Global Change Research Program, under which a number of federal agencies cooperate on a major study of the Earth’s climate and global warming.
“Evidence is increasing on the scientific table that change is occurring,” said Robert Corell, Assistant Director of Geological Science at the National Science Foundation (NSF), one of the agencies which participates in the program.
Other agencies besides NSF which will be working on the program include the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, State and Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Council on Environmental Quality.
Although climatologists are generally saying that the Earth’s atmosphere is warming as heat-trapping gases are released through the combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities, there is some uncertainty about the rate of change and about the impact of a host of secondary “feedback” effects such as a possible increase in cloud cover.
One purpose of the program will be to develop more information on following topics.
Climate and hydrologic systems: Studies of clouds, ocean circulation, and the interaction of the land, water and air.
Biogeochemical dynamics: The interaction of the biosphere, living things, water and atmosphere (e.g., the rate at which vegetation absorbs and releases carbon dioxide).
Ecological systems and dynamics: Possible reactions of people, plants and animals to warming temperatures and any feedback effects those reactions might create.
Earth system history: Studies of past climate changes.
Human interactions: The impact of population growth and development and how human activities such as energy and industrial production affect the Earth.
Solid Earth research: Studies of coastal erosion, volcanoes, ocean sedimentation, and their effects on climate.
Solar influences: Studies of the sun’s radiation and how it affects climate.
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