The Water Science and Technology Board, part of the National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report based on the proceedings of a workshop that examines whether floods and droughts are becoming more prominent in the United States, how they are changing at the regional scale, and what is known about global climate’s influence on these changes. This report presents an overview of the current state of the science in terms of climate change and extreme hydrolo...

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, part of the National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report that builds on the four previous America's Climate Choices study reports and reaffirms that the preponderance of scientific evidence points to human activities as the most likely cause for most of the global warming that has occurred during the last several decades. The committee that produced the report makes the case that the environmental, eco...

The Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, part of the National Academies' Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report that sets out a research agenda for an improved understanding of Earth system processes during the transition to a warmer world. High-priority research initiatives include gaining a better understanding of the sensitivity of climate to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, the amount of sea-level rise as the ice sheets melt, and the resilience of ecosyste...

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, part of the National Academies' Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released booklet that helps quantify the outcomes of different stabilization targets for greenhouse gas concentrations using analyses and information drawn from the scientific literature. Based on a report produced by DELS in 2010, the booklet is geared to help policymakers, students, and the general public better understand the original report's important scientific i...

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, part of the National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report that lays out 71 metrics or observations -- such as sea-level rise, seasonal snow cover, and air quality -- that when taken together may give advance warning of climate-related changes and their impacts across a range of both local and global scales. DELS, like TRB, is a division of the National Academies, which include the National Academy of Science...

The Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change, part of the National Academies’ Division on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, has released the proceedings of a conference that explored the state of science for considering socioeconomic changes over long time frames, and examined definitions and concepts designed to help facilitate communication across research communities. TRB is a division of the National Academies, which include the National Academy of Sciences, National...

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, part of the National Academies' Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report that quantifies the outcomes of different stabilization targets for greenhouse gas concentrations using analyses and information drawn from the scientific literature. Although it does not recommend or justify any particular stabilization target, the report provides important scientific insights about the relationships among emissions, greenhouse gas c...

The Naval Studies Board, part of the National Academies’ Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences (DEPS), has released a letter report that is the first component of a study to assess the implications of climate change for the U.S. Naval Services. The report highlights issues that could have potential near-term impacts, impose a need for near-term awareness, or require near-term planning to ensure that longer-term naval capabilities are protected. DEPS, like TRB, is a division of the Nat...

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, part of the National Academies' Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report that examines the impacts of climate change and how the United States can begin adapting to them in beneficial ways. The report explores activities under way at state and local levels, adaptation options, and how the nation can become better prepared to make adaptation choices. The report is part of the most comprehensive study of climate change to da...

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, part of the National Academies' Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report that explores strategies to contribute to the global effort of limiting future climate change by reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and by enhancing greenhouse gas “sinks,” such as forests. The report identifies strategies that appear to be feasible now or in the near term, as well as strategies that may play an important role in the longer term. ...

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, part of the National Academies' Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report that explores what the scientific community has learned about climate change and its interactions with human and natural systems in 12 areas of interest to decision makers. The committee that developed the report identifies advances needed to improve the effectiveness of actions taken to respond to climate change—including actions to limit its magnitu...

The Science and Technology for Sustainability Program, part of the National Academies’ Division on Policy and Global Affairs (PGA), has released a report that explores the effects of biofuel production and use on water quality and quantity, soils, wildlife habitat and biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, public health, and the economic viability of rural communities. PGA, like TRB, is a division of the National Academies, which include the National Academy of Sciences, Nationa...

The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, part of the National Academies' Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS), has released a report that explores current capabilities for estimating and verifying greenhouse gas emissions, and examines potential ways to improve these capabilities. The report focuses on the greenhouse gases that result from human activities, have long lifetimes in the atmosphere, and are currently included in international agreements. DELS, like TRB, is a division o...

The National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering have released a report that examines the potential for reducing energy demand through improving efficiency by using existing technologies, technologies developed but not yet utilized widely, and prospective technologies. The book is a part of the America’s Energy Future project, which explores energy technologies, assesses the supply of and demand for energy, and examines new and existing technologies to meet these deman...

The National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering have released a report that analyzes the potential of a wide range of technologies for generation, distribution, and conservation of energy. The report considers technologies to increase energy efficiency, coal-fired power generation, nuclear power, renewable energy, oil and natural gas, and alternative transportation fuels. It assesses the associated impacts and projected costs of implementing each technology and catego...

The National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS) and Division on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE) have released a report that evaluates the progress of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.  According to the committee that developed the report, the program has made good progress in documenting and understanding changes that are occurring on a global scale, but less progress has been made in the study of regional impacts, human vulnerabilities, an...

The National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS) has released a report that assesses the state of scientific efforts to reconstruct surface temperature records for the Earth over approximately the last 2,000 years and the implications of these efforts for our understanding of global climate change.  According to the committee that produced the report, there is sufficient evidence from tree rings, retreating glaciers, and other "proxies" to say with confidence that the l...

The federal government should implement its revised strategic plan for climate change research as soon as possible, says a new report from the National Academies' Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate. The committee that wrote the report said the plan is "much improved," broader in scope, and more ambitious than a previously reviewed draft, but commitments to fund many of the newly proposed activities are lacking.

Although technical, economic, infrastructure, and social barriers remain, a transition to hydrogen as a major fuel in the next 50 years could significantly change the U.S. energy economy, reducing pollution and expanding domestic energy resources, says a new report from the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council. The transition to a hydrogen economy will take many decades, and any reductions in oil imports and carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be minor during t...

Information identified by participants at a workshop sponsored by the National Academies' Committee on Novel Approaches to the Management of Greenhouse Gases from Energy Systems is now available.