Organization:
Research Title: Climate Change Data and Detection
Funding Level (millions of dollars):
| FY94 | 4.4 |
|---|---|
| FY95 | 4.0 |
| FY96 | 3.9 |
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Component:
(a) Subcommittee: (i) Global Change Research Subcommittee (100%); (ii)
Task Force
on Observations and Data Management;
(iii) NSTC Committee on Information and Communication
(b) Environmental Issue: Natural variability (50%) Climate change (50%)
(c) Research Activity: Data Management (100%)
Organizational Component:
Office of Global Programs
NOAA/National Climatic Data
Center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville NC 28801-5001
Point of Contact:
Thomas R. Karl
Phone: 704-271-4319
E-Mail: tkarl@ncdc.noaa.gov
Research Goals:
To provide the scientific community with the data and information necessary to
assess
seasonal, interannual, decadal and longer climate variations and changes,
distinguish
between natural and anthropogenically-induced change, and strengthen predictive
capability.
Research Description:
The current NOAA Climate Change Data and Detection Program focuses on the
following
objectives: (1) to provide data and information management support (i.e. data
assembly,
processing, inventory, access, distribution and archiving) for a variety of national
and
international programs of primary interest to the U.S. Climate and Global Change
Program, e.g., GEWEX (Global Energy & Water Cycle Experiment), WOCE (World
Ocean Circulation Experiment), GCOS (Global Climate Observing System), GOALS
(Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land-System Program, IGBP (International Geosphere
Biosphere Program), etc.; (2) to provide data and information management support
related
to cross cutting science efforts necessary to assess seasonal, interannual, decadal,
and
longer climate variations and changes; (3) to document the quantitative character
of
observed climate variations and changes; and (4) to attribute changes in the
observed
climate record to specific climate forcings. These objectives are accomplished
through
a set
of continuing, focused activities by governmental and academic researchers. In the
short-term, this NOAA project will improve access to data and thus ensure that
information
reaches decision makers on a more timely basis. In the longer term, the creation
of more
robust, long-term data sets that are adequately documented will allow the data to
be used
with confidence 20 years from now. These high quality, science-based data will
reduce
uncertainty in climate change assessments. NOAA data represent the largest,
historical
record of the Earth and the only significant global records for use by the Earth
Observing
System (EOS). These data are essential to both calibrate new EOS data and to extend
the
record to interpret EOS data.
8. Program Interfaces
NOAA efforts in data and information management for C&GC benefit national and
international programs. In the U.S., the linkages are to the academic and interagency
communities. Internationally, NOAA C&GC data management efforts tie to the
International
Geosphere-Biosphere Program, the World Meteorological Organization, the
Committee
on Earth Observations Satellites, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC),
and other C&GC-related programs such as WOCE, TOGA, and GEWEX.
Program Milestones:
Autumn, 1994: Provide Internet access to Global Climate Perspectives System
gridded
data; Autumn, 1994: Complete Quality Control of 480,000 COADS Observations and
Digitization
of 80,000 Mechanical Bathythermograph Profiles; Spring, 1995: Expand listings of
climate data sets in NOAA Environmental Services Data Directory to more than
5,000
descriptions; Spring, 1996: Complete linkage of NOAA Directory Services to the
EOSDIS.
Policy Payoffs:
As a result of NOAA's C&GC data management efforts, data and information
available
in NOAA are being made accessible to researchers and policy makers. NOAA data
sets
constitute a major portion of the climate record and are principal inputs for the
IPCC assessment. Nations are using NOAA data to implement the post-UNCED
framework
convention on Climate Change.