Skip to main content

Part of the book series: NCA Regional Input Reports ((NCARIR))

  • 1237 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter examines research strategies that aim to reduce uncertainty associated with climate drivers and their effects on systems in the Southwest. It also identifies scientific approaches that are being considered for implementation in programs of adaptive responses to climate change. This chapter was written collaboratively with Chapter 19, which outlines some of the most important uncertainties related to climate variability and change in the Southwestern United States. In these chapters the uncertainty derives from both our presently imperfect capability to model climate and other earth systems and from our inability to adequately characterize social, economic, policy and regulatory responses in the form of adaptation and mitigation.

Chapter citation: Busch, D. E., L. D. Brekke, K. Averyt, A. Jardine, and L. Welling. 2013. “Research Strategies for Addressing Uncertainties.” In Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States: A Report Prepared for the National Climate Assessment, edited by G. Garfin, A. Jardine, R. Merideth, M. Black, and S. LeRoy, 462–482. A report by the Southwest Climate Alliance. Washington, DC: Island Press.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Archer, S. R., and K. I. Predick. 2008. Climate change and ecosystems of the southwestern United States. Rangelands 30:23–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barsugli, J., C. Anderson, J. B. Smith, and J. M. Vogel. 2009. Options for improving climate modeling to assist water utility planning for climate change. N.p.: Water Utilities Climate Alliance. http://www.wucaonline.org/html/actions_publications.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brekke, L., K. White, R. Olsen, E. Townsley, D. Williams, F. Hanbali, C. Hennig, C. Brown, D. Raff, and R. Wittler. 2011. Addressing climate change in long-term water resources planning and management: User needs for improving tools and information. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Technical Series CWTS-10-02. Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation / U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. http://www.usbr.gov/climate/userneeds/.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brekke, L. D., M. D. Dettinger, E. P. Maurer, and M. Anderson. 2008. Significance of model credibility in estimating climate projection distributions for regional hydroclimatological risk assessments. Climate Change 89:371–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brekke, L. D., J. E. Kiang J. R. Olsen, R. S. Pulwarty, D. A. Raff, D. P. Turnipseed, R. S. Webb, and K. D. White. 2009. Climate change and water resources management—A federal perspective. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1331. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1331/.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, M. L., C. M. D’Antonio, D. M. Richardson, J. B. Grace, J. E. Keeley, J. M. DiTomaso, R. J. Hobbs, M. Pellant, and D. Pyke. 2004. Effects of invasive alien plants on fire regimes. BioScience 54:677–688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burrows, M. T., D. S. Schoeman, L. B. Buckley, P. Moore, E. S. Poloczanska, K. M. Brander, C. M. Brown, et al. 2011. The pace of shifting climate in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Science 334:652–655.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • California Coastal Commission. 2008. California Coastal Commission climate change and research considerations. N.p.: California Coastal Commission. http://www.coastal.ca.gov/climate/ccc_whitepaper.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, J. C., N. Devoe, and A. Evendon. 2008. Collaborative management and research in the Great Basin - examining the issues and developing a framework for action. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-204. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloern, J. E., N. Knowles, L. R. Brown, D. Cayan, M. D. Dettinger, T. L. Morgan, D. H. Schoell-hamer, et al. 2011. Projected evolution of California’s San Francisco Bay-Delta-River system in a century of climate change. PLoS ONE 6: e24465.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, K. L., K. Ironside, J. Eischeid, G. Garfin, P. B. Duffy, and C. Toney. 2011. Past and ongoing shifts in Joshua tree distribution support future modeled range contraction. Ecological Applications 21:137–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desert Managers Group (DMG). 2008. The Climate and Deserts Workshop: Adaptive Management of Desert Ecosystems in a Changing Climate, April 9–11, 2008, Laughlin, NV. http://www.dmg.gov/climate/index.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dettinger, M. D., F. M. Ralph, T. Das, P.J. Neiman, and D. R. Cayan. 2011. Atmospheric rivers, floods and the water resources of California. Water 3:445–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field, J. P., J. Belnap, D. D. Breshears, J. C. Neff, G. S. Okin, J. J. Whicker, T. H. Painter, S. H. Ravi, M. C. Reheis, and R. L. Reynolds. 2010. The ecology of dust. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 8:423–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franco, G., D. R. Cayan, S. Moser, M. Hanemann, and M-A. Jones. 2011. Second California assessment: Integrated climate change impacts assessment of natural and managed systems. Climatic Change 109 (Suppl. 1): S1-S19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzales, P. 2011. Science for natural resource management under climate change. Issues in Science and Technology Summer 2011:65–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guido, Z., D. Ferguson, and G. Garfin. 2009. Putting knowledge into action: Tapping the institutional knowledge of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions 2 and 8 to address climate change; A synthesis of World Café discussion sessions during the FWS, USGS, and UA sponsored Climate Change Workshop, August 18–20, 2008, Tucson, Arizona. http://www.fws.gov/southwest/Climatechange/docs/Knowledge_into_Action_FINAL[1].pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hebeger, M., M. Cooley, P. Herrera, P. H. Gleick, and E. Moore. 2011. Potential impacts of increased coastal flooding on California due to sea-level rise. Climatic Change 109 (Suppl. 1): S229-S244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hessl, A. E. 2011. Pathways for climate change effects on fire: Models, data, and uncertainties. Progress in Physical Geography 35:393–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughson, D. L., D. E. Busch, S. Davis, S. P. Finn, S. Caicco, and P. S. J. Verburg. 2011. Natural resource mitigation, adaptation and research needs related to climate change in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert: Workshop summary. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5103. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health (IWGCCH). 2010. A human health perspective on climate change: A report outlining the research needs on the human health effects of climate change. Research Triangle Park, NC: Environmental Health Perspectives / National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002272. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/assets/docs_a_e/climatereport2010.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karl, T. R., J. M. Melillo, and T. C. Peterson, eds. 2009. Global climate change impacts in the United States. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://downloads.globalchange.gov/usim-pacts/pdfs/climate-impacts-report.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucier, A., M. Palmer, H. Mooney, K. Nadelhoffer, D. Ojima, and F. Chavez. 2006. Ecosystems and climate change: Research priorities for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program; Recommendations from the scientific community. Special Series No. SS-92-06. Solomons: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/ecosystems/eco-workshop-report-jun06.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, G. 2010. Water, climate change, and sustainability in the Southwest. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107:21256–21262.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, T. E., and J. L. Maron. 2012. Climate impacts on bird and plant communities from altered animal plant interactions. Nature Climate Change 2:195–200, doi:10.1038/nclimate1348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mastrandrea, M. D., C. B. Field, T. F. Stocker, O. Edenhofer, K. L. Ebi, D. J. Frame, H. Held, et al. 2010. Guidance note for lead authors of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report on consistent treatment of uncertainties. Geneva: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/supporting-material/uncertainty-guidance-note.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mastrandrea, M. D., K. J. Mach, G-K. Plattner, O. Edenhofer, T. F. Stocker, C. B Field, K. L. Ebi, and P. R. Matschoss. 2011. The IPCC AR5 guidance note on consistent treatment of uncertainties: A common approach across the working groups. Climatic Change 108:675–691, doi: 10.1007/s10584-011-0178-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Means, E., M. Laugier, J. Daw, L. Kaatz, and M. Waage. 2010. Decision support planning methods: Incorporating climate change uncertainties into water planning. WUCA White Paper. San Francisco: Water Utilities Climate Alliance. http://www.wucaonline.org/html/actions_publications.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milly, P. C. D, J. Betancourt, M. Falkenmark, R. M. Hirsch, Z. W. Kundzewicz, D. P. Lettenmaier, and R. J. Stouffer. 2008. Stationarity is dead: Whither water management? Science 319:573–574.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, R. H., and G. Yohe. 2011. Assessing and communicating confidence levels and uncertainties in the main conclusions of the NCA 2013 report: Guidance for authors and contributors. N.p.: National Climate Assessment Development and Advisory Committee (NCADAC).

    Google Scholar 

  • Munson, S. M., R. H. Webb, J. Belnap, J. A. Hubbard, D. E. Swann, and S. Rutman. 2012. Forecasting climate change impacts to plant community composition in the Sonoran Desert. Global Change Biology 18:1083–1095, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02598.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (NRC). 2009. Informing decisions in a changing climate. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (NRC). 2010. Advancing the science of climate change. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Wildlife Federation (NWF). 2011. Facing the storm: Indian tribes, climate-induced weather extremes and the future for Indian Country. Boulder, CO: NWF, Rocky Mountain Research Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Painter, T. H., J. S. Deems, J. Belnap, A. F. Hamlet, C. C. Landry, and B. Udall. 2010. Response of Colorado River runoff to dust radiative forcing in snow. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107:17125–17130.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raiffa, H., and R. Schlaiffer. 2000. Applied statistical decision theory. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redsteer, M. H., R. C. Bogle, and J. M. Vogel. 2011. Monitoring and analysis of sand dune movement and growth on the Navajo Nation, southwestern United States. U. S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2011–3085. Washington, DC: USGS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed, T. E., D. E. Schindler, and R. S. Waples. 2011. Interacting effects of phenotypic plasticity and evolution on population persistence in a changing climate. Conservation Biology 25:56–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rieman, B. E., and D. J. Isaak. 2010. Climate change, aquatic ecosystems, and fishes in the Rocky Mountain West: Implications and alternatives for management. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-250. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salazar, K. 2009. Order No. 3289: Addressing the impacts of climate change on America’s water, land, and other natural and cultural resources. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Interior. http://www.doi.gov/whatwedo/climate/cop15/upload/SecOrder3289.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandei, B., L. Arge, B. Dalsgaard, R. G. Davies, K. J. Gaston, W. J. Sutherland, and J.-C. Svenning. 2011. The influence of Late Quaternary climate-change velocity on species endemism. Science 344:660–664.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Southwest Climate Science Center. 2012. Southwest climate summit. http://swcsc.arizona.edu/content/southwest-climate-summit-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 2011. Rapid ecoregional assessments. http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/Landscape_Approach/reas.html (last updated May 25, 2012).

    Google Scholar 

  • U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). 2010. Climate Research Roadmap Workshop: Summary report; May 13–14, 2010. DOE SC-0133. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2009. Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Coastal Management: A Workshop on the Coastal Ecosystems of California, Oregon and Washington, January 29–30 2009, San Francisco, California. http://www.fws.gov/pacific/Climatechange/meetings/Coastal.cfm.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2010. Forest Service global change research strategy, 2009–2019: Implementation plan; May 2010. FS-948. N.p.: USFS. http://www.fs.fed.us/research/publications/climate/GlobalChangeStrategy_7.7.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raucher, R. S. 2011. The Future of Research on Climate Change Impacts on Water: A workshop focusing on adaptation strategies and information needs; jointly sponsored by Water Research Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Environment Research Foundation, and Universities Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Denver: Water Research Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Western Governors’ Association (WGA). 2006. Water needs and strategies for a sustainable future. Denver: WGA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Western Governors’ Association (WGA) . 2008. Water needs and strategies for a sustainable future: Next steps. Denver: WGA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, A. P., C. D. Allen, C. I. Millar, T. W. Swetnam, J. Michaelson, C. J. Still, and S. W. Levitt. 2010. Forest responses to increasing aridity and warmth in the southwestern United States. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107:21289–21294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Endnotes

Endnotes

  1. i

    See http://greatbasin.wr.usgs.gov/GBRMP/

  2. ii

    Western Water Assessment, personal communications.

  3. iii

    See http://www.doi.gov/csc/southwest/

  4. iv

    See http://www.doi.gov/lcc/

  5. v

    See http://californialcc.org/,_http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/lcc, and http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/Great_Basin_LCC.html

  6. vi

    See http://www.doi.gov/csc/southwest/

  7. vii

    See http://tkbulletin.wordpress.com/

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Institute of the Environment

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Busch, D.E. et al. (2013). Research Strategies for Addressing Uncertainties. In: Garfin, G., Jardine, A., Merideth, R., Black, M., LeRoy, S. (eds) Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States. NCA Regional Input Reports. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-484-0_20

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics