Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Understanding Climatic Impacts, Vulnerabilities, and Adaptation in the United States: Building a Capacity for Assessment

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on the experience of the U.S. National Assessment, we propose a program of research and analysis to advance capability for assessment of climate impacts, vulnerabilities, and adaptation options. We identify specific priorities for scientific research on the responses of ecological and socioeconomic systems to climate and other stresses; for improvement in the climatic inputs to impact assessments; and for further development of assessment methods to improve their practical utility to decision-makers. Finally, we propose a new institutional model for assessment, based principally on regional efforts that integrate observations, research, data, applications, and assessment on climate and linked environmental-change issues. The proposed program will require effective collaboration between scientists, resource managers, and other stakeholders, all of whose expertise is needed to define and prioritize key regional issues, characterize relevant uncertainties, and assess potential responses. While both scientifically and organizationally challenging, such an integrated program holds the best promise of advancing our capacity to manage resources and the economy adaptively under a changing climate.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adger, W. N. and Kelly, P. M.: 1999, ‘Social Vulnerability to Climate Change and the Architecture of Entitlements’, Mitigation Adaptation Strategies Global Change 4, 253–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alberto, A. M. P., Ziska, L. H., Cervancia, C. R., and Manalo, P. A.: 1996, ‘The Influence of Increasing Carbon Dioxide and Temperature on Competitive Interactions between a C3 Crop, Rice (Oryza sativa), and a C4 Weed (Echinochloa glabrescens)’, Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 23, 795–802.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayres, M. P. and Lombardero, M. J.: 2000, ‘Assessing the Consequences of Global Change for Forest Disturbance from Herbivores and Pathogens’, Sci. Total Environ. 26, 263–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkhout, F. and Hertin, J.: 2000, ‘Socio–Economic Scenarios for Climate Impact Assessment’, Global Environ. Chang 10, 165–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boer, G. J., Flato, G. M., and Ramsden, D.: 1999b, ‘A Transient Climate Change Simulation with Historical and Projected Greenhouse Gas and Aerosol Forcing: Projected Climate for the 21st Century’, Clim. Dyn. 16, 427–450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boer, G. J., Flato, G. M., Reader, M. C., and Ramsden, D.: 1999a, ‘A Transient Climate Change Simulation with Historical and Projected Greenhouse Gas and Aerosol Forcing: Experimental Design and Comparison with the Instrumental Record for the 20th Century’, Clim. Dyn. 16, 405–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohle, H. G., Downing, T. E., and Watts, M. J.: 1994, ‘Climate Change and Social Vulnerability: Toward a Sociology and Geography of Food Insecurity’, Global Environ. Change 4, 37–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broecker, W. S.: 1987, ‘Unpleasant Surprises in the Greenhouse’, Nature 328, 123–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broecker, W. S: 1997, ‘Thermohaline Circulation, the Achilles Heel of our Climate System: Will Manmade CO2 Upset the Current Balance?’, Science 278, 1582–1588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, C. R., Smit, B., Brklacich, M., Johnston, T. R., Smithers, J., Chiotti, Q., and Singh, B.: 2000, ‘Adaptation in Canadian Agriculture to Climatic Variability and Change’, Clim. Change 45, 181–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, G. E., Moser, S. C., Ratick, S. J., Dow, K., Meyer, W. B., Emani, S., Jin, W., Kasperson, J. X., Iasperson, R.K, and Schwarz, H. E.: 1998, ‘Assessing the Vulnerability of Coastal Communities to Extreme Storms: The Case of Revere, MA, U.S.A.’, Mitigation Adaptation Strategies Global Change 3, 59–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, W. C., Jaeger, J., Corell, R., Kasperson, R., McCarthy, J. J., Cash, D., Cohen, S. J., Desanker, P., Dickson, N. M., Epsteon, P., Guston, D. H., Hall, J. M., Jaeger, C., Janetos, A., Leary, N., Levy, M. A., Luers, A., MacCracken, M., Melillo, J., Moss, R., Nigg, J. M., Parry, M. L., Parson, E.A., Ribot, J. C., Schellnhuber, H.–J., Schrag, D. P., Seilestad, G. A., Shea, E., Vogel, C., and Wilbanks, T. J.: 2000, ‘Assessing Vulnerability to Global Environmental Risks’, Report of the Workshop on Vulnerability to Global Environmental Change: Challenges for Research, Assessment and Decision Making. May 22–25, 2000, Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia. BCSIA Discussion Paper 2000–12, Environment and Natural Resources Program, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

  • Conroy, J. P., Seneweera, S., Basra, A. S., Roger, G., and Nissenwooler, B.: 1994, ‘Influence of Rising Atmospheric CO2 Temperature on Growth, Yield, and Grain Quality of Cereal Crops’, Aust. J. Plant. Physiol. 21, 741–758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costanza, R., d'Arge, R., de Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., Limburg, K., Naeem, S., O'Neill, R., Paruelo, J., Raskin, R., Sutton, P., and van den Belt, M.: 1997, ‘The Value of the World's Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital’, Nature 387, 259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramer, W., Shugart, H. H., Noble, I. R., Woodward, F. I., Bugmann, H., Bondeau, A., Foley, J. A., Gardner, R. H., Lauenroth, W. K., Pitelka, L. F., and Sutherst, R.W.: 1999, ‘Ecosystem Composition and Structure’, in Walker, B., Steffen, W., Canadell, J., and Ingram, J. (eds.), The Terrestrial Biosphere and Global Change, Implications for Natural and Managed Ecosystems, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 190–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutter, S. L.: 1996, ‘Vulnerability to Environmental Hazards’, Prog. Hum. Geog. 20, 529–539.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downing, T. E. (ed.): 1996, Climate Change and World Food Security, Springer, Berlin, 662 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downing, T. E., Butterfield, R., Cohen, S., Huq, S., Moss, R., Rahman, A., Sokona, Y., and Stephen, L.: 2000, ‘Climate Change Vulnerability: Toward a Framework for Understanding Adaptability to Climate Change Impacts’, Report to the United Nations Environment Programme, Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University.

  • Duke, J. S. and Mooney, H. A.: 1999, ‘Does Global Change Increase the Success of Biological Invaders?’, Trends in Ecology and Evolution 14, 135–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Easterling, W. E., Crosson, P. R., Rosenberg, N. J., McKenney, M. S., Katz, L.A., and Lemon, K. M.: 1993, ‘Agricultural Impacts of and Responses to Climate Change in theMissouri–Iowa–Nebraska–Kansas (MINK) Region’, Clim. Change 24, 23–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glantz, M. H. (ed.): 1998 Societal Responses to Regional Climatic Change: Forecasting by Analogy. Westview Press, Boulder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, P. J., Ingram, J. S. I., Campbell, B., Goudriaan, J., Hunt, L. A., Landsberg, J. J., Linder, S., Stafford Smith, M., Sutherst, R. W., and Valentin, C.: 1999, ‘Managed Production Systems’, in Walker, B., Steffen, W., Canadell, J., and Ingram, J. (eds.), The Terrestrial Biosphere and Global Change, Implications for Natural and Managed Ecosystems, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 229–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heal, G.: 1997, ‘Discounting and Climate Change’, Clim. Change 37, 335–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): 2000, Emissions Scenarios, Special Report of Working Group III, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): 2001a, Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis, Third Assessment Report of Working Group I, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): 2001b, Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, Third Assessment Report of Working Group II, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • IRICP (International Research Institute for Climate Prediction): 2000, ‘Recent Information and References on El Nino Prediction’, Available at http://iri.ucsd.edu/forecast.

  • Johns T. C., Carnell, R. E., Crossley, J. F., Gregory, J. M., Mitchell, J. F. B., Senior, C. A., Tett, S. F. B., and Wood, R. A.: 1997, ‘The Second Hadley Centre Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere GCM: Model Description, Spinup, and Validation’, Clim. Dyn. 13, 103–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasperson, R. E., Kasperson, J. X., Turner II, B. L., Dow, K., and Meyer, W. B.: 1995, ‘Critical Environmental Regions: Concepts, Distinctions, and Issues’, in Kasperson, J. X., Kasperson, R. E., and Turner II, B. L. (eds.), Regions at Risk: Comparisons of Threatened Environments, United Nations University Press, New York, pp. 1–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kane, S. and Yohe, G.: 2000, ‘Societal Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change: An Introduction’, Clim. Change 45, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kates, R. W., Ausubel, J. H., and Berberian, M. (eds.): 1985. Climate Impact Assessment: Studies of the Impact of Climate and Society, John Wiley, Chichester, U.K.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith, D. W.: 1996, ‘When is it Appropriate to Combine Expert Judgments?’, Clim. Change 33, 139–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, P. and Adger, W. N.: 2000, ‘Theory and Practice in Assessing Vulnerability to Climate Change and Facilitating Adaptation’, Clim. Change 47, 325–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, R. J. T. and Nicholls, R. J.: 1999, ‘Assessment of Coastal Vulnerability to Climate Change’, Ambio 28, 182–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Körner, C., Bazzaz, F. A., and Field, C. B.: 1996, ‘The Significance of Biological Variation, Organism Interactions, and Life Histories in CO2 Research’, in Körner, C. and Bazzaz, F. A. (eds.), Carbon Dioxide, Populations, and Communities, Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 443–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln D. E., Fajer, E. D., and Johnson, R. H.: 1993. ‘Plant–Insect Herbivore Interactions in Elevated CO2 Environments’, Trends in Ecology and Evolution 8, 64–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzoni, I., Jordan, A., Hulme, M., Turner, R. K., and O'Riordan, T.: 2000, ‘A Co–Evolutionary Approach to Climate Change Impact Assessment: Part 1, Integrating Socio–Economic and Climate Change Scenarios’, Global Environ. Change 10, 57–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCracken, M. C.: 2002, ‘Do the Uncertainty Ranges in the IPCC and U.S. National Assessments Account Adequately for Possibly Overlooked Climatic Influences?’, Clim. Change 52, 13–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mack, M. C. and D'Antonio, C. M.: 1998, ‘Impacts of Biological Invasions on Disturbance Regimes’, Trends Ecol. Evol. 13, 195–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsui T., Namuco, O. S., Ziska L. H., and Horie, T.: 1997, ‘Effects of High Temperature and CO2 Concentration on Spikelet Sterility in Indica Rice’, Field Crop. Res. 51, 213–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayewski, P. A., Meeker, L. D., Twickler, M. S., Whitlow, S., Yang, Q. Z., Lyons, W. B., and Prentice, M.: 1997, ‘Major Features and Forcing of High–Latitude Northern Hemisphere Atmospheric Circulation using a 110 000 Year–Long Glaciochemical Series’, J. Geophysical. Res. Oceans 102, 345–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, B., Mayer, N., and Street, R.: 1997, The Canada Country Study: Climate Impacts and Adaptation, Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Environment Canada, Downsview, Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendelsohn, R., Nordhaus, W. D., and Shaw, D.: 1994, ‘The Impact of Global Warming on Agriculture: A Ricardian Analysis’, Am. Econ. Rev. 84, 753–771.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, W. B., Butzer, K. W., Downing, T. E., Turner II, B. L., Wenzel, G. W., and Wescoat, J. L.: 1998, ‘Reasoning by Analogy’, in Rayner, S. and Malone, E. L. (eds.), Human Choice and Climate Change, Vol. 3: Tools for Analysis, Battle Press, Columbus, Ohio, pp. 217–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, K. A., Rhodes, S. L., and MacDonnell, L. J.: 1997, ‘Water Allocation in a Changing Climate: Institutions and Adaptation’, Clim. Change 35, 157–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mimura, N. and Harasawa, H. (eds.): 2000, Data Book of Sea–Level Rise, 2000, Centre for Global Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Environment Agency of Japan, Ibaraki, 280 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell J. F. B., Johns, T. C., Gregory, J. M., and Tett, S.: ‘Climate Response to Increasing Levels of Greenhouse Gases and Sulphate Aerosols’, Nature 376, 501–504.

  • Morgan, M. G. and Dowlatabadi, H.: 1996, ‘Learning from Integrated Assessment of Climate Change’, Clim. Change 34, 337–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, M. G. and Henrion, M.: 1990, Uncertainty: A Guide to Dealing with Uncertainty in Quantitative Risk and Policy Analysis, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, M. G., Kandlikar, M., Risbey, J., and Dowlatabadi, H.: 1999, ‘Why Conventional Tools for Policy Analysis Are often Inadequate for Problems of Global Change’, Clim. Change 41, 271–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, M. G., Pitelka, L., and Shevliakova, E.: 2001, ‘Elicitation of Expert Judgments of Climate Change Impacts on Forest Ecosystems’, Clim. Change 49, 279–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss, R. H. and Schneider, S. H.: 2000, ‘Uncertainties in the IPCC TAR: Recommendations to Lead Authors for more Consistent Assessment and Reporting’, in Pachauri, R., Taniguchi, T., and Tanaka, K. (eds.), Guidance Papers on Cross–Cutting Issues in the Third Assessment Report of the IPCC, Inter–governmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, pp. 33–51. Available at www.gispri.or.jp.

    Google Scholar 

  • NAST (National Assessment Synthesis Team): 2000, Climate Change Impacts on the United States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. Overview, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.

    Google Scholar 

  • NAST (National Assessment Synthesis Team): 2001, Climate Change Impacts on the United States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change. Foundation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordhaus, W. D.: 1997, ‘Discounting in Economics and Climate Change’, Clim. Change 37, 315–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council), Climate Research Committee: 1995, Natural Climate Variability on Decade–to–Century Time Scales, National Academy Press, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council), Committee on Risk Characterization: 1996, Understanding Risk: Informing Decisions in a Democratic Society, National Academy Press, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council), Climate Research Committee: 1998, Capacity of U.S. Climate Modeling to Support Climate Change Assessment Activities, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

  • NRC (National Research Council), Board on Sustainable Development: 1999a, Our Common Journey: A Transition toward Sustainability, National Academy Press, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council), Committee on Global Change Research: 1999b, Global Environmental Change, Research Pathways for the Next Decade, National Academy Press, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (National Research Council), Panel on the Human Dimensions of Seasonal–to–Interannual Climate Variability: 1999c, Making Climate ForecastsMatter, National Academy Press, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parry, M. and Livermore, M. (eds.): 1999, ‘A New Assessment of the Global Effects of Climate Change’, Global Environ. Change 9, Supp.

  • Parson, E. A. and Fisher–Vanden, K.: 1997, ‘Integrated Assessment Models of Global Climate Change’, Ann. Rev. Energ. Env. 22, 589–628.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parson, E. A. and Morgan, M. G.: 1998, ‘Guidance to Regional and Sectoral Teams for Analizing Socio–Economic and Ecological Impacts’, National Assessment Synthesis Team, U.S. Global Change Research Program. April 23, 1998. Washington, D.C.

  • Patterson, D. T.: 1995, ‘Weeds in a Changing Climate’, Weed Sci. 43, 685–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D. T., Westbrook, J. K., Joyce, R. J. V., Lingren, P. D., and Rogasik, J.: 1999, ‘Weeds, Insects, and Diseases’, Clim. Change 43, 711–727.

    Google Scholar 

  • PCAST (President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology): 1997, Federal Energy Research and Development for the Challenges of the 21st Century, Report of the Energy Research and Development Panel, Washington D.C.

  • Petschel–Held, G., Block, A., Cassel–Gintz, M., Kropp, J., Ludeke, M. K. B., Moldenhauer, O., Reusswig, F., and Schellnhuber, H. J.: 1999, ‘Syndromes of Global Change: A Qualitative Modeling Approach to Assist Global Environmental Management’, Environ. Model. Assess. 4, 195–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prinn, R., Jacoby, H., Sokolov, A., Wang, C., Xiao, X., Yang, Z., Eckhaus, R., Stone, P., Ellerman, D., Melillo, J., Fitzmaurice, J., Kicklighter, D., Holian, G., and Liu, Y.: 1999, ‘Integrated Global System Model for Climate Policy Assessment: Feedbacks and Sensitivity Studies’, Clim. Change 41, 469–546.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly, J., Hohmann, N., and Kane, S.: 1994, ‘Climate Change and Agricultural Trade:Who Benefits, Who Loses?’ Global Environ. Change 4, 24–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly, J. and Schimmelpfennig, D.: 2000, ‘Irreversibility, Uncertainty, and Learning: Portrait of Adaptation to Long–Term Climate Change’, Clim. Change 45, 253–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribot, J. C.: 1995, ‘The Causal Structure of Vulnerability: Its Application to Climate Impact Analysis’, GeoJournal 35, 119–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribot, J. C., Najam, A., and Watson, G.: 1996, ‘Climate Variation, Vulnerability and Sustainable Development in the Semi–arid Tropics’, in Ribot, J. C., Magalhães, A. R., and Panagides, S. S. (eds.), Climate Variability, Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the Semi–arid Tropics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 13–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Risbey, J., Kandlikar, M., Dowlatabadi, H., and Graetz, D.: 1999, ‘Scale, Context, and Decision Making in Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change’, Mitigation Adaptation Strategies Global Change 4, 137–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, N. and Crosson, P.: 1993, ‘An Overview of the MINK Study’, Clim. Change 24, 159–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenzweig, C. and Parry, M.: 1994, ‘Potential Impacts of Climate Change on World Food Supply’, Nature 367, 133–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotmans, J. and Dowlatabadi, H.: 1998, ‘Integrated Assessment Modeling’, in Rayner, S., and Malone, E. L. (eds.), Human Choice and Climate Change: An International Assessment, Vol. 3, ‘Tools for Policy Analysis’, Chapter 5, Battelle Press, Columbus, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sala, O. E., Chapin III, F. S., Gardner, R. H., Lauenroth, W. K., Mooney, H. A., and Ramakrishnan, P. S.: 1999, ‘Global Change, Biodiversity and Ecological Complexity’, inWalker, B., Steffen, W., Canadell, J., and Ingram, J., (eds.), The Terrestrial Biosphere and Global Change, Implications for natural and managed ecosystems, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 304–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, S. H., Easterling, W. E., and Mearns, L. O.: 2000, ‘Adaptation: Sensitivity to Natural Variability, Agent Assumptions and Dynamic Climate Changes’, Clim. Change 45, 203–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, S. H., Turner II, B. L., and Garriga, H. M.: 1997, ‘Imaginable Surprise in Global Change Science’, J. Risk Res. 1, 165–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, A. K.: 1990, ‘Food, Economics, and Entitlements’, in Dreze, J. and Sen, A. K. (eds.), The Political Economy of Hunger, Vol. 1., Clarendon, Oxford, pp. 34–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smit, B., Burton, I., Klein, R. J. T., and Street, R.: 1999, ‘The Science of Adaptation: A Framework for Assessment’, Mitigation Adaptation Strategies Global Change 4, 199–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smit, B., Burton, I., Klein, R. J. T., and Wandel, J.: 2000, ‘An Anatomy of Adaptation to Climate Change and Climate Variability’, Clim. Change 45, 225–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. B., Tol, R. S. J., Ragland, S., and Fankhauser, S.: 1998, ‘Proactive Adaptations to Climate Change: Three Case Studies on Infrastructure Investments’, IVM Discussion Paper D98/03.

  • Terleckyj, N. E.: 1999, ‘Analytic Documentation of Three Alternate Socioeconomic Projections, 1997–2050’, NPA Data Services, Inc., Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tol, R. S. J.: 1997, ‘The Social Cost Controversy’, in Sors, A., Liberatore, A., Funtowicz, S., Hourcade, J. C., and Fellous, J. L. (eds.), Prospects for Integrated Environmental Assessment: Proceedings of the International Symposium, DG–11, European Commission.

  • Tol, R. S. J. and Fankhauser, S.: 1997, ‘On the Representation of Impact in Integrated Assessment Models of Climate Change’, Environ. Model. Assess. 3, 63–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tol, R. S. J., Fankhauser, S., and Smith, J. B.: 1998, ‘The Scope for Adaptation to Climate Change: What Can We Learn from the Impact Literature?’, Global Environ. Change 8, 109–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tol, R. S. J., van der Grijp, N. M, Olsthoorn, A. A., and van der Werff, P. E.: 1999, Adapting to Climate Change: A Case Study on Riverine Flood Risks in the Netherlands, SIRCH Working Paper 5, Institute for Environmental Studies, Free University, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • UKCIP (U.K. Climate Impacts Programme): 1999, ‘Socio–Economic Future Scenarios for Climate Impact Assessment: Final Report’, Science and Technology Policy Research.

  • UKCIP (U.K. Climate Impacts Programme): 2000, Climate change: Assessing the Impacts–Identifying Responses. The First Three Years of the UK Climate Impacts Programme, U.K. Department of the Environment, Transport, and the Regions.

  • UKDETR (U.K. Department of the Environment, Transport, and the Regions): 1997, ‘The Climate Impacts LINK Project: Applying Results from the Hadley Centre's Climate Change Experiments for Climate Change Impacts Assessments’, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP, Feenstra, J., Burton, I., Smith, J., and Tol, R. (eds.): 1998, Handbook on Methods for Climate Impact Assessment and Adaptation, Strategies United Nations Environment Programme and Institute for Environmental Studies, Free University, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek, P. M., Mooney, H. A., Lubchenco J., and Melillo, J. M.: 1997, ‘Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems’, Science 277, 494–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volney, W., and Jan, A.: 1996, ‘Climate Change and Management of Insect Defoliators in Boreal Forest Ecosystems’, in Apps, M. J. and Price, D. T. (eds.), Forest Ecosystems, Forest Management, and the Global Carbon Cycle, NATO ASI Series, Vol. I 40, Springer–Verlag, Berlin, pp. 79–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, F. I.: 1987, Climate and Plant Distribution, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yohe, G., Neumann, J., Marshall, P., and Ameden, H.: 1996, ‘The Economic Cost of Greenhouse–Induced Sea–Level Rise for Developed Property in the United States’, Clim. Change 32, 387–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yohe, G. and Schlesinger, M.: 1998, ‘Sea–Level Change: The Expected Economic Cost of Protection or Abandonment in the United States’, Clim. Change, 38, 437–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziska, L. H.: 2000, ‘The Impact of Elevated CO2 on Yield Loss from a C3 and C4 Weed in Field–Grown Soybean’, Glob. Change Biol. 6, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziska, L. H. and Bunce, J. A.: 1997, ‘Influence of Increasing Carbon Dioxide Concentration on the Photosynthetic and Growth Stimulation of Selected C4 Crops and Weeds’, Photosynth. Res. 54, 199–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziska, L. H. and Caulfield, F. A.: 2000, ‘Rising CO2 and Pollen Production of Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), A Known Allergy–Inducing Species: Implications for Public Health’, Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 27, 10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziska, L. H. and Manalo, P. A.: 1996, ‘Increasing Night Temperature Can Reduce Seed Set and Potential Yield of Tropical Rice’, Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 23, 791–794.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziska, L. H. and Teasdale, J. R.: 2000, ‘Sustained Growth and Increased Tolerance to Glyphosate Observed in a C3 Perennial Weed, Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens), Grown at Elevated Carbon Dioxide’, Aust. J. Plant Physiol. 27, 159–166.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 79 JFK St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, U.S.A.

    Edward A. Parson

  2. American Meteorological Society, U.S.A

    Robert W. Corell

  3. Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A

    Eric J. Barron

  4. U.S.GS National Wetlands Research Center, U.S.A

    Virginia Burkett

  5. World Resources Institute, U.S.A

    Anthony Janetos

  6. U.S.DA Forest Service, U.S.A

    Linda Joyce

  7. NOAA National Climatic Data Center, U.S.A

    Thomas R. Karl

  8. U.S. Global Change Research Program and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, U.S.A

    Michael C. MacCracken

  9. Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, U.S.A

    Jerry Melillo

  10. Carnegie-Mellon University, U.S.A

    M. Granger Morgan

  11. Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry and National Center for Atmospheric Research, U.S.A

    David S. Schimel

  12. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S.A

    Thomas Wilbanks

Authors
  1. Edward A. Parson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert W. Corell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eric J. Barron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Virginia Burkett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anthony Janetos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Linda Joyce
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Thomas R. Karl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Michael C. MacCracken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jerry Melillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. M. Granger Morgan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. David S. Schimel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Thomas Wilbanks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Parson, E.A., Corell, R.W., Barron, E.J. et al. Understanding Climatic Impacts, Vulnerabilities, and Adaptation in the United States: Building a Capacity for Assessment. Climatic Change 57, 9–42 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022188519982

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022188519982

Keywords

Search

Navigation