Climate research includes everything from analyzing daily weather patterns to studying long-term changes on a global scale. Scientists use a wide range of tools, from ice cores and tree rings to measuring the composition of air and water to examining computer models that can predict future effects. Climate science can illuminate how the Earth’s systems work, why they change, and how those changes will affect humans and wildlife.
Scientists are continually learning how to use new technologies, such as remote sensing and satellite measurements, to better understand what is happening to our planet’s climate. And they are continually learning how to make the best possible use of the data and models available to them.
PNNL researchers are contributing to the effort to build and test Earth system models that will improve predictions of climate change. They are also helping to make the latest discoveries in attribution of extreme weather events to climate change. And they are making sure that the public knows what these findings mean for us.
The scope of the challenges we face calls for frequent, accessible syntheses of the current state of knowledge in this field. However, the rapid expansion and diversification of climate-related peer-reviewed literature makes these syntheses difficult to produce. Annual reports from international organizations like the IPCC offer important updates, but their 6- to 7-year assessment cycles and consensus-based approach limit their ability to reflect emerging research.
Previous analyses have shown that climate change research is underfunded compared to the magnitude of the challenge. For example, a recent study found that NIH funding for projects using keywords related to “climate change” accounted for only 0.26% of total project funding.