Regulation Database – Geological Survey
USGS provides informational resources to the public, Congress, and other federal agencies on the effects of climate change.
Research Programs / Centers (and accompanying reports)
- Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science
- National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center
Standalone Resources
- Report to Congress on the Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources (2011)
- National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources (2013)
Research Programs and Centers
Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science
In May 2013, the US Geological Survey chartered the Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science (ACCCNRS) in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The committee’s role is to advise the Secretary of the Interior on US Geological Survey operations within the National Climate Change and Wildlife Center and the DOI Climate Science Centers. In July 2013, the “ACCCNRS Operating Procedures and Ground Rules” were published, outlining the general requirements of the committee including bi-annual meetings, the designation of a Federal Officer, and the establishment of scientific subcommittees. While the Committee is comprised of NGOs, local and state government officials, Native American Tribes and scientists, the USGS is the central body and provides administrative and logistical support.
- Advisory Committee Charter
- ACCCNRS Operating Procedures and Ground Rules
- ACCCNRS Website and Additional Information
National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center
The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is the managing entity for the Department of the Interior Climate Science Centers (CSCs). Climate change is creating novel challenges for our nation’s resource managers, decision-makers, and communities. Together, NCCWSC and the CSCs provide resource managers and other stakeholders with information and decision-making tools to respond to the effects of climate change on fish, wildlife, ecosystems, and the communities they support. Through close collaboration with managers and scientists inside and outside of government, NCCWSC and the CSCs deliver science to address stakeholder-defined priority climate needs.
- Fact Sheet 2012–3048: National Climate Science Centers
- 2015 Annual Report
- Scientific Tools and Resources
Additional Resources
Report to Congress on the Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources
In August of 2011, the US Geological Survey published an interagency report to Congress titled “Strengthening the Scientific Understanding of Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Resources of the United States,” developed in response to section 9506 of the Omnibus Public Lands Act (Public Law 111-11). The mission of the report is to identify key actions to improve the nation’s capacity to detect and predict changes in freshwater resources resulting from climate change, and help improve the quality of observational data in order to help future water resource management. In addition to outlining 25 key findings, the report 6 “next steps” for moving forward. Data and analysis are provided on changing precipitation patterns, altered snowpack characteristics, changing sea levels, disrupted aquatic ecosystems. This report was published after the USGS posted a notice in the Federal register requesting comments on the draft report on March 23, 2011.
National Assessment of Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Resources
In 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act (Public Law 110–140; U.S. Congress, 2007) directed the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of geologic storage resources for CO2 in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and State geological surveys. This report present the results of the USGS national assessment of geologic CO2 storage resources, which was completed in 2012.