The U.S. Climate Change Science Program:
Vision for the Program and
Highlights of the Scientific Strategic Plan
Report released 24 July 2003

 Also available: PDF Version of entire document  (6.7 Mb)

For details see the Climate Variability and Change chapter of the Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program (2003)

CCSP Research Element:
Climate Variability and Change

Climate and climate variability influence social and natural environments throughout the world. Climate fluctuations on various time scales affect the success of agriculture, the abundance and distribution of water, and the demand for energy. Human-induced changes in climate may have substantial environmental, economic, and societal consequences.

CCSP-supported research on climate variability and change focuses on how climate elements such as temperature, precipitation, clouds, winds, and storminess are affected by changes in the Earth that result from natural processes and potentially human activities. Specific objectives include: improved predictions of seasonal to decadal climate variations (e.g., the El Nino-Southern Oscillation); improved detection, attribution, and projections of longer term changes in climate; the potential for changes in extreme events; the possibility of abrupt climate change; and efficient and effective methods of disseminating accurate and useful scientific information about climate needed for decisions.

Benefits from this research include:

For details see the Climate Variability and Change chapter of the Strategic Plan for the Climate Change Science Program (2003)