Communications
USGCRP Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Accomplishments

USGCRP
Program Elements

Atmospheric Composition

Ecosystems

Global Carbon Cycle

Decision-Support Resources Development and Related Research on Human Contributions and Responses

Climate Variability and Change

Global
Water Cycle

The following are selected highlights of recent research supported by CCSP participating agencies (as reported in the fiscal year 2006 edition of the annual report, Our Changing Planet).

• Published and distributed Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005. CCSP produced 6,000 hardcopies of the report, issued a digital version on CD-ROM, and distributed 1,000 copies of the CD at the Tenth Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-10).
• Added new material to CCSP’s publicly accessible web sites, including:
  • The FY 2004-2005 edition of Our Changing Planet
  • Guidelines for producing CCSP synthesis and assessment products
  • Prospectuses for several synthesis and assessment products, which include background information on the planned report and a detailed roadmap that will be followed in producing it.
• Ensured early and ongoing review of synthesis and assessment products by stakeholder communities.
• Facilitated stakeholder participation in the U.S. Government review of draft documents of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
• Facilitated observations and research that led to the production of a large body of publications in the peer-reviewed literature and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Facilitated the initiation of numerous scientific and stakeholder workshops, including an Ecosystems workshop and multiple workshops providing input to the CCSP synthesis and assessment activities.
• Engaged media to respond to queries and promote awareness of the program’s functions and goals and activities to the general, non-scientific public, as well as policymakers and Congress.
• Managed and improved CCSP web sites. Traffic to CCSP’s two main web sites grew rapidly to an average of 5,000 visits per day by the end of FY 2004. CCSPO also has improved integration among the interagency public web sites and improved web services to working groups.
• Assumed responsibility for the Global Change Research Information Office (GCRIO), which was managed previously by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University. Mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990, the purpose of the office is to “disseminate to foreign governments, businesses, and institutions, as well as the citizens of foreign countries, scientific research information available in the United States which would be useful in preventing, mitigating, or adapting to the effects of global change.” GCRIO includes a major web site, with two important features:
  • GCRIO Online Catalog for requesting reports and CDs, which CCSPO upgraded, resulting in a rapid increase in the number of orders received and items shipped
  • Ask Dr. Global Change, which answers global change questions submitted by web site visitors, with selected answers also posted to a publicly accessible online archive of answers.
• Established and managed the Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP) web site. CCSPO also provides additional support services to CCTP, including development and management of password-protected web sites and publications support.