Since 1989, the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) has submitted annual reports to Congress called Our Changing Planet. The reports describe the status of USGCRP research activities, provide progress updates, and document recent accomplishments. In particular, Our Changing Planet highlights progress and accomplishments in interagency activities. These highlights represent the broad spectrum of USGCRP activities that extend from Earth system observations, modeling, and fundamental research through synthesis and assessment, decision support, and public engagement. Highlights describe the state of science at the time of publication of each yearly report, and may not reflect more recent advances in understanding. The date of publication of the source report is noted on each highlight page.
Tropical Pacific Islands are increasingly vulnerable to drought, which can cause severe drinking water shortage, extensive crop damage, and harmful impacts on ecosystems. Established in 2019, the Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange (PDKE) facilitates collaborative relationships between scientists and resource managers in the region, aiming to provide customized, accessible drought data and products to support planning and management. PDKE is funded and guided by an alliance of federal and state agencies, associations, and non-profit organizations, and is implemented by science staff from the...