# CCSPO Briefing on Smithsonian Global Climate Change Programs

Patrick Neale

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

1.  **Smithsonian Institution**

> A trust instrumentality supported by a combination of direct federal
> appropriation, federal and state grants and contracts, public and
> private foundations, donations from individuals. The mission is the
> increase and diffusion of knowledge. The Secretary of the Smithsonian
> reports to a Board of Regents.

2.  **Organization of Scientific Research at SI**

Unit directors establish program areas subject to approval of the
Secretary and Undersecretary of Science (recently vacated) and
consistent with budget guidelines. Individual investigators determine
the specifics of the research program. Budgeting for research is at the
unit level.

3.  **SI Global Climate Change Research**

> SI units have global climate change research programs in the areas of
> Atmospheric Composition, Climate Variability and Change, Carbon Cycle,
> Terrestrial and Marine Ecosystems and Land use/Land cover change.
> Detailed descriptions of programs are in the attached inventory. Units
> involved are:
>
> NASM National Air and Space Museum
>
> NMNH National Museum of Natural History
>
> NZP National Zoological Park
>
> SAO Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
>
> SERC Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
>
> STRI Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

  ----------- ------------------------ ---------------- ------------- --------- -------------- --
  Breakdown                                                                                    
  of SI                                                                                        
  Global                                                                                       
  Change                                                                                       
  Research                                                                                     

              **Categories**           **Category                     **By      **Unit         
                                       totals                         unit**    Categories**   
                                       (\$Millions)**                                          

  CLI         Climate Variability and  \$1.5            SERC          \$0.8     CLI, ATM, CAR, 
              Change                                                            ECO            

  ATM         Atmospheric Composition  0.1              STRI          1.4       CAR, ECO, LAN  

  CAR         Global Carbon Cycle      0.3              NMNH          2.4       CLI, ECO, LAN  

  HYD         Global Water Cycle       0                NZP           1.1       ECO            

  ECO         Terrestrial and Marine   3.3              NASM          0.2       CLI            
              Ecosystems                                                                       

  LAN         Land Use and Land Cover  0.7              SAO           0         CLI, ATM       
              Change                                                                           

              **Total**                **5.9**                        **5.9**                  
  ----------- ------------------------ ---------------- ------------- --------- -------------- --

> This table reflects only direct federal support. Much additional
> support is provided through grants, contracts and donations. In
> particular, SAO has active programs studying solar variability and the
> stratosphere that receives no federal support.

4.  **Coordination of research within CCSP**

> To make maximum contribution to the CCRI/USGCRP, a dialogue should be
> maintained between interagency science community and SI so that
> agencies are informed of SI\'s activities and resources, and SI
> investigators are informed of CCRI/USGCRP plans and priorities. The
> latter occurs by regular communications from the SI SGCR
> representative to the Undersecretary\'s office, Unit Directors,
> investigators. SI contributes to CCRI/USGCRP programs at an additional
> level via grants from agencies to SI investigators initiated to
> support specific USGCRP program areas.

5.  **Review and performance appraisal of programs**

> Research performance of individual programs is evaluated as part of
> merit review of the principle investigator, based on quality of
> scholarly output. Publication in peer reviewed journals is a basic
> requirement.
>
> Unit performance is assessed by regular external reviews. Moreover
> there are three ongoing external reviews of science at Smithsonian

-   Smithsonian Science Commission conducting an overall review of SI
    programs- convened by Congress

-   National Academy Study on support of science at SI - requested by
    OMB

-   National Academy of Public Administration Study on administration of
    science - requested by OMB

> Competitive grants are, of course, subject to agency review, usually
> with external review panels

6.  **Prospects for '04 budget**

> INFORMATION REMOVED

7.  **Contributions to CCRI/USGCRP key program goals**

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1.  Enhance Science Base

-   Paleo-ecology programs

-   Climate change effects on biodiversity and ecosystems

-   Response of ecosystems to increased CO~2~

-   Methane emissions by wetlands

2.  Enhance Observation and Monitoring

-   UV monitoring (part of inter agency network), 25 year record of UV

-   Long-term studies of ecosystem response (15 year study of CO~2~
    effects on wetlands)

-   Long-term study of sea-level rise

3.  Improved decision making and decision support

-   Public exhibits on global change science

4.  Enhance exploratory research

-   Investigator driven research programs