The need for a systems approach to climate observations

摘要

Because climate is changing, we need to determine how and why. How do we best track and provide useful information of sufficient quality on climate? The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (IPCC 2001) concludes, "There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities." The National Academy of Sciences report titled, "Climate Change Science" [National Research Council (NRC) 2001] reaffirmed the IPCC findings and, subsequently, President Bush outlined the Administration's climate policy on 11 June 2001. This new policy recognizes that climate is changing. It emphasizes the uncertainties that exist and calls for the establishment of a U.S. Climate ChangeResearch Initiative "to study areas of uncertainty and identify priority areas where investments can make a difference." It also provides for "new resources to build climate observation systems and calls on other developed countries to provide matchingfunds, to help build climate observations in developing countries...."