99th ESA Annual Meeting (August 10 -- 15, 2014)

IGN 1

From Plains to Oceans to Islands: Regional Findings from the Third National Climate Assessment

The United States National Climate Assessment (NCA) collects, integrates, and assesses observations and research from around the country, helping to show how the climate is changing and what it means for the communities, states, and regions in which we live. The Third NCA Report (released in spring 2014), the most comprehensive assessment of climate change science, impacts, and responses in the United States to date, analyzes the current and future impacts of climate change the United States and summarizes key risks and opportunities for each of ten regions. Changes in temperature, precipitation, weather events, and sea levels, among other effects, vary by region and interact with the socioeconomic and cultural settings of each region. This session will highlight major findings from the report about the regional effects of climate change, discuss impacts to the ecosystems of the region, and explore how changes in those ecosystems can moderate or exacerbate the impacts of climate change when coupled with other socioeconomic and demographic shifts. A related session will highlight findings from NCA chapters focusing on socioeconomic and environmental sectors. Report authors will discuss key findings from each of the ten regions: Northeast, Southeast and Caribbean, Midwest, Great Plains, Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, Hawai‘i and U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, Coasts, and Oceans and Marine Resources. The session will also include a moderated discussion that will allow participants to ask questions about the NCA process and products and offer feedback on progress toward building assessment capacity across the US through a sustained NCA process.