Climate Impacts, Resource Management and Decision-Making: The Department of the Interior’s FY09 Climate Change Initiative

Tom Armstrong Senior Advisor for Global Change Programs U.S. Geological Survey [email protected]

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

USGS and DOI- - The Strengths of Science, Monitoring and Information • History of climate change science research and long-term monitoring stream gages to Landsat • Multi-disciplinary capabilities and scientific expertise across the landscape • Capability to assess prehistoric, historic and current climate effects • Ability to integrate broad arrays and types of information for effective decision-making Landsat 7

The Vision – A National Climate Effects Network • A truly integrated National climate effect monitoring network capable at a range of temporal and spatial scales • A scientific team focused on early detection and scientific analysis in support of adaptation or mitigation strategies • An information dissemination and decision support system for cost effective, scientifically rigorous management and policy decisions • The capacity for the next generation to protect and sustain our National trust resources through early detection of change

Climate Effects Network Primary Deliverables • CORE intensively-instrumented sentinel watersheds • Improved laboratory capabilities • Gradient-based monitoring and research networks • Expanded local to national biological, hydrological and geological surveys • New remote sensing tools and processing algorithms • An integrated early warning system for the effects of climate on ecological and societal resources • Better and more comprehensive science-based decision support tools • State of the art information management and dissemination systems • Institutionalized communication between resource managers, policy makers, and scientists- interfaced with the DOI task force

Regional Integrated Monitoring Systems (RIMS) Yukon-North Slope

National Integrated Network (NIN)

Decision Support Systems CommunityViz USGS National Integrated Network (GC-IMS)

DOI Climate Change Leadership – Science Priorities for the DOI Task Force

GC-IMS

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Development of a DOI integrated science and monitoring plan Integration of existing monitoring networks Downscaling of models An adaptive management approach with USGS science and DOI resource Bureaus Building decision-making capabilities centered on a robust Global Change Information Management System (GC-IMS) Improving integration and access to USGS and other DOI Bureau data sets crucial to climate change science and resource management

USGS Global Change Programs – Widely Distributed Science USGS Director Biology Discipline Geography Discipline Geology Discipline Water Discipline Status Trends Contaminants Invasives Diseases Fisheries Aquatics Wildlife Ecosystems Geographic Analysis Monitoring Land Remote Sensing Science Impact Energy Resources Mineral Resources Coastal Marine Geologic Mapping Earthquake Hazards Volcano Hazards Earth Surface Dynamics Cooperative Water Hydrologic Networks Analysis Hydrologic R & D NAWQA NSIP Toxic Substances Groundwater Resources Green Programs formally tied to global change (22.7 Million in FY07)

New USGS Global Change Organizational Framework • Bureau-level Senior Advisor for Global Change Programs • Global Change Bureau Advisory Committee • Global Change Science Advisory Council (formerly the Global Change Science Committee) • Global Change Public and Congressional Affairs Team

Bureau Advisory Committee • Wes Ward, Western Region REx • Stan Ponce, Central Region REx • Dave Russ, Eastern Region Rex • Earl Greene, Water • Bruce Jones, Geography • Pat Jellison, Geology • Bea Van Horne, Biology • Kevin Gallagher, GIO • Karen Wood, Public Affairs • Linda Smith, Congressional Affairs • Lynn Kwan, Office of Budget • Tom Armstrong, Chair

Global Change Science Advisory Council • Virginia Burkett, Chair • Jill Baron, Biology • Leslie Holland-Bartels, Biology • Eric Sundquist, Water • Steve Hostetler, Water • John Jones, Geography • Jim Verdin, Geography • Rich Bernkopf, Geography • Tom Cronin, Geology • Dan Muhs, Geology • Richie Williams, Geology • Anne Frondorf, GIO