Permanent link to this article: http://nas-sites.org/americasclimatechoices/other-reports-on-climate-change/2012-2/
A National Strategy for Advancing Climate Modeling
Climate models will need to evolve substantially to deliver climate projections at the scale and level of detail desired by decision makers, this report finds. As climate change has pushed climate patterns outside of historic norms, the need for detailed projections is growing across all sectors, including agriculture, insurance, and emergency preparedness planning. Despite much …
A Review of the USGCRP's Draft Strategic Plan
This report reviews a draft 10-year strategic plan for the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) as part of the National Research Council’s long history as an independent advisor to USGRCRP. The report concludes that the program is “evolving in the right direction,” but identifies several ways that planning efforts could be strengthened. The proposed …
Lessons and Legacies of International Polar Year 2007-2008
International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY) was an intense, coordinated field campaign of observations, research, and analysis. IPY engaged the public to communicate the relevance of polar research to the entire planet, strengthened connections with the Indigenous people of the Arctic, and established new observational networks. Overall, IPY was an outstanding success. Activities at both poles …
Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington: Past, Present, and Future
Tide gages show that global sea level has risen about 7 inches during the 20th century, and recent satellite data shows that the rate of sea-level rise is accelerating. As Earth warms, sea levels are rising mainly because: (1) ocean water expands as it warms; and (2) water from melting glaciers and ice sheets is …
Security Implications of Social Stress from Climate Change
Evidence of global climate change beyond the bounds of past experience has raised expectations of new stresses on societies around the world. A new report, Climate and Social Stress: Implications for Security Analysis focuses on the U.S. security risks that might arise when climate-related events—including droughts, heat waves, and storms—exceed the capacity of affected populations …
Strategies for Improving Arctic Sea Ice Projections
Satellite data show that during each of the past six summers, sea ice cover has shrunk to its smallest level in three decades. The composition of the ice is also changing, now containing a higher fraction of thin first-year ice instead of thicker multi-year ice. Accurately projecting future sea ice conditions is important to a …