A NOAA-led study refutes the much-publicized idea that there has been a recent slowdown or “hiatus” in the rate of global warming . The study finds that global warming during the last 15 years has progressed as fast or faster than during the latter half of the 20th century.
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May 19, 2015Physical Climate, Scenarios, Observations, Modeling, Water Resources, International, Carbon Cycle, Arctic, Agriculture & Food, Education, Energy, Human Health, Extreme Events, Adaptation
The latest edition of Our Changing Planet, USGCRP's annual report to Congress, highlights progress in advancing science, informing decisions, conducting assessments, and engaging with diverse audiences. The report also spotlights interagency priority areas, including climate predictions, global change in the Arctic, water extremes, and actionable science.
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May 15, 2015Oceans, Physical Climate, Observations, International
The last remaining piece of Antarctica’s Larsen B Ice Shelf will likely disintegrate by the end of this decade, according to a new NASA-led study. The ice shelf, which partially collapsed in 2002, has existed for at least 10,000 years.
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May 6, 2015Oceans, Physical Climate, Observations, Mitigation, Land Use & Land Cover, Coasts, Ecosystems & Biodiversity, Carbon Cycle, Arctic, Agriculture & Food, Energy, Cities & Infrastructure, Indicators, Human Health, Adaptation
A new section of GlobalChange.gov features indicators that visually communicate some of the key aspects and effects of climate change . Users can provide feedback to help shape a broader indicators system that will inform the next National Climate Assessment.
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May 5, 2015National Climate Assessment, Physical Climate, Scenarios, Modeling, Mitigation, Carbon Cycle, Adaptation
USGCRP has selected a set of emissions scenarios and climate projections to focus on for the next quadrennial National Climate Assessment. These scenarios and projections will provide a consistent basis to assess the potential future impacts of climate change and related policy choices.
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May 1, 2015Physical Climate, Modeling
A new white paper highlights outcomes from the first annual U.S. Climate Modeling Summit. The Summit brought together leadership from the country’s six premier climate modeling centers to strategize around priorities of national interest—from experimental efforts that move science forward to forecasts and projections that inform on-the-ground decisions.
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Apr 12, 2015Physical Climate, Mitigation, Carbon Cycle, Arctic
A new synthesis published in Nature suggests that thawing Arctic permafrost will release greenhouse gases gradually, rather than in a sudden "bomb". The gradual rate of these natural emissions may give society more time to adapt to their effects, but they remain a challenge for climate mitigation .
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Jan 31, 2015Physical Climate, Observations, Water Resources, Carbon Cycle, Agriculture & Food, Extreme Events, Adaptation
Although the amount of moisture stored in soil is just a small fraction of Earth’s water, it plays a big role in the Earth system. NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite, launched into orbit this morning, will collect unprecedented measurements of soil moisture around the globe.
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Jan 16, 2015Oceans, Physical Climate, Observations, International
2014 ranks as Earth’s warmest since record keeping began in 1880, according to independent analyses by scientists at NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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Nov 3, 2014Physical Climate, Mitigation, International, Adaptation
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Synthesis Report on Sunday, confirming that warming in the climate system is unequivocal and, if left unaddressed, will increase the likelihood of pervasive, irreversible damage to the environment and society. However, options to limit climate change and adapt to its impacts are available.