Indicators
Indicators are observations or calculations that can be used to track conditions and trends. For example, businesses might look at the unemployment index as one of a number of indicators representing the condition of the economy. Similarly, indicators related to climate change—which may be physical, ecological, or societal—can be used to understand how the environment is changing, assess risks and vulnerabilities, and inform decisions about climate
Below, USGCRP presents a preliminary set of climate indicators that unites efforts from across several of our member agencies. This preliminary set, though not representative of all potential indicators of
These indicators communicate some of the key aspects of the changing climate, such as temperatures over land and at sea, greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, the extent of Arctic sea ice, and related effects in sectors like public health and agriculture. Some of the indicators show climate-related trends over time, whereas others show the status of resources that may be affected by climate change in the future. Similar to the findings and figures in the 2014 National Climate Assessment, the indicators and their associated datasets are fully traceable and documented by detailed metadata in USGCRP’s Global Change Information System.
We want to hear from you: This set of indicators is a proof-of-concept for evaluation purposes. Feedback received will be used to make the indicators more understandable, to increase their utility as assessment tools, and, ultimately, to inform the development of a broader and more complete indicators system.
- Click here to provide overall feedback on the set of indicators.
- Scroll down to browse and provide feedback on individual indicators.