USGS Global Change Science
USGS Global Change Science: Welcome
What is Climate Change?
The USGS strives to understand how the earth works and to anticipate changes in how the earth functions. To accomplish this, USGS science aims to understand the interrelationships among earth surface processes, ecological systems, and human activities. This includes understanding current changes in the context of pre-historic and recent earth processes, distinguishing between natural and human-influenced changes, and recognizing ecological and physical responses to changes in climate.
Learn more images of a dust storm, floating ice, hurricane, earthshot, factory pollution, erupting volcano -
Information on USGS Climate Change Activities
Topics Publications Publication cover for Our Changing Planet Frequently Asked Questions Other Links of Interest USGS
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polar bear cub
New Polar Bear Finding
Newly-released USGS information from 9 recent studies presents relationships of polar bears to present and future sea ice environments.
Check out our Podcasts: - Two 500-Year Floods Within 15 Years? -- Listen to Bob Holmes talk about some of the recent flooding events occuring in the Midwest, how does a 500-year flood occur twice in 15 years, and what do the recent events have in store for folks downriver.
- Severe Flooding in the Midwest -- Heavy rainfall across the Midwest has caused major flooding. USGS National Flood Specialist Bob Holmes gives us the latest information on the rising rivers and what the USGS is doing to respond.
- A New Way to Model Sea Ice Thickness -- Scientist Dave Douglas to discusses a newly developed modeling approach to estimate sea ice thickness—this is the only model based entirely on historic observations, and it was developed by scientists from the USGS and the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow.
- Antarctica from Above and Below -- Scientist Richie Williams discusses the USGS's amazing new satellite imagery of Antarctica as well as what's going on with ice on the southernmost continent.
- What's Up With the Northwest Passage? -- Tom Armstrong, Senior Advisor to the Director on Climate Change, discusses the intriguing past and uncertain future of the Northwest Passage.
- Polar Bear Research -- How important is the link between polar bears and sea ice?
- Climate Change -- Tom Armstrong discusses how climate change is affecting the planet and our lives.
