Below are two important climate related happenings for folks who would like to know more or who would like to be more involved with policy and science around climate change.
Senate to hold hearing on climate modeling
On May 8, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a full committee hearing, Improving the Capacity of U.S. Climate Modeling for Decision-Makers and End-Users. The hearing will examine the current computing capacity to process models at the regional and local scales, the need for continuous observational data to support the models, and the basic science to support the improvement of the next generation of climate models to meet the needs of decision makers. The hearing will focus on developing applications, consumer expectations, and network operation. The hearing will include testimony from several leading experts, including Dr. Edward S. Sarachik of the University of Washington. The hearing will take place at 2:30 pm. For more information or to view the hearing via the web, you can click here. Modeling of climate change is a critical link from the loftier realms of climate science to the practical policy response. Also, the finer the models become, the better the understanding of regional and local-scale impacts, which gets us into concrete local actions.
NOAA seeks public comment on climate change report
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking public comments on its draft report, U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.4 “Abrupt Climate Change.” The report focuses on the potential for abrupt changes to the Earth’s climate system. Comments on the report must be received by June 16. For more information: http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap3-4/default.php. Though they may seem removed from everyday life, these types of reports very often feed indirectly into policy and action by the federal government, and also can play an important role in state priorities. National and state Sea Grant priorities–to which this author is somewhat beholden–are also influenced by these types of reports.
