The research needs and gaps that will be described in this session were identified during the development of the 2013 National Climate Assessment from the regional and sectoral technical input reports and the activities of the 240 authors of the 30 chapters of the National Climate Assessment (NCA), to be released in 2013. The NCA chapter author teams identified important gaps in knowledge have been synthesized into eight draft research goals along with recommendations on high priority research needs to support the new US Global Change Research Program’s sustained national assessment process, including research needs a range of international climate-related assessments.
The eight research challenges that will be described range from deepening understanding of the coupled human-climate system to develop local, regional, and national options to adapt to climate change. Other research needs that will be discussed include exploring options and actions that reduce the rate and magnitude of climate change and provide strategies for adaptation as well as research on building the nation’s capacity to meet the challenges of climate change, including research to improve STEM education and training.