Climate plays an important role in where plants, animals, and humans can thrive. As the global climate changes, it threatens the safety and well-being of our communities, our economy, and our natural heritage. The USGS investigates the causes and consequences of climate change. This science is used by decision makers to develop more informed adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Reducing Risk from Extreme Events
Climate change can pose a variety of hazards both to human-built and natural environments. Climate change alters weather patterns and can create extreme conditions such as intense wildfires and more frequent storms that ecosystems and human communities are not always prepared for. These events create cascading conditions that can be destructive and hazardous to society, natural resources, and economies. The USGS is uniquely positioned to provide natural resource and community managers tools to prepare for, respond to, and recover from extreme, climate-driven events that impact the nation from mountains to coasts.
Impacts on Ecosystems
From mass bleaching event threatening coral reefs in the Caribbean to the severe heatwaves in the North Pacific, climate-induced changes threaten the viability and health of our natural resources and the communities they support. USGS science is essential for resource managers and policymakers to understand the implications of climate and ecosystem change and make well-informed, science-backed decisions. Working with natural and cultural resource managers, USGS scientists provide tools to help fish, wildlife, ecosystems, and communities anticipate, plan, and adapt to the impacts of climate and environmental change.
Carbon Emissions and Sequestration
The USGS conducts research on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in public lands maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which make up about one-fifth of the Nation’s land area.
The USGS investigates methods of land management aimed at decreasing emissions from federal lands and provides decision-makers and managers with tools to analyze tradeoffs associated with changing energy practices. The USGS also develops natural carbon dioxide removal technologies to remove carbon from the atmosphere through carbon sequestration and to decrease natural methane emissions.
Water Availability
The United States faces growing challenges to its water supply, and we need to know where there is not enough water, where we have more than we need, and the quality of the water. Using the nation’s premier water data collection network, USGS regularly assesses current water availability and develops novel methods for monitoring and predicting how changing hydrological conditions will impact communities and ecosystems. The USGS provides the data and information necessary for sound decision-making related to emergency response, flood forecasting, reservoir management, drinking water delivery, permit compliance, water-quality improvement, recreational safety and more in a changing climate.
Energy and Minerals for the Future
As the world economy transitions from the carbon-heavy energy sources of the past to renewable energy sources in the future, USGS scientists are at the forefront of the science behind that transition. From the critical mineral resources required to construct renewable energy infrastructure to the potential for geothermal and hydrogen energy, USGS science is foundational to the future of our Nation’s energy and mineral promise.
Remote Sensing
Tools such as Landsat, Earth-observing satellites, allow USGS scientists to lead the way in monitoring long-term changes in climate that impact Earth’s surface, oceans, and atmosphere. The technology can be used to map and monitor specific Earth changes and the scientific data collected is used to further understand climate change, its potential effects on the world and to improve projections of future change.
Powerhouse of Paleo
The USGS leads the field for understanding the causes and consequences of environmental change. Scientists can study ancient climate conditions, known as paleoclimates, to learn how and why the Earth changed in the past and how ancient life dealt with change.
The USGS is a powerhouse of paleo research because it supports the largest and most multidisciplinary group of scientists who study paleoclimate anywhere. By uncovering how past worlds changed and how life responded, they can help to better understand and prepare for the changes we’re seeing today and predict those to come.
Climate Science in Action
Over 90% of respondents observed climate change impacts on resources, yet 2/3 lack funding or capacity to address climate change. In the U.S., 80% of respondents identified the USGS as an important source of climate information. (2022 AFWA Climate Adaptation Survey of U.S. state and Canadian provincial and territorial fish and wildlife agencies)
The USGS builds the technical capacity of managers and decision makers and helps integrate climate change information into their decision making and products, equipping them to meet climate challenges ahead. This helps organizations across the country, from local non-profits to Department of the Interior agencies, better access, use, and interpret climate science and data.
- Overview
Reducing Risk from Extreme Events
Climate change can pose a variety of hazards both to human-built and natural environments. Climate change alters weather patterns and can create extreme conditions such as intense wildfires and more frequent storms that ecosystems and human communities are not always prepared for. These events create cascading conditions that can be destructive and hazardous to society, natural resources, and economies. The USGS is uniquely positioned to provide natural resource and community managers tools to prepare for, respond to, and recover from extreme, climate-driven events that impact the nation from mountains to coasts.
Impacts on EcosystemsFrom mass bleaching event threatening coral reefs in the Caribbean to the severe heatwaves in the North Pacific, climate-induced changes threaten the viability and health of our natural resources and the communities they support. USGS science is essential for resource managers and policymakers to understand the implications of climate and ecosystem change and make well-informed, science-backed decisions. Working with natural and cultural resource managers, USGS scientists provide tools to help fish, wildlife, ecosystems, and communities anticipate, plan, and adapt to the impacts of climate and environmental change.
Carbon Emissions and SequestrationThe USGS conducts research on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in public lands maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior, which make up about one-fifth of the Nation’s land area.
The USGS investigates methods of land management aimed at decreasing emissions from federal lands and provides decision-makers and managers with tools to analyze tradeoffs associated with changing energy practices. The USGS also develops natural carbon dioxide removal technologies to remove carbon from the atmosphere through carbon sequestration and to decrease natural methane emissions.
Water AvailabilityThe United States faces growing challenges to its water supply, and we need to know where there is not enough water, where we have more than we need, and the quality of the water. Using the nation’s premier water data collection network, USGS regularly assesses current water availability and develops novel methods for monitoring and predicting how changing hydrological conditions will impact communities and ecosystems. The USGS provides the data and information necessary for sound decision-making related to emergency response, flood forecasting, reservoir management, drinking water delivery, permit compliance, water-quality improvement, recreational safety and more in a changing climate.
Energy and Minerals for the FutureAs the world economy transitions from the carbon-heavy energy sources of the past to renewable energy sources in the future, USGS scientists are at the forefront of the science behind that transition. From the critical mineral resources required to construct renewable energy infrastructure to the potential for geothermal and hydrogen energy, USGS science is foundational to the future of our Nation’s energy and mineral promise.
Remote SensingTools such as Landsat, Earth-observing satellites, allow USGS scientists to lead the way in monitoring long-term changes in climate that impact Earth’s surface, oceans, and atmosphere. The technology can be used to map and monitor specific Earth changes and the scientific data collected is used to further understand climate change, its potential effects on the world and to improve projections of future change.
Powerhouse of PaleoThe USGS leads the field for understanding the causes and consequences of environmental change. Scientists can study ancient climate conditions, known as paleoclimates, to learn how and why the Earth changed in the past and how ancient life dealt with change.
The USGS is a powerhouse of paleo research because it supports the largest and most multidisciplinary group of scientists who study paleoclimate anywhere. By uncovering how past worlds changed and how life responded, they can help to better understand and prepare for the changes we’re seeing today and predict those to come.
Climate Science in ActionOver 90% of respondents observed climate change impacts on resources, yet 2/3 lack funding or capacity to address climate change. In the U.S., 80% of respondents identified the USGS as an important source of climate information. (2022 AFWA Climate Adaptation Survey of U.S. state and Canadian provincial and territorial fish and wildlife agencies)
The USGS builds the technical capacity of managers and decision makers and helps integrate climate change information into their decision making and products, equipping them to meet climate challenges ahead. This helps organizations across the country, from local non-profits to Department of the Interior agencies, better access, use, and interpret climate science and data.