spacecraft 

and all human spacecraft-related functions. More than $4.0B of federal aerospace contracts are managed 

out of JSC, providing a local payroll of more than $1.9B annually. Approximately 9,400 people work 

within the Center; about 3100 are civil servants. JSC’s facilities are conservatively valued at $2.3B. 

JSC strives to make revolutionary discoveries and advances to benefit all humankind. Technologies 

developed originally for spaceflight are already applied in medicine, energy, transportation, agriculture, 

communications and electronics.

The Climate Scienc

Scientists have collec

indicators of longer-

cores and tree rings) 

analyses of these data

physical processes th

developed sophistica

climate changes. Clim

that climate change w

US Global Climate C

summarizes these res

publications/reports/

NASA climate scient

international research 

climate modeling an

space-based data use

models and identify 

The Houston-Galve

Weather Today

The subtropical clim

Summers are hot and 

Gulf of Mexico. Trop

flooding. Heavy rain

flooding. Two recent 

of the area’s vulnerab

extreme drought was 

Future Climate Pro

NASA’s Goddard Ins

(temperature and pre

to generate projectio

what’s at stake?

As the home of NASA’s astronaut corps, JSC is the foundation of the 

area’s human space exploration identity. The Center is responsible 

for training space explorers from the US and Space Station partner 

nations, including International Space Station crews. The Center’s 

famed Mission Control Center is often referred to as the nerve center 

for America’s human space program. A specialized pool at the Sonny 

Carter Training Center near Ellington Field simulates zero-gravity 

or weightless conditions experienced by spacecraft and crew during 

space flight. Beyond astronaut training, JSC endeavors to improve 

science, technology, engineering, and math education through many 

opportunities for students and educators. Education specialists prepare 

classroom materials, lead educational programs, and participate in 

partnerships to expand outreach to the community, touching the lives of 

students from kindergarten through university levels.

The natural resources on and around Johnson Space Center provide value 

as well. JSC biologists participate in an important breeding program for 

the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken. The Armand Bayou 

Nature Reserve, a 2500-acre preserve between JSC and the Bayport 

Industrial District, protects three Gulf Coast habitats – coastal flatwood 

forest, coastal tall grass prairie, and unchannelized estuarine bayou with 

surrounding wetlands. These local habitats host 370 species of birds, 

mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The preserve is home to 220 species 

of birds, both permanent residents and migrating flocks. 

Model results o

Variable 

Average Temperatur

Annual Precipitation 

Sea Level Rise 

Sea Level Rise – Rap

Scenario (See Rapid 

box for more detail)

Temperature and precip

averages for the specifi

centered around the 19

TX (Hobby Airport) and 

precipitation projections 

67% of values from mo

National Climatic Data C
the setting

Johnson Space Center’s Houston 

facility is located on nearly 1,700 

acres in Houston, Texas. The Center 

borders Clear Lake to the east, which 

drains east to Galveston Bay and the 

Gulf of Mexico. Ellington Field lies 

northwest of the Center property. 

Armand Bayou Nature Reserve is 

at JSC’s northern border. Another 

prominent feature in the Houston 

area, the nearby Port of Houston, 

generates $118B of statewide impact 

and more than $3.7B in state and local 

tax revenues from business activities 

related to the port.

Temperatures in the area range from 

an average of 54°F (January) to 85°F 

(July). Annual average precipitation is 

around 54 inches (average from 1971 - 

2000), with most rain falling between 

the months of June and November.

Johnson Space Center

Liberty

Galveston

Ellington Field

William P. Hobby 

Airport

George Bush 

Intercontinental 

Airport

Gulf of Mexico

45

610

Galveston 

Bay

90

Galveston 

Harris