Lessons Learned from IPCC AR4: Scientific Developments Needed to Understand, Predict, and Respond to Climate Change

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The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that global warming is “unequivocal” and that most of the observed increase since the mid-twentieth century is very likely due to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations, with discernible human influences on ocean warming, continental-average temperatures, temperature extremes, wind patterns, and other physical and biological indicators, impacting both socioeconomic and ecological systems. It is now clear that we are committed to some level of global climate change, and it is imperative that this be considered when planning future climate research and observational strategies. The Global Climate Observing System program (GCOS), the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) therefore initiated a process to summarize the lessons learned through AR4 Working Groups I and II and to identify a set of high-priority modeling and observational needs. Two classes of recommendations emerged. First is the need to improve climate models, observational and climate monitoring systems, and our understanding of key processes. Second, the framework for climate research and observations must be extended to document impacts and to guide adaptation and mitigation efforts. Research and observational strategies specifically aimed at improving our ability to predict and understand impacts, adaptive capacity, and societal and ecosystem vulnerabilities will serve both purposes and are the subject of the specific recommendations made in this paper.

IGAC Core Project Office, NOAA-PMEL, Seattle, Washington

Global Climate Observing System, WMO, Geneva, Switzerland

Climate Change Risk Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden

ACE CRC and CSIRO Marine Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research and Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems, Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

NCAR,* Climate and Global Dynamics Division, Boulder, Colorado

NOAA/NCDC, Asheville, North Carolina

University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Climate Program, Monash University, Victoria, Australia

Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, United Kingdom

QUEST, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey

Met Office Satellite Applications, Exeter, United Kingdom

CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and Desert Knowledge, CRC, Canberra, Australia

University of Colorado, CIRES, Boulder, Colorado

Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

Climate Analysis Section, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado

Institute for Environment and Sustainability, DG-Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy

Climate Research Division, Environment Canada, Downsview, Ontario, Canada

*The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Sarah J. Doherty, IGAC Core Project Office, NOAA-PMEL, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, E-mail: igac.seattle@noaa.gov

The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that global warming is “unequivocal” and that most of the observed increase since the mid-twentieth century is very likely due to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations, with discernible human influences on ocean warming, continental-average temperatures, temperature extremes, wind patterns, and other physical and biological indicators, impacting both socioeconomic and ecological systems. It is now clear that we are committed to some level of global climate change, and it is imperative that this be considered when planning future climate research and observational strategies. The Global Climate Observing System program (GCOS), the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) therefore initiated a process to summarize the lessons learned through AR4 Working Groups I and II and to identify a set of high-priority modeling and observational needs. Two classes of recommendations emerged. First is the need to improve climate models, observational and climate monitoring systems, and our understanding of key processes. Second, the framework for climate research and observations must be extended to document impacts and to guide adaptation and mitigation efforts. Research and observational strategies specifically aimed at improving our ability to predict and understand impacts, adaptive capacity, and societal and ecosystem vulnerabilities will serve both purposes and are the subject of the specific recommendations made in this paper.

IGAC Core Project Office, NOAA-PMEL, Seattle, Washington

Global Climate Observing System, WMO, Geneva, Switzerland

Climate Change Risk Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden

ACE CRC and CSIRO Marine Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research and Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems, Cooperative Research Centre, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

NCAR,* Climate and Global Dynamics Division, Boulder, Colorado

NOAA/NCDC, Asheville, North Carolina

University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Climate Program, Monash University, Victoria, Australia

Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, United Kingdom

QUEST, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey

Met Office Satellite Applications, Exeter, United Kingdom

CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and Desert Knowledge, CRC, Canberra, Australia

University of Colorado, CIRES, Boulder, Colorado

Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

Climate Analysis Section, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado

Institute for Environment and Sustainability, DG-Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy

Climate Research Division, Environment Canada, Downsview, Ontario, Canada

*The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Sarah J. Doherty, IGAC Core Project Office, NOAA-PMEL, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, E-mail: igac.seattle@noaa.gov
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