DOC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts (Science), to share that knowledge and information with others (Service), and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and environmental needs (Stewardship). NOAA's vision is healthy ecosystems, communities, and economies that are resilient in the face of change; also, an informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions. NOAA has emerged as an international leader in environmental science today and is well positioned and organized to provide sound scientific research needed by policy-makers.

NOAA's mission statement summarizes the Agency's fundamental responsibilities. NOAA generates tremendous value for the Nation, and the world, by advancing our ability to understand and anticipate changes in the Earth's environment, improving society's ability to make scientifically informed decisions, and by protecting and managing ocean resources. Science at NOAA is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the ocean, atmosphere, and related ecosystems; integration of research and analysis; observations and monitoring; and environmental modeling. Science provides the foundation and future promise of the service and stewardship elements of NOAA's mission. Service is the communication of NOAA's research, data, information, and knowledge for use by the Nation's businesses, communities, and people's daily lives. It also is the contribution to our understanding of the processes by which ecosystems provide services crucial for human survival. Stewardship is NOAA's direct use of its knowledge to protect people and the environment, as the Agency exercises its authority to regulate and sustain marine fisheries and their ecosystems, protect endangered marine and anadromous species, protect and restore habitats and ecosystems, conserve marine sanctuaries and other protected places, respond to environmental emergencies, and aid in disaster recovery. NOAA invests in and depends heavily on the science, management, and engagement capabilities of its partners in government, universities, and the private and nonprofit sectors in fulfilling its responsibilities.

NOAA's mission is central to many of today's greatest challenges- the state of the economy, climate change, severe weather, declining biodiversity, threatened or degraded oceans and coasts, to name a few. These challenges convey a common message: Human health, prosperity, and well-being depend upon the health and resilience of both managed and unmanaged ecosystems. Combined with the capabilities of our many partners, NOAA's science, service, and stewardship capabilities can help transition to a future where societies and the world's ecosystems reinforce each other and are mutually resilient in the face of sudden and prolonged change. NOAA's organizational enterprise- its people, infrastructure, research, and partnerships- are essential for NOAA to achieve its vision, mission, and long-term goals. The purpose of NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan is to address challenges and opportunities proactively and shape a better future for generations to come.

NOAA is committed to helping governments, businesses, and communities manage climate risks, adapt to changing conditions, reduce the threat of climate change, and develop and evaluate options that mitigate human causes of climate change. NOAA's world-class research and information services continuously advance our scientific understanding of a changing climate and its impacts. NOAA is a global leader in reporting on the state and changing state of essential climate variables. NOAA maintains the world's largest and oldest archive of satellite- and Earth-based observations and is the official U.S. source of information about climate variations and change, reporting on conditions daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, and yearly. Along with NOAA's modeling capabilities, this information enables NOAA to respond to millions of annual requests for climate data vital to planning and operations across all sectors of society. NOAA's integrated climate services document the past, monitor the present, project the future, and assess the impacts of climate.

While the Nation has made significant progress in understanding climate change and variability, more work is needed to identify causes and effects of these changes, produce accurate predictions, identify risks and vulnerabilities, and inform decision making. Several NOAA programs are addressing climate change and impacts in their strategic planning and activities, including, but not limited to, Climate Services, National Ocean Services, and Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. However, no single organization can accomplish these tasks alone. NOAA will advance the long-term goal of climate adaptation and mitigation as it builds upon a strong scientific foundation and decades of engagement with interagency, academic, and private sector partners.

 

> Strategic Plans

DOC Strategic Plan

The mission of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and stewardship. The Department's vision is that the United States continues to play a lead role in the world economy. To achieve this mission and fulfill its vision, the DOC Strategic Plan FY 2007-2012 sets out three strategic goals and a management integration goal. Each strategic goal involves activities that touch American lives every day. One goal is to promote environmental stewardship, and an underlying objective within this goal is to advance understanding of climate variability and change. Performance outcomes within the objective include 1) A predictive understanding of the global climate system on time scales of weeks to decades with quantified uncertainties sufficient for making informed and reasoned decisions (NOAA); and 2) Climate-sensitive sectors and the climate-literate public effectively incorporating NOAA's climate products into its plans and decisions (NOAA).

 

NOAA Strategic Plan

The NOAA Strategic Plan FY 2009-2014 establishes NOAA's vision, its mission, and the strategic goals toward which all agency functions are aimed. The plan guides management decisions by providing a consistent framework for office and cross-organizational plans, initiatives, and performance measures. The plan sets out four mission goals and one mission support goal. Each goal has defined high-level outcomes that detail the intended purpose of all efforts related to that goal. Each outcome is further defined by objectives that provide further detail on how to evaluate the achievement of that outcome. All NOAA work is planned and organized with respect to this hierarchical framework.

One goal is ‘Understand climate variability and change to enhance society's ability to plan and respond'. To meet the demand for expanded services, the Climate Goal will focus research to improve understanding of complex climate processes and to enhance the predictive capacity of the global climate system. The Climate Goal's priority is to focus on the development and delivery of climate information and services that assist decision makers with national and international policy decision making, and assessing risks to ecosystems and the U.S. economy in sectors and areas that are sensitive to impacts from climate variability and change.

 

NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan

The Next Generation Strategic Plan (12/2010) conveys NOAA's mission and vision of the future, the national and global issues NOAA must address, the specific outcomes NOAA aims to help society realize, and the actions that the Agency must undertake. Informed by consultations with NOAA employees and stakeholders, the Plan represents NOAA's assessment of the highest priority opportunities for NOAA to contribute substantially to the advancement of society.

The availability and quality of fresh water, the exploitation of ocean and coastal resources, and the pervasive effects of climate change on society and the environment are some of the central challenges we must face if we are to improve human welfare and sustain the ecosystems upon which we depend. These challenges and others define NOAA's four long-term strategic goals that are central determinants of resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies in the face of change and that cannot be achieved without the Agency's distinctive mission and capabilities and the concerted efforts of NOAA and many other organizations. Objectives identified in the Plan are specific outcomes NOAA can achieve on the path to broader, long-term goals. They are measureable and are the basis for NOAA's corporate planning, performance management, and stakeholder engagement over a five-year period.

One long-term goal is ‘Climate Adaptation and Mitigation: An informed society anticipating and responding to climate and its impacts'. Underlying objectives include: 1) Improved scientific understanding of the changing climate system and its impacts; 2) Assessments of current and future states of the climate system that identify potential impacts and inform science, service, and stewardship decisions; 3) Mitigation and adaptation choices supported by sustained, reliable, and timely climate services; 4) A climate-literate public that understands its vulnerabilities to a changing climate and makes informed decisions.

 

> NOAA Programs, Services, Resources

> Climate Programs, Services, Products

NOAA Climate Program Office (CPO)

NOAA is a leading provider of weather, water, and climate information and services to the nation and the world. Established in October 2005, the CPO provides strategic guidance and oversight for the agency's climate science and services programs. Designed to build knowledge of climate variability and change, and how they affect our health, our economy, and our future, the CPO's programs have three main objectives: 1) Describe and understand the state of the climate system through integrated observations, monitoring, and data management; 2) Understand and predict climate variability and change from weeks to decades to a century into the future; and 3) Improve society's ability to plan and respond to climate variability and change.

The CPO funds high-priority climate research at national and international scales to advance understanding of atmospheric and oceanic processes as well as climate impacts resulting from drought and other stresses. The CPO also helps to lead NOAA's climate communication, education, and professional development and training activities, recognizing that climate science literacy is a prerequisite for putting this new knowledge into action at all levels of society.

• http://www.climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp, for the CPO homepage and links to program activities (incl. RISA), climate goal programs, special projects (incl. USGCRP products), climate data and products, NOAA research laboratories and climate services, communications and education, library, and other

 

Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Program

The RISA program supports research that improves the nation's ability to anticipate and adapt to climate variability and change, specifically addressing complex climate sensitive issues of concern to decision-makers and policy planners at a regional level. The RISA research team members are primarily based at universities though some of the team members are based at government research facilities, non-profit organizations or private sector entities. Traditionally the research has focused on the fisheries, water, wildfire, and agriculture sectors. The program also supports research into climate sensitive public health issues. Recently, coastal restoration has also become an important research focus for some of the teams. 

• http://www.climate.noaa.gov/cpo_pa/risa/, for RISA program activities within the CPO

 

NOAA Climate Services

NOAA is one of the leading agencies studying and modeling the physical climate system and has established a comprehensive website as a gateway to their climate change information. The site offers a number of useful resources, including 1) ClimateWatch magazine; 2) a ‘Global Climate Dashboard'; 3) the Presentation Library with interactive slide sets about climate science, climate impacts, and adaptation strategies; and 4) the "Climate Change, Wildlife and Wildlands: A Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators" (a resource originally developed in 2001, but much updated and expanded). 

• http://www.climate.gov/#understandingClimate, for NOAA Climate Services page and links to ClimateWatch magazine, ‘Global Climate Dashboard', data and services, climate science assessment reports, the Presentation Library, fact sheets, educational opportunities including the "toolkit", and other
• http://www.climatewatch.noaa.gov/, for ClimateWatch magazine and links to other resources
• http://globalchange.gov/resources/educators/toolkit/about, for the "Climate Change, Wildlife and Wildlands: A Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators" and links to other resources
• http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/bams-state-of-the-climate/2009.php, for NOAA ‘State of the Climate 2009' report

 

NOAA Climate Service Line Office (proposed)

NOAA is proposing to establish a National Climate Service line office to provide increasingly accessible climate change information to decision-makers and the public. To meet the rising tide of requests for information, the proposed line office would be dedicated to bringing together the agency's strong climate science and service delivery capabilities. Projection for formally establishing the NOAA Climate Service line office was Fall/Winter 2010.

The NOAA Climate Service will encompass a core set of longstanding NOAA capabilities with proven success. The climate research, observations, modeling, predictions and assessments generated by NOAA's top scientists will continue to provide the scientific foundation for extensive on-the-ground climate services that respond to daily requests for data and other critical information. The restructuring would consolidate a number of climate change functions throughout the agency and expand its outreach and communications capabilities.

• http://www.noaa.gov/climate.html, for NOAA Climate Service page and link to NCS vision, strategic framework, and background materials on NOAA's plans and NCS creation; related links to interagency activities and other information on climate and climate change, including Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States June 2009 report, released by U.S. Global Change Research Program (this June 2009 report is referenced in USGCRP section below)
• http://www.noaa.gov/about-noaa.html, for About NOAA page; select ‘climate' on top menu bar to access NOAA Climate Service page
• http://www.fs.fed.us/research/climate/documents/FS-NOAA-Climate-Services-June08.pdf, for ‘Review of NOAA Strategic Plan for a National Climate Service', federal panel discussion (June 22, 2008)
• http://www.fs.fed.us/research/climate/  for another link to the 6/22/2008 strategic plan review; go to ‘browse by subject' and ‘global climate change research presentations'

 

> Other Programs, Services, Products

The following NOAA services or offices are involved in some capacity with climate change research and response or adaptation strategies: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service; National Marine Fisheries Service; National Ocean Service; National Weather Service; Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; and the Office of Program Planning and Integration.

• http://www.noaa.gov/organizations.html, for NOAA Organizations page, with links to line and staff offices (linked from About NOAA page)

 

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

NESDIS is dedicated to providing timely access to global environmental data from satellites and other sources to promote, protect, & enhance the Nation's economy, security, environment, & quality of life. The NESDIS vision is to be the world's most comprehensive source and recognized authority for satellite products, environmental information, and official assessments of the environment in support of societal and economic decisions.

• http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/, for NOAA Satellite and Information Service homepage with links to satellite products, information, services, education and outreach, and other

 

National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries or NMFS)

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the management, conservation, and protection of living marine resources within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (water three to 200 mile offshore). NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to this stewardship through science-based conservation and management and the promotion of healthy ecosystems. NOAA Fisheries works to promote sustainable fisheries and to prevent lost economic potential associated with overfishing, declining species and degraded habitats. NMFS also plays a supportive and advisory role in the management of living marine resources in coastal areas under state jurisdiction, provides scientific and policy leadership in the international arena, and implements international conservation and management measures as appropriate.

Headquarters staff work closely with six Regional Offices and Fisheries Science Centers and with scientists and managers throughout the nation to conduct research on marine ecosystems and develop effective management strategies. Current focus of research in most regions is ecosystem-based management and the impacts of environmental variability and climate change on entire ecosystems, including habitat condition, fish specie survival, productivity, population interaction, predator-prey relationships, protected resources, and other. Primary components of NOAA Fisheries include the offices of Habitat Conservation, International Affairs, Protected Resources, Science and Technology, and Sustainable Fisheries.

Most of NMFS's programmatic activities described in NMFS Strategic Plan FY 2005-2010 support achieving NOAA's strategic goal to ‘Protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management'. NMFS activities also support NOAA's Climate Goal to ‘Understand climate variability and change to enhance society's ability to plan and respond'. Finally, NMFS provides agency-wide services to ‘provide critical support mission for NOAA's mission."

• http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/, for the NOAA Fisheries Service homepage and links to Regional Offices and Fisheries Science Centers, habitat conservation, international activities, protecting marine species, and other
• http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/region_hq.htm, for more about NOAA Fisheries Service headquarters and regions
• http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mb/strategic/NMFSstrategicplan200510.pdf, for New Priorities for the 21^st Century- National Marine Fisheries Service Strategic Plan: Updated for FY 2005-2010

 

National Ocean Service (NOS)

In the U.S. the health of our coasts is intricately connected to the health of our nation's economy. The NOS mission is to provide science-based solutions through collaborative partnerships to address evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our oceans and coasts. NOS translates science, tools and services into action to address threats to coastal areas such as climate change, population growth, and contaminants in the environment. The efforts of NOS and its partners strive to support healthy, resilient coastal communities, promote sustainable, robust coastal economies, and protect the productivity and diversity of coastal and marine places.

NOS has many responsibilities, some of which include 1) Helping build capacity and adaptation strategies for dealing with climate change and natural hazards such as hurricanes and tsunamis; 2) Developing products to increase the resiliency of coastal communities and reduce damages and recovery costs in the face of a changing climate and hazardous events such as coastal storms; 3) Developing and implementing strategies to protect, maintain, and restore the health and resiliency of ecosystems, including in the Arctic region and in response to climate change. Primary components of NOS addressing climate change include the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, NOAA Coastal Services Center, and Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.

• http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/, for the NOS homepage and links to NOAA sites, NOS program offices and websites, data explorer, ocean media, education, outreach, and selected topics in the ‘ocean' (coral reef conservation, coastal monitoring), ‘coast' (natural resource restoration, coastal ecosystem science, coastal zone management) and ‘charting and navigation' themes, and other; also link to other NOAA sites and NOAA Library at page bottom
• http://stateofthecoast.noaa.gov/, for NOAA's State of the Coast page with interactive maps that foster an increased awareness of the interrelationship of coastal communities, coastal ecosystems, and coastal economy and how climate change might impact the coast and these parameters; managing the risks posed by climate change are addressed.

National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)

Climate change is affecting our coastal ecosystems and communities. Impacts include changes to coastal habitats, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and the spread of invasive species. The NCCOS mission is to provide research, scientific information and tools to help balance the Nation's ecological, social and economic goals. NCCOS conduct and support monitoring, research, assessment, and assistance for the range of NOS's coastal and ocean stewardship responsibilities. Activities are focused in coral reefs, national marine sanctuaries, and estuaries. In order to prepare and guide communities to respond to climate change impacts and other stressors, NCCOS is developing science-based impact scenarios and vulnerability assessments that help communities maximize their alternatives as they work to prepare and adapt.  One priority issue in NCCOS Strategic Plan 2011-2015 is ‘Advancing research on climate impacts to coastal communities'. The climate impacts goal states ‘Coastal communities that are equipped to respond to the impacts of a changing climate'. Underlying objectives include 1) Develop impact scenario models for climate change effects on coastal ecosystems, 2) Characterize ecosystem and habitat vulnerabilities to climate change impacts, 3) Develop new conservation & restoration strategies for coastal ecosystems impacted by climate change.

• http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/, for NCCOS page and links to research areas, ecosystems, NCCOS centers/laboratories, integrated assessments, strategic planning, news/press releases, and other
• http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/may09/globec.html, for ‘Climate Change Research Used to Educate the Next Generation of Ocean Scientists' (press release 05/2009)
• http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/themes/climate.aspx, for NCCOS Climate Impacts page and link to research highlights and other information
• http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/documents/NCCOSStrategicPlan2011-15.pdf, for NOAA's NCCOS Strategic Plan: 2011-2015

NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC)

The CSC mission is to support the environmental, social, and economic well-being of the coast by linking people, information, and technology. CSC partners with state and local organizations to address coastal resource management issues, particularly the issues of hazards and coastal development. It provides skills, resource information, and training services to coastal resource managers. One focus area of the CSC Strategic Plan 2010-2015 is ‘Adapting to the impacts of coastal hazards and climate change.' The challenge, desired outcomes, Center response, Center strategy are outlined and described. Strategies address coastal inundation, hazard risk (risk-wise) communication, and protecting ecosystem services through conservation planning.

• http://www.csc.noaa.gov/, for CSC page and link to tools, training, how-to guides, publications, regional/state products, services and initiatives, and conservation planning
• http://www.csc.noaa.gov/text/csc-strategic-plan.pdf, for NOAA's CSC Strategic Plan 2010-2015
• http://www.csc.noaa.gov/training/climatechange.html, for CSC ‘Planning for Climate Change' workshop information; teaches local and state planners about climate change, as well as the planning processes and actions that can help their communities prepare for climate change impacts
• http://www.csc.noaa.gov/magazine/climatechangestrategies.pdf, for CSC "Local Strategies for Addressing Climate Change" (February 2009) for coastal resource managers
• http://www.csc.noaa.gov/magazine/climatechangestrategiesVol2.pdf, for CSC "Local Strategies for Addressing Climate Change, Volume 2" (June 2010) for coastal resource managers
• http://collaborate.csc.noaa.gov/climateadaptation/default.aspx, for "Coastal Climate Adaptation Resources"; this site provides information and resources to help state and local governments adapt to climate change, including links to plans, guides, risk and vulnerability assessment tools, and other adaptation tools. The site also includes basic climate change information useful for outreach efforts.
• http://www.csc.noaa.gov/magazine/2010/02/article4.html, for CSC page and article on/link to TNC's Climate Wizard tool for climate change adaptation planning

Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM)

OCRM provides national leadership, strategic direction, and guidance to state and territory coastal programs and estuarine research reserves and contributes to the global community through its work with coral reefs and marine protected areas. It provides skills and technical information to coastal resource managers, planners, educators, scientists, and others interested in balancing the conservation and development of the nation's coastal areas. OCRM administers the National Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), and NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program. These activities are mandated by three articles of legislation: the Coastal Zone Management Act, Marine Protected Areas Executive Order, and Coral Reef Conservation Act.

• http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/, for OCRM page and link to the six OCRM divisions: Coastal Programs, National Estuarine Research Reserve System, Coral Reef Conservation Program, Marine Protected Areas Center, National Policy and Evaluation Division; also link to coastal issues, environmental assessments, resources, education and outreach, and other
• http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/climate.html, for OCRM Coastal Issues/Climate Change page and link to ocean and coastal environment impacts and other information and relevant resources
• http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/climate/adaptation.html, for link to OCRM "Adapting to Climate Change: A Planning Guide for State Coastal Managers" (2010); this guide is designed to help U.S. state and territorial (states) coastal managers develop and implement adaptation plans to reduce the risks associated with climate change impacts affecting their coasts.

 

National Weather Service (NWS)

NWS provides weather, water and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property, management of resources, and the enhancement of the national economy. NWS data and products form a national information database and infrastructure which can be used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community. The NWS vision is a weather ready nation: society is preapred for and responds to weather‐dependent events. 

America's vulnerability to weather, water, and climate variability is rising as more of the population moves into harm's way and national and global economies become more complex. The need for agility to respond to our rapidly changing world is recognized, and the NWS Strategic Plan 2005-2010 calls for a broader range of environmental information services from NWS, including expanded climate information- retrospective studies of past and current climate; seasonal and longer forecasts of climate variations; and improved long range predictions of climate change. NOAA Strategies employed by NWS include: 1) Advance sub-seasonal to inter-annual climate predictions and climate change projections by improving analysis of the climate system, using ensembles of multiple, high-end climate and Earth system models; 2) Develop the ability to predict the consequences of climate change on ecosystems by monitoring changes in coastal and marine ecosystems, conducting research on climate-ecosystem linkages, and incorporating climate information into physical-biological models.

Goals in the NWS Strategic Plan 2011-2020 include: 1) Improve weather decision services for events that threaten lives and livelihoods; 2) Deliver a broad suite of improved water forecasting services to support management of the Nation's water supply; 3) Enhance climate services to help communities, businesses, and governments understand and adapt to climate-related risks; 4) Enable integrated environmental forecast services supporting healthy communities and ecosystems; and 5) Sustain a highly-skilled, professional workforce equipped with the training, tools, and infrastructure to meet the NWS mission.

• http://www.nws.noaa.gov/, for NWS homepage and links to climatic and water data/maps, observations, forecasts and forecast modes, warnings, test bulletins, weather safety, education/outreach, and other
• http://www.nws.noaa.gov/pa/, for NWS Public Affairs Office page and links to NWS mission, strategic plan, media contacts and tools, publications, and other
• http://www.weather.gov/sp/NWS_strategic_plan_01-03-05.pdf, for NOAA's NWS Strategic Plan  2005-2010
• http://www.weather.gov/com/stratplan/files/NWS_StrPlan_final_NEPreview2-1.pdf, for NOAA's NWS Strategic Plan  2011-2020 (November 2010, draft)

 

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR or NOAA Research)

The OAR mission is to conduct environmental research, provide scientific information and research leadership, and transfer research into products and services to help NOAA meet the evolving economic, social, and environmental needs of the Nation. As the primary research and development organization within NOAA, OAR provides unbiased science to describe, predict changes in, and to better manage the environment, nationally and globally. Working in partnership with other NOAA organizational units, OAR provides better forecasts, earlier warnings for natural disasters and a greater understanding of the earth. Research results allow decision makers to make effective judgments in order to protect life and property and conserve and manage natural resources while maintaining a strong economy.

OAR conducts research in three major areas: weather and air quality; climate; and ocean, great lakes and coastal resources. NOAA Research programs provide the sound science necessary to help NOAA achieve her goals to: 1) Serve society's needs for weather and water information; 2) Lead the effort to understand and monitor climate change to enhance society's ability to plan and respond; 3) Work to protect, restore and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through ecosystem-based management; and 4) Support the Nation's commerce with information for safe, efficient and environmentally sound transportation. With their international counterparts, NOAA scientists contribute to the understanding and assessment of issues such as ozone depletion and climate variability which must be addressed worldwide to ensure success.

Strategies in the NOAA Research Strategic Plan 2005-2010 to reach NOAA's Climate Goal* include: 1) Develop the ability to predict probable consequences of climate change on ecological systems and their living resources; 2) Improve the quality of climate observations, analyses, interpretation, and archiving; 3) Improve the quantification and understanding of forces bringing about climate change 4) Advance sub-seasonal to inter-annual climate predictions and climate change projections. The Climate and Ecosystems Program will provide resource managers the knowledge and tools to adapt to the consequences of climate change to marine and coastal ecosystems.

*NOAA Strategic Plan 2009-2014, Climate Goal: ‘Understand climate variability and change to enhance society's ability to plan and respond'

Primary components of NOAA Research are the NOAA Research Laboratories, National Sea Grant College Program, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (incl. NOAA Undersea Research Program and Office of Ocean Exploration), and NOAA Climate Program Office. NOAA Research also administers collaborative long-term partnerships between NOAA and participating universities and other non-profit institutions.

• http://www.research.noaa.gov/, for NOAA Research homepage and links to ‘About Us' page; research programs, offices, laboratories, products, services; the 3 major areas of research, education, constituent affairs, and other
• http://www.oar.noaa.gov/climate/, for Climate Research page and links to various climate research areas such as observing/predicting climate variability and change, global carbon cycle, greenhouse gases, and other
• http://www.research.noaa.gov/research/2007/climatechange.shtml, for Climate Change research page and links to related sites
• http://www.oar.noaa.gov/aboutus/OAR_strategic_plan_2005-2010.pdf, for NOAA Research Strategic Plan 2005-2010
• http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/plans.html, for link to the NOAA 5-Year Research Plan (2008-2012) and 20-Year Research Vision

 

Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI)

PPI was established in June 2002 as the focus for a new corporate management culture at NOAA. The office coordinates NOAA's many lines of service with the nation's needs for environmental information and stewardship. PPI provides four distinct services to NOAA: 1) Managing the strategic and annual planning cycles; 2) Representing NOAA in select inter and intra-agency policy functions (policy integration); 3) Providing the framework for the structure and performance of NOAA programs to meet NOAA's mission goals (program integration); 4) Leading NOAA's annual performance review and evaluation, both at the program and the corporate level.

• http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/, for PPI homepage and links to strategic planning, policy integration, program integration, performance evaluation, and more information about PPI

 

> Other Programs, Services, Resources

U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAPs)

NOAA conducts and sponsors a broad range of research that supports the U.S. Global Change Research Program. USGCRP is a Congressionally-authorized consortium of 13 federal agencies responsible for various aspects of global change research, including coordinating climate change research activities of the agencies. It has produced important products related to climate adaptation for wildlife and ecosystems and maintains a comprehensive website with a variety of climate change science resources and publications. Research aims to provide science-based applications and tools for sustainable natural resource management. USGCRP is steered by the Subcommittee on Global Change Research and was known as the U.S. Climate Change Science Program from 2002 through 2008.

• http://www.globalchange.gov/, for the USGCRP homepage; with links to Federal Agencies and their roles in climate research and to news, publications and resources; also links to Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation Options, Extreme Weather and other pages; includes October 2010 ICCATF progress report to President Obama 
• http://www.globalchange.gov/resources/educators/toolkit, for the USGCRP resources page and "Climate Change Wildlife and Wildlands, A Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators"

USGCRP released a series of 21 Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAPs) from 2006 to 2009. The SAPs aimed at providing current assessments of climate change science to inform public debate, policy, and operational decisions. These reports also are intended to help USGCRP develop future program research priorities.

USGCRP's guiding vision is to provide the nation and global community with the science-based knowledge needed to manage the risks and capture the opportunities associated with climate and related environmental changes. The SAPs are important steps toward achieving that vision and help to translate USGCRP's extensive observational and research database into informational tools that directly address key questions being asked of the research community.

Of particular interest for wildlife and ecosystem adaptation are SAP 4.3 The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversityin the United States and SAP 4.4 Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources. Also of interest is the June 2009 USGCRP report, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, mostly based on the 21 SAPs and providing an extensive evaluation of climate change impacts at the regional level. It was (and largely still is) the most comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of climate change information on a range of scientific topics for the nation at the time . 

The U.S. Global Change Research Act of 1990 requires USGCRP to report and interpret the findings of research conducted by the agencies every four years as National Climate Assessment reports. In 1997 the program began a national assessment of the impacts of climate variability and change on the Nation's resources, and in 2000 the first National Assessment report was released. USGCRP has not regularly produced these assessments (2000 was the last formal assessment); however, a new report is planned for release in 2013.  National climate assessments "act as a status report on climate change science and impacts" and "will help evaluate the effectiveness of our mitigation and adaptation activities and identify economic opportunities that arise as the climate changes."

• http://www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/sap_2007_FinalReport.htm, for SAP 4.3
• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/05/0136.xml    (news release no. 0136.08, 05/27/2008, on SAP 4.3 with a summary of major findings)
• http://www.climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=./ccsp/index.html, for NOAA contributions to USGCRP product development
• http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/saps, for all SAPs
• http://globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts, for the June 2009 global climate change impacts report and key findings
• http://www.conservationclimatechangeclearinghouse.net/, for the June 2009 global climate change impacts report, key messages and a concise summary review; on previous highlights page type ‘US Global' in ‘edit/find' window and go to ‘New US climate change report looks at ecosystems' article
• http://globalchange.gov/what-we-do/assessment, for USGCRP and overview of national climate assessments and links to earlier reports and other information
• http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/assessment/, for overview of the National Assessment, role of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the study, and report summaries and link to reports; USGS has been participating in USGCRP since 1990.
• http://www.doi.gov/news/doinews/US-Launches-Initiatives-to-Share-Climate-Science-Data.cfm, for message from Deputy Secretary of the Interior on U.S. initiatives to share climate science data with the world

 

Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force (Task Force): meetings, reports

The Task Force is a pan-federal and pan-sectoral group co-chaired by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and NOAA with senior level participation from over 20 departments and agencies. It is comprised of over 200 federal agency staff, broken into various workgroups that conducted public listening sessions throughout the country during summer 2010. Five working groups of the task force are examining in greater detail select aspects of adaptation: 1) functional science inputs, 2) government planning processes, 3) water, 4) international, and 5) insurance.  Additional working groups may be organized. Listening sessions engaged internal and external groups and individuals on a myriad of issues involved in the broad spectrum of adaptation, ranging from built infrastructure to ecosystem-based approaches.

The goals of the task force are three-fold: 1) To deliver recommendations for a national adaptation strategy that identifies priority focus areas and highlights means to ensure interagency coordination; 2) To build adaptation capacity within the federal government, including building awareness of adaptation, fostering integration between agencies, and developing structures for interagency coordination; and 3) Continue to build "engaged communities."  By executive order the CEQ Chair, following consultation with the agencies and Task Force, provided a progress report in October 2010 to President Obama on agency actions in support of the national adaptation strategy and outlining recommendations for how Federal Agency policies and programs can better prepare the United States to respond to the impacts of climate change.

• http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptation, for the October 2010 adaptation strategy progress report and list of recommendations
• http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/climateadaptation/documents/blog/ceq-report-release-eba-one-of-8-guiding-principles/view.html, for the adaptation strategy progress report, a summary of important report elements, and other information
• http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/climateadaptation/documents/blog/tnc-comments-to-ceq-interim-report-may-2010/view.html, for link to TNC comments on CEQ interim report, May 2010

 

Federal Climate Change and Water Working Group (CCAWWG)

NOAA and five other federal agencies have formed CCAWWG*, a federal research and development group. The primary purpose of CCAWWG is to ensure efficient collaborations and sharing of information across federal agencies toward understanding and addressing climate change and water resources impacts in the United States. The goal is an interagency, coordinated research and development plan that is steered by user needs, incorporates expert review, delivers research and development products to users, and assimilates user feedback to steer the next research steps. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation also has empanelled the Climate Technical Work Group to provide 1) information on climate science and future climate conditions and their potential impact on the Colorado River and 2) input as to how climate information can be incorporated into Reclamation's Colorado River operations and planning activities.

• http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/ccawwg/, for more information on the background and current status of CCAWWG and links to other information
• http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/workshops/mwwcc/docs/CCAWWG_Vision_Paper.pdf, for CCAWWG vision paper
• http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/workshops/mwwcc/docs/ClimateChangeR&DWorkgroupCharter_0311.pdf, for CCAWWG purpose and organizational structure
• http://www.usgs.gov/, for USGS homepage; type ‘Climate Change and Water Working Group' in ‘Search USGS' window on right sidebar for links to reports, publications   
• http://www.usbr.gov/, for USBR homepage; type ‘Climate Change and Water Working Group' or ‘Climate Technical Work Group' in ‘Search Reclamation' window on left sidebar for links to reports, publications 

*Originally, CCAWWG had a western United States focus, stood for Climate Change and Western Water Group, and consisted of three Federal entities: NOAA, USBR, and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Since 2009, CCAWWG interests have broadened to a national view with membership now including U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

 

Technical Report, Water Resources Management

NOAA, USBR, USGS and USACE collaborated to produce Climate Change and Water Resources Management: A Federal Perspective (February 2009). This study shows that climate change could affect all sectors of water resources management and presents the best available science to help water managers prepare for, adapt to, and mitigate the effects of climate change on the nation's water resources. It explores strategies to improve water management by suggesting processes to improve tracking, anticipation, and response to climate change effects; it assesses approaches to climate variability and change in water resources management, on which future agency policies, methods, and processes will be based.

• http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1331/Circ1331.pdf, for the February 2009 report
• http://www.usace.army.mil/CEPA/NewsReleases/archive/2009/02/01/managing-water-resources-in-a-changing-climate.aspx, for news release that provides brief description and summary of the February 2009 report

 

Guidance Document, "Scanning the Conservation Horizon: A Guide to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment"

This 2011 document is a product of an expert workgroup on climate change vulnerability assessment convened by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The workgroup draws from state and federal agencies, non-governmental conservation organizations, and universities. Financial support for the publication was provided by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, DoD Legacy Resource Management Program, and several other organizations and agencies, including NOAA. 

Vulnerability to climate change, as the term is used in the guide, has three principle components: sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity. The document focuses on providing practical guidance to practitioners for assessing climate change vulnerability of species, habitats and ecosystems in the U.S. It includes 1) an overview and basics of climate change vulnerability assessment; 2) methods and tools available for combining climate change exposure and species/system sensitivity in developing an assessment of climate change vulnerability (incl. types of data and models that can be used for vulnerability assessments); 3) measures to deal with uncertainty in these assessments; 4) specific case studies of vulnerability assessments; and 5) a reference section on climate change vulnerability assessment resources (publications, web-base tools).

Currently sufficient guidance is available on the likely physical change that will occur due to climate change and on developing climate change adaptation strategies and actions. However, little guidance is available on assessing the vulnerability and sensitivity of biological systems to the physical changes. This document fills a gap in available guidance, will be useful to TNC and its partners, and will nicely complement the TNC "Climate Change Project-Level Guidance" document.

• http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/climateadaptation/documents/vulnerability-assessments/view.html, for TNC CCA Tools and Methods, Vulnerability Assessments page with link to 2011 NWF guidance document and press release (01/19/2011) re the document
• http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/Climate-Smart-Conservation/Safeguarding-Wildlife/~/media/PDFs/Global%20Warming/Climate-Smart-Conservation/ScanningtheConservationHorizon.ashx   OR
• http://www.nwf.org/vulnerabilityguide, for the 2011 guidance document
• http://www.dodworkshops.org/files/ClimateChange/GCC_Reference-vulnerability_assessment_9-11-09.pdf, for NWF: ‘Safeguarding Wildlife from Climate Change, Quick Guide to Vulnerability Assessment' (an interim product of the vulnerability assessment workgroup prior to development of the 2011 guidance document)

 

Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs)    

LCCs are applied, self-directed conservation partnerships among DOI agencies, notably USGS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), other federal agencies, states, tribes, non-governmental organizations, universities and others to address the challenges of climate change, land use, and other stressors across broad areas in an integrated fashion. LCCs link science and management and are fundamental units of planning and science capacity in carrying out the functional elements of FWS strategic habitat conservation (SHC). They provide scientific and technical support for on-the-ground strategic, landscape-scale conservation in an adaptive management framework that emphasizes science-based biological planning, conservation design, research, inventory and monitoring. The products that LCCs develop help to inform and improve conservation delivery efforts on the ground.

Guided by DOI's newly created Energy and Climate Change Council (formerly Climate Change Response Council), LCCs will provide new science capacity for FWS and partners and will complement USGS Climate Science Centers (CSCs) from a FWS mission and partner-based perspective. Regional CSCs and a LCC network were established by DOI Secretary Ken Salazar via Secretarial Order 3289 to develop strategies for managing climate change and other impacts on natural resources. Efforts will focus on impacts that typically extend beyond traditional jurisdictional boundaries, such as the effects of climate change on wildlife migration patterns, wildfire risk, drought, or invasive species.

DOI has established 21 (22?) LCCs encompassing all 50 States and U.S. Pacific Islands. FWS is a primary lead on LCCs and has invested the most resources into establishing and staffing them. Eight LCCs received funding in FY10 through FWS. Additional LCCs are being established with support from U.S. Bureau of Land Management, USBR, National Park Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. NOAA is a participating bureau in two Alaska LCCs (Arctic and Aleutian & Bering Sea Islands).

• http://www.doi.gov/lcc/index.cfm, for interactive map and link to each LCC with information on participating bureaus, points of contact, resource management challenges and other; also includes brief description of function and services of LCCs
• http://www.fws.gov/science/SHC/lcc.html, for FWS national Landscape Conservation Cooperatives page for information about all LCCs and Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC)
• http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/climateadaptation/documents/landscape-conservation-cooperatives-lccs-0, for TNC LCC page with more information on SHC and LCCs, including links to USFWS presentations and overviews and a table identifying the national LCCs
• http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/climateadaptation/documents/doi-u.s.-fish-and-wildlife-service-usfws-or-fws/view.html, for TNC USFWS page with more information on SHC and LCCs

 

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network

The CESU national network has been established with an overarching goal of improving the scientific base for managing federal lands by providing high-quality scientific research, technical assistance, and education to resource and environmental managers. It is a nationwide consortium of federal agencies (incl. NOAA), universities, conservation organizations, and other partners working together to support agency missions and informed public trust resource stewardship. One objective is to build capacity and enhance coordination of climate change management and adaptation efforts among management agencies.

CESUs are based at host universities and focused on biogeographic regions of the country. To date the nation had been divided into 17 biogeographic regions, each served by a distinct CESU that is structured as a working collaboration among partners. Each regional unit operates independently and in association with one national network and is directed by specific mission, vision, goals and objectives and a strategic plan.

• http://www.cesu.psu.edu/, for CESU homepage with national network map and regional CESU networks