<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#">
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
<meta name="description" content="Science assessments provide the state of a science for climate effects in agricultural, forested, and rural systems. They are written by diverse teams of multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral experts. Assessments draw from the peer-reviewed scientific literature and undergo extensive review by experts, stakeholders, and the public. USDA is a contributing member of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which conducts the U.S. National Climate Assessment and other climate-related science assessments." />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://www.usda.gov/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/assessments" />
<meta property="og:title" content="Climate Science and Effects" />
<meta property="og:description" content="Science assessments provide the state of a science for climate effects in agricultural, forested, and rural systems. They are written by diverse teams of multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral experts. Assessments draw from the peer-reviewed scientific literature and undergo extensive review by experts, stakeholders, and the public. USDA is a contributing member of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which conducts the U.S. National Climate Assessment and other climate-related science assessments." />
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Science assessments provide the state of a science for climate effects in agricultural, forested, and rural systems. They are written by diverse teams of multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral experts. Assessments draw from the peer-reviewed scientific literature and undergo extensive review by experts, stakeholders, and the public. USDA is a contributing member of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which conducts the U.S. National Climate Assessment and other climate-related science assessments." />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Climate Science and Effects" />
<meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.usda.gov/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/assessments" />
<meta name="msvalidate.01" content="36F1A09D7116D0E8D667792CE040A6C3" />
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="qUN2GJfA5CL2sBzEQEtHGaF7tScF8afQLCP2MfqO5YA" />
<meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" />
<meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" />
<meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.usda.gov/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/assessments" />
<link rel="shortlink" href="https://www.usda.gov/node/33558" />
<script src="/sites/default/files/google_tag/primary/google_tag.script.js?sbtahf" defer></script>

    <title>Climate Science and Effects | USDA</title>
    <!-- Favicons
    ================================================== -->
    <!-- 128x128 -->
    <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/ico" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon.ico" />
    <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon.png" />
    <!-- 192x192, as recommended for Android
    http://updates.html5rocks.com/2014/11/Support-for-theme-color-in-Chrome-39-for-Android
    -->
    <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-192.png" />
    <!-- 57x57 (precomposed) for iPhone 3GS, pre-2011 iPod Touch and older Android devices -->
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-57.png">
    <!-- 72x72 (precomposed) for 1st generation iPad, iPad 2 and iPad mini -->
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-72.png">
    <!-- 114x114 (precomposed) for iPhone 4, 4S, 5 and post-2011 iPod Touch -->
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-114.png">
    <!-- 144x144 (precomposed) for iPad 3rd and 4th generation -->
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="/themes/usda/img/favicons/favicon-144.png">

    <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.css?sbtahf" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/modules/contrib/ckeditor_accordion/css/accordion.frontend.css?sbtahf" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/themes/usda/css/styles.css?sbtahf" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="/themes/usda/css/print.css?sbtahf" />

    
    <!-- We participate in the US government's analytics program. See the data at analytics.usa.gov. -->
    <script async type="text/javascript" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=USDA&sp=lookup,locate&exts=pdf,xls,zip,jpg,gif,mp3&dclink=true&yt=true&enhlink=true" id="_fed_an_ua_tag"></script>
    <!-- Google Analytics USDA -->
    <script>
      (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
      (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
      m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
      })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

      ga('create', 'UA-27627304-1', 'auto');
      ga('create', 'UA-96909960-1', 'auto', {'name': 'usdaTracker'}); // New tracker.
      ga("create", "UA-27627304-46", {"cookieDomain":"auto"});

      ga("require", "displayfeatures");

      ga('send', 'pageview');
      ga('usdaTracker.send', 'pageview'); // Send page view for new tracker

      ga('send', 'event', 'MP3', 'play', 'USDA Radio Stories');
      ga('send', 'event', 'WAV', 'play', 'USDA Radio Stories');

    </script>
  </head>
  <body class="path-node page-node-type-page">
        <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-N65GDDH" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>
      <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas>
    
<a href="#main-content" class="usa-skipnav">
  Skip to main content
</a>
<header class="usa-header usa-header-extended" role="banner" aria-label="Page Header">
  <div class="usa-banner">
    <div class="usa-accordion">
      <header class="usa-banner-header" aria-label="Official United States Government Website Disclaimer">
        <div class="usa-grid usa-banner-inner">
        <img src="/themes/usda/img/favicons/flag-favicon-57.png" alt="U.S. flag">
        <p>An official website of the United States government</p>
        <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-banner-button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner">
          <span class="usa-banner-button-text">Here’s how you know</span>
        </button>
        </div>
      </header>
      <div class="usa-banner-content usa-grid usa-accordion-content" id="gov-banner" aria-hidden="true">
        <div class="usa-banner-guidance-gov usa-width-one-half">
          <img class="usa-banner-icon usa-media_block-img" src="/themes/usda/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" alt="Dot gov">
          <div class="usa-media_block-body">
            <p>
                <strong>
                    Official websites use .gov
                </strong>
                <br>
                A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            </p>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div class="usa-banner-guidance-ssl usa-width-one-half">
          <img class="usa-banner-icon usa-media_block-img" src="/themes/usda/img/icon-https.svg" alt="SSL">
          <div class="usa-media_block-body">
          <p>
              <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong>
              <br>
              A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-title banner-lock-description"><title id="banner-lock-title">Lock</title><desc id="banner-lock-description">A locked padlock</desc><path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"></path></svg></span> ) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

            </p>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="usa-banner">
  <div class="usa-navbar">
    <button class="usa-menu-btn">Menu</button>
    <div class="usa-logo">
      <span href="/" title="Home" rel="home" class="usda-logo">
      <img src="/themes/usda/img/usda-symbol.svg" alt="USDA Logo" class="usda-logo-img" />
    </span>
      	  		<a class="usda-logo-text" href="/" title="Home" aria-label="The U.S. Department of Agriculture Home Page" rel="home">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>
  	  </div>

  </div>
</div>

  <nav class="usa-nav" aria-label="Navigation">
    <div class="usa-nav-inner">
      <button class="usa-nav-close">
        <img src="/themes/usda/img/close.svg" alt="close">
      </button>
          <nav aria-labelledby="block-usda-main-menu-menu" id="block-usda-main-menu" class="usda-block">
            
  <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-usda-main-menu-menu">Main navigation</h2>
  

        
        <ul class="usa-nav-primary usa-accordion">
          <li>
                            <a href="/" class="usa-nav-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>"><span>Home</span></a>
              </li>
          <li>
                  <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-nav-link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="side-nav-2">
            <span>Topics</span>
          </button>
                  <div id="side-nav-2" class="usa-nav-submenu">
    <ul class="usda-nav-submenu">
          <li class="usda-nav-overview">
                                  
                          <a href="/topics" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53242"><span>Topics</span></a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/animals" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6503">Animals</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/biotechnology" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6440">Biotechnology</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/broadband" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26733">Broadband</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/conservation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6372">Conservation</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/coronavirus" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42619">Coronavirus</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/data" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6509">Data</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/disaster-resource-center" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42098">Disaster Resource Center</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/farming" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6691">Farming</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/food-and-nutrition" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6376">Food and Nutrition</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/forestry" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6422">Forestry</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/health-and-safety" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6418">Health and Safety</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/invasive-species" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/51338">Invasive Species</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/opioids" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/21406">Opioids</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/organic" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6151">Organic</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/plants" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6505">Plants</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/recreation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6710">Recreation</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/research-and-science" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6374">Research and Science</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/rural" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6423">Rural</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/trade" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6411">Trade</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/topics/urban" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/48397">Urban Agriculture</a>
        
      </li>
        </ul>
        
        </div>
  
              </li>
          <li>
                  <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-nav-link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="side-nav-3">
            <span>Our Agency</span>
          </button>
                  <div id="side-nav-3" class="usa-nav-submenu">
    <ul class="usda-nav-submenu">
          <li class="usda-nav-overview">
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4831"><span>Our Agency</span></a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/about-usda" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6139">About USDA</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/agencies" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6421">Agencies</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/careers" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6399">Careers</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/employee-services" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/20196">Employee Services</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/farmbill" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33270">Farm Bill</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/future-of-work" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/48224">Future of Work</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/initiatives" title="Initiatives and Highlighted Programs from across the department." data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6698">Initiatives</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/our-agency/staff-offices" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6695">Staff Offices</a>
        
      </li>
        </ul>
        
        </div>
  
              </li>
          <li>
                  <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-nav-link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="side-nav-4">
            <span>Priorities</span>
          </button>
                  <div id="side-nav-4" class="usa-nav-submenu">
    <ul class="usda-nav-submenu">
          <li class="usda-nav-overview">
                                  
                          <a href="/priorities" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49667"><span>Priorities</span></a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/equity" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/54195">Equity at USDA</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/climate-solutions" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49668">Climate Solutions</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/nutrition-security" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49669">Food and Nutrition Security</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/markets" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/48905">More, New, and Better Market Opportunities</a>
        
      </li>
        </ul>
        
        </div>
  
              </li>
          <li>
                  <button class="usa-accordion-button usa-nav-link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="side-nav-5">
            <span>Media</span>
          </button>
                  <div id="side-nav-5" class="usa-nav-submenu">
    <ul class="usda-nav-submenu">
          <li class="usda-nav-overview">
                                  
                          <a href="/media" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6697"><span>Media</span></a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/agency-news-releases" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6512">Agency News Releases</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/agency-reports" data-drupal-link-system-path="media/agency-reports">Agency Reports</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/blog" data-drupal-link-system-path="media/blog">Blog</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/digital" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6704">Digital</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/press-releases" data-drupal-link-system-path="media/press-releases">Press Releases</a>
        
      </li>
          <li>
                                  
                          <a href="/media/radio" title="Latest Radio news from daily newsline and weekly features" data-drupal-link-system-path="media/radio">Radio</a>
        
      </li>
        </ul>
        
        </div>
  
              </li>
        </ul>
  



  </nav>


      <form class="usa-search usa-search-small js-search-form" action="https://usdasearch.usda.gov/search" action="get">
        <div role="search">
          <input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓">
          <input id="affiliate" name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="usda">
          <label class="usa-sr-only" for="header-search">Search usda.gov</label>
                    <input id="header-search" autocomplete="off" accesskey="i" name="query" type="search">
          <button type="submit">
            <span class="usa-sr-only">Search</span>
          </button>
          <input name="commit" type="hidden" value="Search">
        </div>
      </form>
      <div class="usa-nav-secondary">
            <nav aria-labelledby="block-usda-utilitynavigation-menu" id="block-usda-utilitynavigation" class="usda-block">
            
  <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-usda-utilitynavigation-menu">Utility navigation</h2>
  

        
              <ul class="usa-unstyled-list usa-nav-secondary-links">
              <li>
        <a href="/glossary" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6282">Glossary</a>
              </li>
          <li>
        AskUSDA
              </li>
          <li>
        Recalls
              </li>
          <li>
        Contact Us
              </li>
        </ul>
  


  </nav>


      </div>
    </div>
  </nav>
</header>
<div class="usa-overlay"></div>


  <div class="usa-hero" style="background-image: url('/sites/default/files/oce-hero-12.jpg')"></div>

  <div class="usda-breadcrumb-with-sidebar">
  
  </div>


<main id="main-content"
  class="usa-grid usa-section usa-content usa-layout-docs with-sidebar with-hero    ">

      <aside class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-layout-docs-sidenav">
        <div>
    <nav aria-labelledby="block-officeofthechiefeconomist-menu" id="block-officeofthechiefeconomist" class="usda-block">
            
  <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-officeofthechiefeconomist-menu">Office of the Chief Economist</h2>
  

        
            <ul class="usa-sidenav-list"/>
                                                      <li>
          <a href="/oce" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33532">OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ECONOMIST</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/about-us" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33533">About Us</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/newsroom" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33536">Newsroom</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/ag-outlook-forum" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33616">Agricultural Outlook Forum</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/commodity-markets" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34803">Commodity Markets</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/economic-analysis" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/40186">Economic Analysis</a>
                  </li>
                                                                                                                                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment" class="usa-current" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33547">Energy and Environmental Policy</a>
                                  <ul class="usa-sidenav-sub_list">
                                                                                                                                                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/climate" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33554">Climate Change</a>
                                  <ul class="usa-sidenav-sub_list">
                                                      <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/fifth-national-climate-assessment" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/55366">Fifth National Climate Assessment</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/assessments" class="usa-current is-active" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33558">Climate Science and Effects</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/adaptation" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33556">Climate Change Adaptation</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/mitigation" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33562">Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Assessment Program</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="https://www.usda.gov/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/seminar-series" 0="">Climate Change Science Seminar Series</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/climate/usda" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33565">Climate Change Across USDA</a>
                  </li>
              </ul>
  
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/energy" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33568">Energy Policy</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/markets" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33570">Environmental Markets</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/climate-change-fellows-program" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/52886">USDA Climate Change Fellows Program</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/energy-and-environment/office" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33543">Office Staff</a>
                  </li>
              </ul>
  
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/foodlossandwaste" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/27289">Food Loss and Waste</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/labor-affairs" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33544">Labor Affairs</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/pest" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33548">Pest Management Policy</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/risk-analysis" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33552">Risk Assessment</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/sustainability" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33560">Sustainability</a>
                  </li>
                                                        <li>
          <a href="/oce/weather-drought-monitor" 0="" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/33564">Agricultural Weather</a>
                  </li>
              </ul>
  


  </nav>

  </div>

    </aside>
  
  <div class="usa-width-three-fourths usa-layout-docs-main_content">
    

    <div id="block-usda-page-title" class="usda-block usda-page-title-block usda-page-title-block-with-hero">
  
    
      
  <h1 class="usda-page-title usda-page-title-with-hero"><span>Climate Science and Effects</span>
</h1>


  </div>
<div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div>
<div id="block-usda-content" class="usda-block">
  
    
      <article>

  
    

  
  <div>
    
  <p>Science assessments provide the state of a science for climate effects in agricultural, forested, and rural systems. They are written by diverse teams of multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral experts. Assessments draw from the peer-reviewed scientific literature and undergo extensive review by experts, stakeholders, and the public. USDA is a contributing member of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which conducts the U.S. National Climate Assessment and other climate-related science assessments. USDA also contributes expert authors, reviewers, and editors for reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/climate_indicators_for_agriculture.pdf" target="_blank">Climate Indicators for Agriculture</a></strong><br>
<span><span>The USDA <em>Climate Change Indicators for Agriculture</em> report provides national, regional, and local information to support effective decision making by U.S. agricultural producers, resource managers, and other agricultural system stakeholders.  This set of 20 indicators identifies high-priority agricultural and climate data products while providing the basis for tracking climate change as it plays out across American working lands, toward devising adaptive operational responses.</span></span></p>

<p><strong><a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/" target="_blank">4th National Climate Assessment</a></strong><br>
The National Climate Assessment (NCA) assesses the science of climate change and variability and its impacts across the United States, now and throughout this century. USDA experts contribute as authors and reviewers of the NCA.  Our program managed USDA’s participation in the report, as well as in decisions regarding its scope, communications, and ongoing assessment activities.  Agriculture, forests, and certain natural resources are mandatory sectors that are considered under the NCA.  The 2018 NCA4 concluded that climate change effects include “Rising temperatures, extreme heat, drought, wildfire on rangelands, and heavy downpours are expected to increasingly disrupt agricultural productivity in the United States,” “...more frequent extreme weather events will increase the frequency and magnitude of severe ecological disturbances, driving rapid (months to years) and often persistent changes in forest structure and function...,” and “Residents in rural communities often have limited capacity to respond to climate change impacts, due to poverty and limitations in community resources. Communication, transportation, water, and sanitary infrastructure are vulnerable to disruption from climate stressors. Achieving social resilience to these challenges would require increases in local capacity to make adaptive improvements in shared community resources.”  The NCA4 breaks down effects for each of these sectors by region, where additional information can be found.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.globalchange.gov/content/about-soccr-2" target="_blank">2nd State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR2)</a></strong><br>
The 2nd State of the Carbon Cycle Report was completed in November 2018. SOCCR2 provides a current state-of-the-science assessment of the carbon cycle in North America and its connection to climate and society.</p>

<p><strong>Climate Change, Global Food Security, and the U.S. Food System</strong><br>
This USDA report examines how changes in climate affect agricultural production, food processing/packaging, wholesaling/retailing, storage, transportation, trade, consumption, and disposal in the globally-integrated food system, and how those changes influence food security domestically and abroad.</p>

<p><strong>Climate Hubs Vulnerability Assessments</strong><br>
The USDA Climate Hubs have produced vulnerability assessments based on regional agricultural and forest ecosystems. </p>

<p><strong>Climate Change and Agriculture in the United States: Effects and Adaptation</strong><br>
This 2013 report by USDA is a comprehensive syntheses of the scientific literature on climate change effects and adaptation strategies for U.S. agriculture.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Previous Report</li>
	<li>Related Report: Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture: An Assessment of Effects and Adaptation Responses</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)</strong><br>
The IPCC prepares comprehensive Assessment Reports about climate change causes, effects, and response options. The IPCC also produces Special Reports, which assess specific issues, as well asMethodology Reports, which provide practical guidelines for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories.</p>

<p><strong>Effects of Climatic Variability and Change on Forest Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis for the U.S. Forest Sector</strong><br>
This 2012 report by the Forest Service is a scientific assessment of the current condition and likely future condition of forest resources in the United States relative to climatic variability and change. It serves as the U.S. Forest Service forest sector technical report for the National Climate Assessment and includes descriptions of key regional issues and examples of a risk-based framework for assessing climate-change effects.</p>

  </div>

</article>

  </div>

  </div>

</main>


  <footer class="usa-footer usa-footer-slim">
    <div class="usa-grid usa-footer-return-to-top">
      Return to top
    </div>
      <div>
    <div class="usa-footer-primary-section">
  <div class="usa-grid-full">
    <nav class="usa-footer-nav" aria-labelledby="block-mainnavigation-2-menu" id="block-mainnavigation-2" class="usda-block">
                                
      <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-mainnavigation-2-menu">Main navigation - Footer</h2>
      

                    
        <ul class="usa-unstyled-list">
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>"><span>Home</span></a>
              </li>
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/topics" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53242"><span>Topics</span></a>
              </li>
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/our-agency" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4831"><span>Our Agency</span></a>
              </li>
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/priorities" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49667"><span>Priorities</span></a>
              </li>
          <li class="usa-width-one-fourth usa-footer-primary-content">
                            <a href="/media" class="usa-footer-primary-link" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6697"><span>Media</span></a>
              </li>
        </ul>
  



          </nav>
  </div>
</div>
<div class="usa-footer-secondary_section">
  <div class="usa-grid-full">
    <nav class="usa-footer-nav usa-width-two-thirds" aria-labelledby="block-usda-footernavigation-menu" id="block-usda-footernavigation" class="usda-block">
                                
      <h2 class="usa-sr-only" id="block-usda-footernavigation-menu">Footer navigation</h2>
      

                    
        <ul class="usa-unstyled-list usda-footer-navigation">
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        AskUSDA
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Pandemic Assistance
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Contact Us
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/sitemap" data-drupal-link-system-path="sitemap">Site Map</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/policies-and-links" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6232">Policies and Links</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/our-agency/about-usda/performance" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6373">Our Performance</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Careers
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Report Fraud on USDA Contracts
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Inspector General
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/plain-writing" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6095">Plain Language Writing in USDA</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/open" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6370">Open</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/ogc/office-information-affairs/foia-division" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/45641">FOIA</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/accessibility-statement" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6539">Accessibility Statement</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/privacy-policy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6516">Privacy Policy</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/non-discrimination-statement" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6409">Non-Discrimination Statement</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/oascr/civil-rights-statements" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/34642">Anti-Harassment Policy</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Information Quality
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        USA.gov
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        WhiteHouse.gov
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/federal-web-site-inventory" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6118">eGov</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Feedback
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/nofear" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/26595">No FEAR Act Data</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Office of Special Counsel
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        Whistleblower Protection Coordinator
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/vulnerability-disclosure-policy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/42655">Vulnerability Disclosure Policy</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/ocfo/plans-reports/agency-financial-reports" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/49604">Agency Financial Reports</a>
              </li>
          <li class="usda-footer-navigation-link">
        <a href="/partner-portal" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/53405">USDA CARES Partner Portal</a>
              </li>
        </ul>
  


          </nav>
    <div id="block-constantcontactsignuplist" class="usda-block">
  
    
      
            <div><div class="usa-sign_up-block usa-width-one-third">

        <h3 class="usa-sign_up-header">Sign Up for Updates</h3>

  <a style="color:white;font-weight:bold;" class="usa-button usa-button" href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001Sk_8Aa13394xonLLUknSR_CtAy6sVkj7-WTntErj4YHitEGv_xZXTgEreyr8MdkMKJ6cnoDLHPraoNtEuHeVpYuA7EHtjdGdcHtASf8lweU%3D" target=

        "_blank">Subscribe</a>

      </div>

    </div>

  </div></div>
      
  </div>

  </div>

    <div class="usa-grid usda-footer-branding">
        <div>
    <div class="usa-logo">
      <span href="/" title="Home" rel="home" class="usda-logo">
      <img src="/themes/usda/img/usda-symbol.svg" alt="USDA Logo" class="usda-logo-img" />
    </span>
      	  		<a class="usda-logo-text" href="/" title="Home" aria-label="The U.S. Department of Agriculture Home Page" rel="home">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>
  	  </div>

  </div>

      <div class="footer-social">
        <div class="footer-social-set">
          <a class="usa-link-twitter" href="https://www.twitter.com/usda/" target="_top"><span>USDA on Twitter</span></a>
          <a class="usa-link-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/usda/" target="_top"><span>USDA on Facebook</span></a>
          <a class="usa-link-linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/usda" target="_top"><span>USDA on LinkedIn</span></a>
          <a alt="USDA Constant Contact" class="usa-link-constant-contact" href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001Sk_8Aa13394xonLLUknSR_CtAy6sVkj7-WTntErj4YHitEGv_xZXTgEreyr8MdkMKJ6cnoDLHPraoNtEuHeVpYuA7EHtjdGdcHtASf8lweU%3D" target="_top"><span>USDA Constant Contact</span></a>
        </div>
        <div class="footer-social-set">
          <a class="usa-link-instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/usdagov/" target="_top"><span>USDA on Instagram</span></a>
          <a class="usa-link-flickr" href="https://flickr.com/usdagov" rel="publisher" target="_top"><span>USDA on Flickr</span></a>
          <a class="usa-link-youtube" href="https://www.youtube.com/usda/" target="_top"><span>USDA on Youtube</span></a>
        </div>
        <div class="footer-social">
          <div class="footer-social-set">
            <a class="usa-link-rss" href="/rss-feeds" target="_top"><span>USDA RSS</span></a>
          </div>
        </div>

      </div>
    </div>
  </footer>

  </div>

    
    <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/33558","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":false,"extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extNoreferrer":false,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"^https?:\/\/[^\/]+\\.(gov|us|mil)\/","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":true,"extAlertText":"You are now leaving the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website and entering an external link or a third-party site.\n\nThe USDA website provides links to other websites to provide additional information that may be useful or interesting, and is being provided in a manner consistent with the intended purpose of the content you are viewing on the website. USDA is providing these links for your reference. Once you access another site through a link that we provide, you are subject to the copyright and licensing restrictions of the new site.\n\nIt is the sole responsibility of you, the user of this site, to carefully examine the content of the site and all linked pages for privacy, copyright and licensing restrictions and to secure all necessary permissions if applicable.","mailtoClass":"0","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"append","extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","whitelistedDomains":null}},"ckeditorAccordion":{"accordionStyle":{"collapseAll":1,"keepRowsOpen":0,"animateAccordionOpenAndClose":1,"openTabsWithHash":1}},"ajax":[],"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"f8aee0238b8c9d927e579055ca13b7d6b049c5bab4784fb84ace390e08c3ba67"}}</script>
<script src="/core/assets/vendor/jquery/jquery.min.js?v=3.7.1"></script>
<script src="/core/assets/vendor/once/once.min.js?v=1.0.1"></script>
<script src="/core/misc/drupalSettingsLoader.js?v=10.2.4"></script>
<script src="/core/misc/drupal.js?v=10.2.4"></script>
<script src="/core/misc/drupal.init.js?v=10.2.4"></script>
<script src="/themes/usda/js/uswds.min.js?v=1.0.4"></script>
<script src="/themes/usda/js/matchHeight.js?v=1.0.4"></script>
<script src="/themes/usda/js/usda.js?v=1.0.4"></script>
<script src="/themes/usda/js/grid.js?v=1.0.4"></script>
<script src="/modules/contrib/extlink/extlink.js?v=10.2.4"></script>
<script src="/modules/contrib/ckeditor_accordion/js/accordion.frontend.min.js?sbtahf"></script>

    <script type="text/javascript">
    /*<![CDATA[*/
    (function() {
    var sz = document.createElement('script'); sz.type = 'text/javascript'; sz.async = true;
    sz.src = '//us1.siteimprove.com/js/siteanalyze_63343.js';
    var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s);
    })();
    /*]]>*/
    </script>
  </body>
</html>