USGS Office of Global Change
|
Background information The Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), a consortium of federal agencies performing climate science, has established a synthesis and assessment (S&A) program as a part of its Strategic Plan. There are 21 S&A products to be administered by 13 federal agencies over a 5 year period. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a participant in the CCSP, is responsible for 3 S&A products. This report, S&A product 3.4: Abrupt Climate Change, will focus on the potential for abrupt changes to the Earth’s climate system. Abrupt climate change is defined as a rapid shift in global or regional climate from one steady state to another. Abrupt climate changes could occur in years or decades, last for centuries or millennia, and pose serious adaptive challenges for society and ecosystems. The primary function of the Committee on Abrupt Climate Change is to synthesize and assess the state of knowledge on the topic of abrupt climate change and communicate this information to the USGS, CCSP, policy-makers and the public. Committee members will meet in a public forum and discuss issues relating to the study design, research methodology, data sources and quality, and study findings. The committee will draft a report that will serve as the USGS and CCSP definitive document on current knowledge pertaining to the topic of abrupt climate change. The Committee report is slated for completion in June 2008. SAP 3.4: Abrupt Climate Change: Final Report News Release Brochure (6.3 MB PDF) Peer Review Plan (PDF) Final Prospectus (Word document) Members – Committee members and other involved parties
Workshops/Meetings March 2007 Workshop
December 2007 Teleconference
Archived documents
Contact Info John P. McGeehin |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.usgs.gov/global_change/sap_3.4/default.asp
Page Contact Information: Ask USGS
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, December 16, 2008
