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Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges USGS Science in the Coming Decade

This article discusses the USGS science strategy for the coming decade, which focuses on understanding ecosystems, predicting ecosystem change, role of environment and wildlife in human health, water census, hazards assessment, climate variability and change, and energy and minerals for America's future.

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Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges USGS Science in the Coming Decade

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  1. Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges USGS Science in the Coming Decade Dr. Mark MyersUSGS Director March 4, 2008

  2. Evangelical Leaders Join Global Warming Initiative - New York Times February 8, 2006 By LAURIE GOODSTEIN Despite opposition from some of their colleagues, 86 evangelical Christian leaders have decided to back a major initiative to fight global warming, saying "millions of people could die in this century A British experts report on climate change warns that failure to curb global warming could trigger worldwide economic devastation, with poor countries hit first and hardest.  Prime Minister Tony Blair called for urgent international action. Copper prices set another recordBy Dale Funk, Contributing EditorApr 1, 2006 12:00 PMWhile most wire and cable industry veterans and commodity analysts expected 2006 to be a year of moderation for copper prices, when copper jumped 9.45 cents to nearly $2.36 a pound on March 17 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, it set another record. Issues are Global: Science Must be Relevant, Useable, Integrated, and Reliable

  3. The USGS Science Strategy: Defines science priority areas and opportunities Unites and integrates our capabilities and disciplines Takes advantage of our strengths and our unique position as a non-regulatory Federal science agency with national scale and responsibilities Enables us to focus our science capabilities by providing the information needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. USGS in the Coming Decade: A Science Strategy

  4. 1. Understanding Ecosystems and Predicting Ecosystem Change Ensuring the Nation’s Economic and Environmental Future 2. The Role of the Environment and Wildlife in Human Health A Warning System for Environmental Risk to Public Health in America 3. A Water Census of the United States Quantifying, Forecasting, and Securing Freshwater for America’s Future 4. A National Hazards, Risk, and Resilience Assessment Program Ensuring the Long-Term Health and Wealth of the Nation 5. Climate Variability and Change Clarifying the Record and Assessing the Consequences 6. Energy and Minerals for America’s Future Providing a Scientific Foundation for Decision-Makers Strategic Science Directions:Science Focus Areas

  5. Study the interactions between climate, earth surface processes and ecosystems across space and time Expand current research and monitoring efforts Expand and modernize observation networks of land, water and biological resources Provide predictive models and tools for managers Climate Variability and Change IMAGE FRAME

  6. Natural resource security for the future Environmental Health Economic Vitality of the Nation Management of DOI, Federal, and other Lands Energy and Mineral Resources for America’s Future

  7. Robust monitoring infrastructure Technology for network communications Characterizing and assessing hazards Improved forecasting capability based on understanding physical processes Enhancing and developing new partnerships to form a coordinated hazard and risk program A Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilence Assessment Program

  8. Integrating existing USGS human-health related data Establishing an interactive information system for environmental threats. Expand understanding of environmental disease pathways Enhance rapid response teams Strengthen partnerships and enhance collaboration with others The Role of Environment and Wildlife in Human Health IMAGE FRAME

  9. Freshwater quantity and quality present in ground waters, snow and ice, and water infrastructure Freshwater quality and quantity for human and ecological needs Changes in water quantity, over time and space, as a function of climate change, landuse/land cover and human usage A Water Census of the U.S.

  10. Develop a comprehensive, standardized geospatial ecosystem framework Establish a nationwide ecosystem monitoring program Develop and use critical indicators of ecosystem conditions to provide regional national assessments of ecosystem status and trends Conduct basic and applied research to understand causes, consequences and mechanisms of change Understanding Ecosystems and Predicting Ecosystem Change

  11. Integration of Data and Information The USGS will use its information resources to create a more integrated and accessible environment for its vast resources of past and future data.

  12. Address the issues of today, prepare for those of tomorrow Maximize the relevance of our science, research, data, and information by: Providing land and resource manager with tools and information they can use Building and enhancing existing partnerships Communicate our science Leverage technology Achieving the Vision

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