News Archive

Dataset database now searchable on the web
This catalog provides a comprehensive list of global change-related data sets made available during 2000 from federal agencies. The fourth in a series of yearly publications, this catalog represents an important step in the interagency process of making data and information from the U.S. Global Change Research Program available to researchers, the commercial world, policy makers, and the public. This 2000 edition is now stored in a searchable database. To search the database, click here.

On-line editions of Newly Available Agency Data Sets That Are Significantly Global Change Related are available for 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.

global change workshop
Data and Information Working Group (DIWG) Workshop Proceedings Available
May 1-3 Workshop on the Data-Information-Knowledge Continuum sponsored by U.S. Global Change Research Program
A very successful workshop focusing on the data and information management was held in Fort Collins, Colorado, on May 1-3. The workshop was sponsored by the U.S. Global Change Research Program Data and Information Working Group (DIWG) and ably hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey. The workshop addressed what we must be done at environmental data centers to actively assist scientists and policy makers to gain knowledge from data. In a plenary session with national leaders from science, policy, data centers and industry, the importance of gaining knowledge from data--and its implications for data centers--was discussed. Two sessions tackled specific issues related to Data and Information, how they contribute to gaining knowledge about the environment, and implications for data center management strategy. A third session on Knowledge pulled together the pieces and identified issues and challenges for data centers to address with the science community. On the final morning, a forum was held for discussion and recommendations for data centers, agencies, and environmental research programs. Workshop proceedings and participant and speaker contact information are now available on the workshop website.

global change news
Recent Congressional Testimony on Global Change
A number of scientists have recently provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate regarding climate change and related policy options.

The testimony of James Hansen, Thomas Karl, and other witnesses at the hearing on "S. 1008: The Climate Change Strategy and Technology Innovation Act of 2001," held by the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, has been posted on the Committee's website.

The testimony of David L. Evans, NOAA Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, at the hearing on "Climate Change: Technology and Policy Options," held by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, July 10, 2001, has been posted on the Committee's website.

The testimony of Rita Colwell, NSF Director; Conrad Lautenbacher, President, Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education; and most of the other witnesses, and opening statements by Rep. Ehlers and Rep. Smith, at the joint hearing on "Ocean Exploration" held by the House Science Committee, Subcommittee on Research and Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards, and the House Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, on July 12, 2001 is posted on the House Science Committee website.

global change research
Quantifying Climate Change Uncertainty
In the 20 July issue of Science magazine, T. M. L. Wigley and S. C. B. Raper interpret the new global-mean warming range estimated in the Third Assessment Report (TAR) recently released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The full warming range over 1990 to 2100, 1.4° to 5.8°C, is substantially higher than the range given previously in the IPCC Second Assessment Report. Accounting for uncertainties in emissions, the climate sensitivity, the carbon cycle, ocean mixing, and aerosol forcing, they show that the probabilities of warming values at both the high and low ends of the TAR range are very low. In the absence of climate-mitigation policies, the 90% probability interval for 1990 to 2100 warming is 1.7° to 4.9°C.

global change data
Revised Annual CO₂ Emissions Database Released
Report of emissions from fossil-fuel burning, cement roduction and gas flaring (1751-1998) revised July 2001
The U.S. Department of Energy's Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) has released new 1751-1998 estimates of CO₂ emissions from fossil-fuel combustion and cement production, on global, regional, and national scales for 1751-1998. The revised database, NDP-030, includes a 1998 estimate for global CO₂ emissions, 6608 million metric tons of carbon, which represents a 0.3% decrease from 1997. These estimates are derived primarily from energy statistics published by the United Nations. Cement production estimates from the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Mines were used to estimate CO₂ emitted during cement production. Emissions from gas flaring were derived primarily from U.N. data but were supplemented with data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA) and with a few national estimates provided by Marland.

publications
Citations Supporting U.S. National Assessment Report Published
A new publication titled Published Information that Formed the Basis for the U.S. Global Change Research Program's Major Report Climate Change Impacts on the United States: Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change has been published by the Data and Information Working Group (DIWG) and is available on the web. Because of the National Assessment's importance, scope, and wide participation, these citations together represent a relatively concise source for finding the literature sources that the study's several hundred participants from all over the US felt were the most important. As such, it is expected that they will form the basis not only for similar follow-on studies but for a wide range of other uses by the broad spectrum of educators, policymakers, researchers, and general public users concerned with our relationship to the always changing environment in which we live. This publication makes these important literature citations available in a single, concise form.

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