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Highlights

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, education, 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.

Modeling

Understanding Future Climate by Looking Back in Time

Scientists examining an ice core used to reconstruct the evolution of Earth’s climate during the Eemian interglacial period, a useful analog for present-day and expected future conditions. (Source: NEEM)

Overview
A number of USGCRP agencies such as NSF, DOE, NOAA, NASA, USGS, and SI are investing in understanding the history of Earth’s climate, known as “paleoclimate.” Paleoclimate data extend records of climate

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Modeling

Combining Models to Better Predict Future Conditions

A suite of forecasts of air temperature ~6.5 feet (2 meters) above the ground, initialized in November 2011, were able to effectively predict March 2012 conditions. Red indicates higher temperatures and blue indicates lower temperatures relative to histor

Overview
The North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME)—led by NOAA in partnership with DOE, NSF, NASA, and U.S. and Canadian research institutions—is an experimental climate forecasting system that combines a suite of different models. Using a combined system of models, each with different individual strengths in predicting phenomena, can enhance the overall success of a

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Modeling

Modeling 20th and 21st Century Climate to Understand and Predict Change

A comparison of observed (left) and simulated (right; single model realizations) hurricane tracks around North America between 1981 and 2008 (the horizontal and vertical axes show longitude and latitude, respectively). Tropical cyclones are challenging to

Overview
Climate and Earth system modeling supported by USGCRP agencies such as DOE, NASA, NOAA, NSF, and others was foundational to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) on the scientific basis for climate-change, released in 2013. Along with international partners, Federal and Federally supported modeling centers

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Indicators

Developing Indicators of Climate Change

This conceptual framework shows linkages between categories of indicators. (Source: USGCRP indicators program)

Overview
Indicators are measurements or calculations that represent the status, trend, or performance of a system (e.g., the economy, agriculture, air quality). USGCRP, with the participation of 9 of its 13 member agencies—NOAA, NASA, EPA, USDA, DOE, DOD’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), HHS’s

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Observations

Building Capacity and Diversity in Climate Studies

Participants in the AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project workshop in Washington, DC. (Source: AMS)

Overview
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) Climate Studies Diversity Project, funded primarily by NSF, leverages resources from NOAA, NASA, and academic and non-profit partners to build climate education capacity at minority serving institutions (MSIs). Through a five-day professional development

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Human Health

A Global Initiative for Vibrio Early Warning Systems

While the rates of infection for most food-borne diseases have decreased in recent years, the rate of Vibrio infections has increased (rates are shown relative to 1996–1998 rates, signified by the line intersecting 1.00 on the vertical axis). Because Vibr

Overview
Vibrio is a type of disease-causing bacteria that occurs naturally in warm coastal areas. It is the most common cause of seafood-borne disease and is associated with 95% of related fatalities. To reduce the prevalence of Vibrio-related health risks in the United States and beyond, several USGCRP

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