Directory of Impacts and Indicators Resources

Home > Science > Environment > Climate Change > Impacts and Indicators

The effects and influences of climate change are transmitted through air, land, water, animal and plant life, and human health. Evidence of ecological impacts - gathered by observation, modeling and experimentation - is provided by indicators that measure things such as temperature, precipitation, storms, sea levels, atmospheric ozone, crop yields, human health, and the appearance, behavior and abundance of insects, birds, and animals in the wild. "Indicators are designed to provide clear signals about something of interest. Indicators communicate information about the status of things, and, when recorded over time, can yield valuable information about changes or trends. The values of an indicator over time can inform decisions about whether intervention is desirable or necessary, which of various interventions might yield the best results, and how successful interventions have been. Indicators therefore can and should guide policy and help direct research." Commission on Geosciences, Environment and Resources (CGER)

Subcategories

• Animals
• Ecosystems
• Plants
• Regional

Resources in This Category

• BASC - Understanding Climate Change Feedbacks

  http://www.nap.edu/books/0309090725/html/
  Examines processes in the climate system that can either amplify or damp the response to changes forced by external factors. An e-book version of the publication from the Board of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC), produced by the National Academies Press.

• Climate Change Linked to Civilization Collapse

  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/02/0227_climate4.html
  National Geographic News story about the hypothesis that past climate variations led to the collapse of civilizations, with speculation on the implications for our society's future.

• Climate Change Threatens a Million Species with Extinction

  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-01/ci-ccm010504.php
  Detailed press release reporting a study of biodiversity-rich regions. Computer models project the future movements and distributions of many species of plants, birds, animals, and insects, in response to changing conditions. From the School of Biology, University of Leeds.

• Effects of Climate Change on Protected Areas

  http://assets.panda.org/downloads/wwfparksbro.pdf
  WWF paper that examines recent research and provides evidence that the types of environmental changes predicted in climatic models are now taking place. Studies the implications to habitats, ecosystems, species, and local food webs, in areas that are rooted in the concept of permanence.

• Global Warming: Early Warning Signs

  http://www.climatehotmap.org/
  Map illustrates fingerprints and harbingers including observed consequences as indicated by periods of unusually warm weather, coastal flooding, and changes in glaciers and polar regions.

• Gulf Stream Shutdown

  http://www.gulfstreamshutdown.com/
  Abrupt climate change, global warming and the environment. If the Gulf Stream slows down or stops, what could be the effects? Websites, articles, books and forums.

• Habitat: Climate Change

  http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/globalwarming/wildlife.html
  An overview of the growing evidence of the sensitivity and vulnerability of natural and human systems, including brief descriptions of threats encountered by specific species: golden toad, western toad, salmon and trout, polar bears, arctic fox, chinstrap and adelie penguins, gray wolves, painted turtles, and tree swallows.

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - Working Group 1 : The Scientific Basis of Climate Change

  http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/001.htm
  Analyses a body of observations of all parts of the climate system; catalogues increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases; assesses the processes and feedbacks which govern the climate system.

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - Working Group 2 : Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability

  http://www.ipcc-wg2.org/
  Assesses the scientific, technical, environmental, economic and social aspects of climate change. Includes assessment report, publications and schedule of meetings.

• Methane Clathrate Outgassing and Anoxic Expansion in Southeast Asian Deeps Due to Global Warming

  http://www.marscigrp.org/sing95.html
  Paper by Pat Wilde and Mary Quinby-Hunt asserting that the warming of southeast Asian oceans could release colossal burst of greenhouse gases.

• Science Daily: Earth and Climate News

  http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/
  A daily news update of the latest research into climate change. Includes links to archived articles about ecology and environmental science.

• Temperature Trends: Atmospheric (Satellite MSU - RSS)

  http://www.ssmi.com/msu/msu_data_description.html
  One of two conflicting analyses of atmospheric temperatures derived from satellite observations. Browse images and download data. From Remote Sensing Systems, in collaboration with the NOAA Air Resources Laboratory.

• Temperature Trends: Surface (CRU)

  http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/data/temperature/
  Land and sea surface temperature anomalies, analysed by the Climate Research Unit, Norwich, UK. Includes scientific papers, dataset terminology, file formats, data for downloading, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to related web sites, grids, and datasets.

• Temperature Trends: Surface (GISS)

  http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/
  Global Historical Climate Network data, analysed by NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Includes background information, table data, individual station data, graphs, maps, animations, and references.

• Tropical Cyclones and Global Climate Change

  http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/IPCC/
  A Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Examines the natural variability, possible trends, frequency, and intensity of severe weather activity in tropical coastal regions, and explores the potential for change in greenhouse conditions.

• World View of Global Warming

  http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/
  Photographic documentation of climate change around the world. Focuses on effects such as shrinking glaciers, coral bleaching, insect and animal range changes, phenology, and rising sea level.

Related Categories

• Home > Science > Earth Sciences > Atmospheric Sciences > Meteorology > Weather Phenomena
• Home > Science > Environment > Biodiversity
• Home > Society > Issues > Environment

 

Home > Science > Environment > Climate Change > Impacts and Indicators

 

---

 

Thanks to DMOZ, which built a great web directory for nearly two decades and freely shared it with the web. About us