Climate Change Science Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:04, 16 September 2011

Revision as of 10:51, 19 September 2011

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==The products==

The primary outputs from the CCSP were its strategic plan and 21 Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAP), five of which were released on January 16, 2009, the last business day of the Bush Administration.<ref>[http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap-summary.php Climate Change Science Program] 2009. Information on Synthesis and Assessment Products</ref> The CCSP Strategic Plan of 2003 <ref>[http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/stratplan2003/default.htm U.S. Climate Change Science Program], 2003. Strategic Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Washington, D.C. See also [http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/pressreleases/pressrelease24jul2003.htm Press release of 24 July 2003]</ref> defined five goals:

#Extend knowledge of the Earth’s past and present climate and environment, including its natural variability, and improve understanding of the causes of observed changes (see [[Climate Change Science Program#Observations and causes of climate change|Observations and causes of climate change]]),

#Improve understanding of the forces bringing about changes in the Earth’s climate and related systems (see [[Climate Change Science Program#Changes in the atmosphere|Changes in the atmosphere]])

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====Attribution of the causes of observed climate change (SAP 1.3)====

NOAA released ''Re-Analyses of Historical Climate Data for Key Atmospheric Features: Implications for attribution of causes of observed change'' <ref>[http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap1-3/default.php CCSP, 2008] Reanalysis of Historical Climate Data for Key Atmospheric Features: Implications for Attribution of Causes of Observed Change. Randall Dole, Martin Hoerling, and Siegfried Schubert (editors). National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC, 156 pp.</ref> in December 2008. According to the report, from 1951 to 2006 the yearly average temperature for North America increased by 1.6° Fahrenheit, with virtually all of the warmingsince 1970. During this period, the average temperature has warmed approximately 3.6°F over Alaska, the Yukon Territories, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, but no significant warming occurred in the southern United States or eastern Canada. More than half of the warming of North America is likely (more than 66 percent chance) to have resulted from human activity.

There is less evidence that precipitation is changing. The report found no significant trend in North American precipitation since 1951, although there have been substantial changes from year to year and even decade to decade. Moreover, it is unlikely that a fundamental change has occurred in either how often or where severe droughts have occurred over the continental United States during the past half-century. Nevertheless, drought impacts have likely become more severe in recent decades. It is likely that the impacts have been more severe because the recent droughts have lasted a few years, and because warmer temperatures have created stresses in plants, which make them more vulnerable.

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===''Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States''===

To fulfill a statutory requirement for a [[National Assessment on Climate Change|national assessment]], the CCSP released ''Scientific Assessment of the Impacts of Global Change in the United States'' <ref>[http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/scientific-assessment/ Scientific Assessment of the Impacts of Global Change in the United States, 2008]</ref> in May 2008. Shortly thereafter, a team of authors synthesized key findings from the SAP's. In June 2009, CCSP changed its name to United States Global Change Research Program and released the unified synthesis report, entitled ''Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States'' .<ref>[http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/key-findings United States Global Change Research Program]. 2009. Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. [[Washington, D.C.]] 188 pp</ref> The report had ten key findings which became the bedrock of the Obama Administration's view of the impacts of climate change.

# [[Climate Change Science Program#Temperature trends in the lower atmosphere (SAP 1.1)|''Global warming is unequivocal and primarily human-induced'']]. Global temperature has increased over the past 50 years. This observed increase is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases.

# [[Climate Change Science Program#Attribution of the causes of observed climate change (SAP 1.3)|''Climate changes are underway in the United States'']] and are projected to grow.'' Climate-related changes are already observed in the United States and its coastal waters. These include increases in heavy downpours, rising temperature and sea level, rapidly retreating glaciers, thawing permafrost, lengthening growing seasons, lengthening ice-free seasons in the ocean and on lakes and rivers, earlier snowmelt, and alterations in river flows. These changes are projected to grow.

# [[Climate Change Science Program#Effects on agriculture, land resources, water resources, and biodiversity (SAP 4.3)|''Widespread climate-related impacts are occurring now and are expected to increase.'']] Climate changes are already affecting water, energy, transportation, agriculture, ecosystems, and health. These impacts are different from region to region and will grow under projected climate change.

# ''Climate change will stress water resources.'' Water is an issue in every region, but the nature of the potential impacts varies. Drought, related to reduced precipitation, increased evaporation, and increased water loss from plants, is an important issue in many regions, especially in the West. Floods and water quality problems are likely to be amplified by climate change in most regions. Declines in mountain snowpack are important in the West and Alaska where snowpack provides vital natural water storage.

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===Directors===

* James R. Mahoney <ref>[http://www.climatescience.gov/workshop2005/bios/mahoney.htm Biographical info for James R. Mahoney] from CCSP web site</ref> served as the first director of the CCSP and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere from April 2002 to March 2006.

* William J. Brennan<ref>[http://www.noaa.gov/brennan.html Biographical info for William J. Brennan] from [[NOAA]] web site</ref> became Acting Director of CCSP in June 2006.<ref>[http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/pressreleases/pressrelease19jun2006.htm Press release of 19 June 2006] from [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]</ref> Brennan remained as the acting director until June 2008 when he was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and thereby became the director. (Jane C. Luxton of Virginia had been nominated by [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] in September 2006 for the position, but her nomination was later withdrawn.<ref>[http://www.climatesciencewatch.org/index.php/csw/details/noaa-confirmation-stalled/ Concerns raised about NOAA deputy administrator nominee stall confirmation process] 6 December 2006</ref>)

* Jack A. Kaye became Acting Director of CCSP upon Brennan's retirement from NOAA in January 2009.