Author Description

This important report from the United States Global Change Research Program outlines plans for studying climate change, global warming, and other global changes over the next decade. It includes dozens of examples of program accomplishments and topics, including carbon dioxide effects on seawater chemistry, climate oscillations, sea level rises, water resource management, adaptation and coastal flooding, climate models, and climate literacy. Contents: Executive Summary * Introduction * Illustrative Examples of Program Accomplishments and Future Directions * Framework for USGCRP * USGCRP Vision and Mission * Overview * Framework for the New USGCRP * Goals and Objectives * Goal 1: Advance Science * Earth System Understanding * Climate Change and Global Change * Integration of the Biological Sciences * Integration of the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences * Multiple Space and Time Scales, Natural Variability, and Extremes * Complexity, Thresholds, and Tipping Points * Science for Adaptation and Mitigation * Understanding Vulnerability to Global Change * Science to Support Regional and Sectoral Responses * Science to Support Global-Scale Responses * Tools and Approaches for Iterative Risk Management * Integrated Observations * Sustaining and Integrating Earth System Observational Capacity * Integrating Socioeconomic and Ecological Measurements * Integrating Observations and Modeling * Integrated Modeling * Model Complexity * Model Interpretation, Conceptual Modeling, and Hierarchies of Model Complexity * Integrated Modeling of Complex Systems Dynamics and Decision Support * Information Management and Sharing * Integrated and Centralized Data Access * Integrated Knowledge for Stakeholders and Decision Makers * Goal 2: Inform Decisions * Inform Adaptation Decisions * Inform Mitigation Decisions * Enhance Global Change Information * Goal 3: Conduct Sustained Assessments * Scientific Integration * Ongoing Capacity * Inform Responses * Evaluate Progress * Goal 4: Comm