Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.2: Thresholds of Climate Change

Subject and Purpose:  The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), a consortium of Federal agencies performing climate science, has established a program for the creation of 21 Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAPs) as a part of its Strategic Plan.  These SAPs are to be administered by 13 Federal agencies over a 5-year period.  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a participant in the CCSP, is responsible for 3 of the 21 SAPs.  SAP 4.2: Thresholds of Climate Change on Ecosystems is the subject of this USGS peer review plan.

An author team of experts in the field of climate science and thresholds was established to address and synthesize the present state of scientific understanding regarding potential abrupt state changes or regime shifts in ecosystems in response to climate change in the development of SAP 4.2:  Thresholds of Climate Change on Ecosystems.  A Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) has been established by USGS to review the draft product and to provide advice and recommendations regarding the development of SAP 4.2.  The primary function of the committee is to review and provide comments on the draft SAP 4.2 ensuring the completeness of the SAP to serve as the CCSP definitive document on current knowledge pertaining to the topic of abrupt state changes or regime shifts in ecosystems in response to climate change.  Committee membership consists of Federal and non-Federal scientists, educators, and other experts who are engaged in the study of climate change issues.  SAP 4.2: Thresholds of Climate Change on Ecosystems will be prepared by the USGS under the auspices of the CCSP.  The published product will be released as a CCSP publication.  However, USGS also has responsibility for developing and implementing a rollout strategy to publicize the document’s release.