SilvaCarbon leverages state-of-the-art science and technology to advance the generation and use of information in managing forest and terrestrial carbon.
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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.
Mapping forest carbon stocks with in situ, airborne, and satellite data supports forest management in the western United States.
The Carbon Monitoring System (CMS), a NASA-led effort also involving the USDA Forest Service (USDA-FS), NOAA, the USGS, and non-governmental scientists, focuses on improving the monitoring of carbon stocks and fluxes (or the movement of carbon between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and ecosystems) to support carbon management activities. A CMS study is helping the USDA-FS and other...
Analysis of the costs and benefits of switching to paddy rice production suggests that farmers could increase profits while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Drainage of organic soils for agriculture has resulted in widespread soil subsidence (sinkage relative to surrounding areas) and increased greenhouse gas emissions. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California, once an expansive wetland, was drained and converted to agricultural production in the mid-1800s, and has since experienced subsidence rates that are among the highest in...
Building on 2013’s working group report on the physical science basis for climate change, the IPCC released two additional installments of its Fifth Assessment Report in spring 2014—this time focused on climate impacts, risks, and responses.
The first of these two 2014 installments dealt with impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, finding that the effects of climate change are already occurring worldwide; that the world, in many cases, is ill-prepared for the associated risks; and that there are opportunities to respond with effective action, though
Goal 1 – Advance Science: Advance scientific knowledge of the integrated natural and human components of the Earth system.
Goal 2 – Inform Decisions: Provide the scientific basis to inform and enable timely decisions on adaptation and mitigation.
Goal 3 – Conduct Sustained Assessments: Build sustained assessment capacity that improves the Nation’s ability to understand, anticipate, and respond to global change impacts and vulnerabilities.
Goal 4 – Communicate and Educate:
Overview
NOAA, USGS, and USACE are working together to help the country prepare for and manage the impacts of changing weather and climate patterns, particularly with regard to extreme events like hurricanes, floods, and drought.
Before, during, and after coastal storm events, USGS assesses the likelihood of beach erosion, overwash, or inundation,
and provides