In 1997, the conservative think tank Citizens for a Sound Economy surveyed America's 48 state climatologists on questions related to climate change.

You may also want to contact your state climatologist.

In Iowa, "things are still not very good," said Harry Hillaker, the state climatologist.

What could be more telling than the fact that David Robinson, the state climatologist, gave 363 press interviews last year?

"The crops really look good," said the state climatologist, Harry Hillaker.

"You can't compare last year to most other years," said David Robinson of Rutgers University, who is the state climatologist.

David A. Robinson, a professor at Rutgers who is the official state climatologist, said that 2001 was the driest calendar year since 1965.

David A. Robinson, the state climatologist, said it was too early to predict whether the dry spell could turn into a full-fledged drought.

He was appointed Alabama's state climatologist in 2000.

The position of state climatologist was created by the federal governement in the 1950's and then abolished in the early 70's for budgetary reasons.