Science of Climate Change

Welcome

We provide expert advice to assist you in Understanding Climate Change Science. This advice includes:

• Summaries of the key principles of the science of climate change, including information on greenhouse gases, climate trends, climate change projections and impacts of climate change
• Reports on recent developments in Canadian and international climate science research
• Special assessment reports and newsletters
• Information on where to go to contact experts or access other useful websites

Publications

The MSC has an internationally respected research program on climate change. This program is pursued at several research centers, including the Climate Research Branch's modeling group (CCCma), the climate monitoring and data interpretation group (CCRM) and the climate processes and Earth observation group (CCRP). The Adaptation and Impacts Research Group (AIRG) conducts studies into climate change impacts and related adaption strategies. Meanwhile, regional offices of MSC also conduct related climate change studies within their jurisdictions. These research activities result in the publication of related papers in international science journals and in other expert reports. SAIB staff work in cooperation with these scientists to develop summaries of Recent MSC Reports and Papers for lay audiences. On average, there are also some 20 to 30 new research papers published in international journals each week. SAIB experts scan a number of the leading science journals to identify new papers as they appear, and publicize Recent Developments in the science of climate change by preparing weekly literature reviews of the key conclusions of the most significant of these papers.

Understanding Climate Change Science

The climate system is very complex. Many scientists from a very broad range of scientific disciplines are now involved in research to help better understand this system, how it works and fluctuates with time, and how human activities may be affecting it. These scientists inform us about their research results through technical papers published in a variety of peer-reviewed science journals or in special expert reports. There are now several thousand such papers published each year. Major assessments of these papers are prepared from time to time by the international science through the coordination of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Using this wealth of technical information, SAIB experts have prepared a general summary for non-scientists of some of the key results, including information on:

• greenhouse gases and their role in the atmosphere;
• past and current trends in climate;
• projections of future climate simulated by climate models;
• and the potential impacts of climate change on ecosystems and human society.



SAIB experts, from time to time, publish special reports that provide greater detail on certain aspects of climate change, prepare annual science literature reviews, and develop annotated Powerpoint graphics for use in presentations to various audiences.

Responding to Climate Change

Peer reviewed journals publish thousands of articles every year on issues relating to climate change. SAIB experts scan some of the leading science journals weekly, and prepare short summaries of the key conclusions of the most significant of these. The weekly reports contain the most recent brief summaries. The monthly reports rolls together the weekly reports and includes other more scientifically oriented summaries. From time to time, the weekly and monthly reports will be retired to the Science Archives.

Links

There are a large number of web sites which provide information on climate change. Here we provide a list of some of these sites, along with a short description of what can be found at those sites.

The Green Lane^TM,
Environment Canada's World Wide Web Site.