UC Merced researchers gather data on warming

By ROGER BALES

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Now that former Vice President Al Gore and a team of climate scientists at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (www.ipcc.ch) have won the Nobel Peace Prize for their work on global warming, public consensus about climate change science is at an all-time high. Scientific consensus about the extent and causes of climate warming remains solid, as well, backing up the momentum for action.

The next steps that our society takes to mitigate global warming and adapt to what we cannot mitigate must be based on the best information science can offer.

That's why my colleagues and I at the Sierra Nevada Research Institute at the University of California at Merced believe that scientific research can -- and will -- make a difference as the world faces the difficult challenges of global climate change. We aim to carry out relevant research and share the results with decision- makers and stakeholders across all sectors of society.

About This Series

Climate change has become accepted as fact, even if its causes have not. This change has serious implications for the planet, including California and the San Joaquin Valley. Starting today, The Bee begins a three-day series on this crucial issue. One of our stories explains how scientists concluded that California will be greatly affected by climate change. In the other, Professor Roger Bales, acting director of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute, explains that the University of California at Merced has several efforts under way to address the crisis.

Monday, we continue the series with a story from Professors Martha Conklin and Lara Kueppers, also of UC Merced, on specific programs. Tuesday, Professors Anthony Westerling, of the UC Merced School of Social Sciences, and Yishu Chen of the School of Engineering, conclude our series.

We affirm the established scientific consensus: The climate is changing, humans have caused it, and we will suffer the consequences if we do not modify our habits and adapt to change.

Scientists in institutions worldwide find continuing evidence that the Earth's climate is warming. They document signs of change such as temperature increases, a rising sea level and melting glaciers.

The scientific community also agrees that human activities are influencing the global climate.

The IPCC, an international clearinghouse for information about climate sponsored by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization, released its fourth annual Synthesis Report on Nov. 17. It documented an even higher level of certainty than IPCC found in 2003 that human-generated greenhouse gas emissions are causing the climate trends we see.

The IPCC and California assessments project that the climate will continue to heat up if emissions continue at current levels.

Our research teams are documenting vulnerable areas where climate change might damage ecosystems, threaten economic conditions or influence lifestyle choices.

The scientific community is determined to identify and present research-based policy solutions for climate problems. We know that our work most often is supported by the taxpayers. We get that support so we can share our knowledge when it matters most.

With increased knowledge and greater urgency, we each can make a difference to the future of our planet -- through everyday decisions, voting choices, professional activities and even lifestyle changes.

As scientists, we have a role to fill helping our society face the future with science on its side.

Bales is the acting director of UC Merced's Sierra Nevada Research Institute.