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| Climate science | |
|---|---|
| Name | Climate science |
| Field | Earth science |
| Related | Meteorology; Oceanography; Ecology |
Climate science Climate science examines the dynamics of Earth's climate system, integrating evidence from paleoclimate records, instrumental measurements, and theoretical models to understand past, present, and future climate states. It connects research institutions, international assessments, and policy processes to address anthropogenic and natural influences on temperature, precipitation, sea level, and extreme events. Major research programs and assessments synthesize results from satellite missions, oceanographic expeditions, and intergovernmental panels to inform decision-makers and the public.
The field spans studies conducted by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Met Office, and regional centers such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. It draws on data from satellites like Landsat, TOPEX/Poseidon, and Aqua (satellite), and on in situ networks including Argo (oceanography), Global Historical Climatology Network, and BLM (Bureau of Land Management). Major assessments such as the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report and IPCC Sixth Assessment Report synthesize findings for bodies like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and summit processes including the Conference of the Parties sessions.
Foundational physics derives from principles developed in works by figures associated with Royal Society, James Clerk Maxwell (electromagnetism foundations used in radiative transfer instrumentation), and experimental traditions tied to Greenland expeditions and Voyage of the Beagle. Thermodynamics and radiative transfer underpin energy balance studies connected to measurements from Infrared Astronomical Satellite instruments and laboratory standards at institutions such as National Institute of Standards and Technology. Ocean–atmosphere coupling concepts relate to observations of El Niño–Southern Oscillation and dynamics explored in projects like World Ocean Circulation Experiment.
Key forcings include greenhouse gases tracked by programs at Mauna Loa Observatory and emissions inventories compiled by International Energy Agency, volcanic aerosols documented after eruptions like Mount Pinatubo, and solar variability characterized using records from Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. Land-use change impacts link to studies by Food and Agriculture Organization and field campaigns funded by agencies such as European Space Agency. Internal variability modes—North Atlantic Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and Madden–Julian Oscillation—mediate regional climates and are monitored by networks coordinated by World Meteorological Organization.
Observational pillars include satellite remote sensing from MODIS, Sentinel (satellite family), and GOES (satellite) platforms; paleoclimate proxies from Greenland ice core, Vostok (ice core), and Tree-ring chronologies; and ocean profiles from Argo (oceanography) floats and Gliders (autonomous underwater vehicles). Analytical methods employ statistical tools used in studies by National Center for Atmospheric Research and Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, while field campaigns such as TOGA and CLIVAR provide process-level constraints. Data assimilation systems developed at European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and NASA Goddard merge observations with dynamics.
Climate models range from energy balance models to comprehensive coupled models produced by centers including Hadley Centre, GFDL, and IPSL (Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace). Model intercomparison projects such as Coupled Model Intercomparison Project enable assessment of simulated responses to scenarios like those developed by Representative Concentration Pathways and the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. Downscaling techniques leverage resources at National Center for Atmospheric Research and regional modeling efforts underpin assessments used in reports by IPCC. Uncertainty quantification uses approaches from Monte Carlo methods and ensemble frameworks applied in studies at Princeton University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Impacts research documents sea-level rise informed by measurements at TOPEX/Poseidon and GRACE (satellite), cryosphere changes observed at Greenland ice sheet and Antarctic Peninsula, and ecosystem responses recorded in long-term studies at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Great Barrier Reef. Risk assessments guide stakeholders including World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and national agencies like United States Geological Survey for sectors such as agriculture, public health, and infrastructure. High-profile events such as Hurricane Katrina and heatwaves in Europe illustrate compound hazards examined in attribution studies led by groups at Imperial College London and Stockholm Environment Institute.
Mitigation pathways draw on technology and policy instruments assessed by International Energy Agency and the United Nations Environment Programme, including carbon pricing discussed in forums like World Economic Forum and agreements such as the Paris Agreement. Carbon dioxide removal and renewable deployment involve actors like Tesla, Inc. for storage technologies and Ørsted (company) for offshore wind, while land-based strategies reference programs by Food and Agriculture Organization and Convention on Biological Diversity. Adaptation planning is supported by guidance from UNFCCC mechanisms, national adaptation plans coordinated through Green Climate Fund, and urban resilience initiatives in cities like New York City and Rotterdam (city).