https://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/conduit/upload/5182/KeywordsCommunityGuide_Baseline_v1_SIGNED_FINAL.pdf 23.7 2026-04-15T10:53:30.610Z https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/projects/f9342137-1ec2-441f-b2b3-3a51e4fde384 EPA GCRP EPA's Global Change Research Program is an assessment-oriented programwith primary emphasis on understanding the potential consequences ofclimate variability and change on human health, ecosystems, andsocioeconomic systems in the United States. This entails: (1)improving the scientific basis for evaluating effects of global changein the context of other stressors and human dimensions (as humans arecatalysts of and respond to global change); (2) conducting assessmentsof the risks and opportunities presented by global change; and (3)assessing adaptation options to improve society's ability toeffectively respond to the risks and opportunities presented by globalchange as they emerge.The program has made a major commitment to the National Assessmentactivities organized through the USGCRP. The Global Change ResearchAct of 1990 mandates that the USGCRP conduct periodic assessments ofthe potential consequences of global change for the UnitedStates. (These periodic assessments are to be conducted not less thanevery four years.) As a member of the USGCRP, EPA's Global Programwill continue to make significant contributions to the ongoingU.S. National Assessment Process. The EPA-sponsored assessments willcontinue to be conducted through public-private partnerships thatactively engage researchers from the academic community, decisionmakers, resource managers, and other affected stakeholders in theassessment process.EPA's intramural assessment program has four areas of emphasis: (1)human health; (2) air quality; (3) water quality; and (4) ecosystemhealth. These four focus areas are consistent with EPA's mission andthe strengths of EPA's research program.The first focus area is Human Health. Since health is affected by avariety of social, economic, political, environmental, andtechnological factors, assessing the health impacts of global changeis a complex challenge. As a result, health assessments in EPA'sGlobal Program go beyond basic epidemiological research to developintegrated health assessment frameworks that consider the effects ofmultiple stresses, their interactions, and human adaptiveresponses. Along with health sector assessments conducted inconjunction with the USGCRP National Assessment process, there areresearch and assessment activities focused on the consequences ofglobal change on weather-related morbidity and vector- and water-bornediseases. In addition, the results from the Global Program's airquality assessments will be used to evaluate health consequences.The second focus area is Ecosystems. The EPA's mission is not only toprotect human health but also to safeguard the naturalenvironment. EPA has pledged to provide environmental protection that'contributes to making communities and ecosystems diverse,sustainable, and economically productive.' Consistent with this goal,EPA's Global Program is considering comprehensive ecosystem issuesrelated to global change. Three research and assessment activities areplanned that evaluate the effects of global change on 1) aquaticecosystems (which may include lakes, rivers, and streams; wetlands;and estuaries and coastal ecosystems); 2) invasive non-indigenousspecies; and 3) ecosystem services. The assessment of aquaticecosystems will contribute to water quality assessments of pollutantsand pathogens and of biocriteria. The ecosystem services assessmentwill draw on work from the other ecosystem assessments.The third focus area is Air Quality. Few studies have investigated theeffect of global change on air quality. Given EPA's legal mandateswith respect to air pollution and substantial capability and expertisein modeling air quality and evaluating integrated response actions,examining the effects of global change on air quality is a logicalfocus of the Global Program. Assessments are planned that will examinethe potential consequences of global change on tropospheric ozone andparticulate matter. Each of these assessments is paired with a relatedhuman health assessment.The fourth focus area is Water Quality. Water quality is affected bychanges in runoff following changes in precipitation andevapotranspiration and/or changes in land use. The program plans twoassessments of the possible impacts of global change (climate and landuse change) on water quality. Both water quality assessments willeither contribute to or benefit from human health and ecosystemsassessments. In addition, results from the assessment of pollutantsand microbial pathogens will be used in the assessment of biocriteria.For more information, link to 'http://www.epa.gov/globalresearch/'