2013 Report: Indicators of Climate Change in California

 

The indicators can help the state track, assess, and report on the climate change issues it is working to address and facilitate communication of complex information to a broad audience in a relatively simple, systematic manner. By compiling indicators representing the many aspects of climate change in a single document, this report can serve as a valuable resource for decision-makers, scientists, educators, and other interested individuals. Among the indicators included are greenhouse gas emissions, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, ambient air temperatures, winter chill, extreme heat events, spring snowmelt runoff, forest vegetation patterns, and small mammal habitat range shifts. Taken collectively, the indicators can help the research community in examining the interrelationships between and among climate and other physical and biological elements of the environment, and in identifying gaps in information. Finally, the indicators – particularly those that reveal evidence of the already discernable impacts of climate change – can highlight priority areas for state mitigation and adaptation strategies.