Climate Change and Water Information and Education

This web page provides links to websites with useful information on climate change and water.

EPA

• EPA Climate Website
• "Saving Water & Energy - Reducing Greenhouse Gases by Improving Efficiency" - EPA Watershed Academy Webcast Seminar (May 2011)
• "Working Together to Address the Effects of Climate Change on Water Resources" - EPA Watershed Academy Webcast Seminar (October 2009)
• "Wetlands and Climate Change" - EPA Watershed Academy Webcast Seminar (May 2008)

 The following two powerpoint presentations provide an overview of the impacts of climate change on water resources and EPA's National Water Program, and describe the work EPA has been doing over the past two years to address these impacts. (October 2009)

• Part 1: Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources and EPA's Water Program (PPT)
• Part 2: Climate Change and EPA's Water Program (PPT) 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports

• IPCC
• Technical Paper on Climate Change and Water (IPCC Technical Paper VI, June 2008)
• Climate Change 2007 (Fourth Assessment Report)

Working Group I Report: "The Physical Science Basis"

• Chapter 3: Observations: Surface and Atmospheric Climate Change (Trenberth et al. 2007) – Section 3.3 includes information on surface climate: precipitation, drought, and surface hydrology.
• Chapter 5: Observations: Oceanic Climate Change and Sea Level (Bindoff et al. 2007)
• Chapter 7: Couplings Between Changes in the Climate System and Biogeochemistry (Denman et al. 2007) – See section 7.3.4 on ocean carbon cycle processes and feedbacks to climate.
• Chapter 11: Region Climate Projections (Christensen et al. 2007) – See section 11.5 on North America.

Working Group II Report “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”

• Chapter 3: Freshwater Resources and Their Management (Kundzewicz et al. 2007)
• Chapter 14: North America (Field et al. 2007) – There are several freshwater resources and fisheries sections (14.2.1, 14.2.4, 14.4.1, and 14.4.4).
• Chapter 16: Small Islands (Mimura et al. 2007) – This chapter includes information about future impacts on and vulnerabilities of water resources on small islands.

U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Reports Related to Water

• Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate: Regions of Focus North America, Hawaii, Caribbean, and the U.S. Pacific Islands
  Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.3 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (lead agency) with National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and Department of Energy; June 2008)
• Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources
  Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.4 (U.S. EPA (lead agency) with U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other organizations; June 2008)
• Analyses of the Effects of Global Climate Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems
  Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.6 (U.S. EPA (lead agency) with other agencies; June 2008)
• The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources and Biodiversity in the United States
  Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.3 (U.S. Department of Agriculture (lead agency) with other agencies, May 2008)
• Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study
  Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.7 (U.S. Department of Transportation (lead agency) with U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Energy, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration; March 2008)
• Effects of Climate Change on Energy Production and Use in the United States
  Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.5 (U.S. Department of Energy (lead agency); October 2007)

American Water Works Association

• Climate Change and Water Resources: A Primer for Municipal Water Providers

Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

• Climate change and water information