Climate Change Impacts on the United States - Overview Report: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and ChangeClimate Change Impacts on the United States is part of a national process of research analysis and dialogue about the coming changes in climate, their impacts, and what Americans can do to adapt to an uncertain and continuously changing climate. The report was called for by a 1990 law and was written by the National Assessment Synthesis Team (NAST), a committee of experts drawn from governments, universities, industry, and non-governmental organizations with a wide range of expertise and perspective. The NAST produced two documents: the longer Foundation Report and the Overview Report, which is significantly more accessible and shorter. The two reports cover all areas of the United States and are peer-reviewed documents that synthesize results from studies. They identify key climatic vulnerabilities of particular regions and sectors in the context of other changes in the nation's environment, resources, and economy. |
Contents
Our Changing Climate | 12 |
Tools for Assessing Climate Change Impacts | 14 |
Looking at Americas Climate | 20 |
Ecosystems in the Future | 24 |
Our Changing Nation | 30 |
Regions | 38 |
Northeast | 40 |
Southeast | 46 |
Native Peoples and Homelansa | 84 |
Sectors | 88 |
Agriculture | 90 |
Water | 96 |
Human Health | 102 |
Coastal Areas and Marine Resources | 108 |
Forests | 114 |
Conclusions | 120 |
Midwest | 52 |
Great Plains | 58 |
West | 64 |
Pacific Northwest | 68 |
Alaska | 74 |
Islands | 80 |
Research Pathways | 124 |
Biographical Sketches of NAST Members | 136 |
Acknowledgements | 142 |
Glossary | 154 |
Other editions - View all
Climate Change Impacts on the United States: The Potential Consequences of ... Limited preview - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
20th century 21st century adaptation agricultural Alaska areas Atmospheric Research average Canadian Model 21st Canadian scenario carbon Center for Atmospheric changes in climate climate change climate models climate scenarios climate variability coastal Colorado State University coral crops decrease drought economic ecosys effects El Niño emissions environmental Felzer floods Forest Service future climate Global Change Grabhorn groundwater habitat Hadley Model Hadley Model 21st Hadley scenario heat index human hurricanes impacts of climate infrastructure invasive species islands Lakes land model scenarios NAST National Assessment Niño Northwest ocean Pacific Pennsylvania State University permafrost plant population potential precipitation events productivity reduce response result risk runoff Science sea ice sea-level rise shift simulations snowpack soil moisture Southeast southern Great Plains species storm strategies stresses summer Technology temperatures tion trends UCAR urban variability and change vulnerability warmer warming water quality water resources weather wetlands winter