Climate Change Program Research Articles

Quantifying the UK’s incentives for low carbon investment

The UK climate change programme has introduced a range of instruments to foster investment in low carbon technologies and markets. We estimate the total value of these interventions, in terms of the redirection of financial flows and directly foregone tax income, to be about £1.3 billion per year (c. Euro or US$ 2 billion per year), as from 2002 to 2003 when the renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) first take effect. About 20% of this consists of direct expenditure, the remaining 80% is in the form of indirect expenditures contained within sectors (ROCs, the energy efficiency commitments), and foregone tax revenues. Most of the energy-efficiency investment is estimated to recoup expenditure within normal life-cycles and may thus be considered profitable; the profitability of the supply-side interventions is predicated mostly upon expected cost reductions associated with the build up of the associated industries.

Quantifying the UK's incentives for low carbon investment

The UK climate change programme has introduced a range of instruments to foster investment in low carbon technologies and markets. We estimate the total value of these interventions, in terms of the redirection of financial flows and directly foregone tax income, to be about £1.3 billion per year (c. Euro or US$ 2 billion per year), as from 2002 to 2003 when the renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) first take effect. About 20% of this consists of direct expenditure, the remaining 80% is in the form of indirect expenditures contained within sectors (ROCs, the energy efficiency commitments), and foregone tax revenues. Most of the energy-efficiency investment is estimated to recoup expenditure within normal life-cycles and may thus be considered profitable; the profitability of the supply-side interventions is predicated mostly upon expected cost reductions associated with the build up of the associated industries.

Reducing carbon emissions through improved household energy efficiency in the UK

A number of schemes to increase household energy efficiency have operated in the UK over the last 5–10 years. This paper evaluates their effectiveness in terms of reducing household energy use, carbon emissions and fuel poverty. It then draws on the quantitative results of these schemes, and published plans for their continuation, to model an extended and expanded Household Energy Efficiency Scenario to 2020, using an integrated economy–energy–environment model of the UK. The results suggest that while such schemes can play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions from households, much more ambitious schemes than those currently implemented will be necessary to offset the underlying growth in these emissions. Finally, the results are compared with the UK government's own estimates, in its Climate Change Programme, of carbon emission reductions from such schemes to 2010. The paper concludes that the government's estimates are somewhat optimistic, and that it will need substantial new policy measures beyond those already announced if its carbon reduction targets in this area are to be met. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Global climate change and society program: essay excerpt

If we move beyond the call for more scientific research, what do we do? Society's choices regarding climate change will depend upon our values and how we speak about them, not on whether climate change science reaches greater degrees of certainty Since the driving force that will shape our world is the value‐based decision‐making we engage in as individuals and communities, we should frame our discussion about climate change accordingly.

Carbon reduction in the real world: how the UK will surpass its Kyoto obligations

Carbon dioxide emissions from UK energy use have fallen by more than 20% over the last 30 years, and carbon intensity — carbon emissions per unit of GDP — has halved. These reductions have been achieved by a combination of decarbonisation of the energy system and substantial improvements in energy efficiency. Use of natural gas in power generation has been a big factor in recent years, but energy efficiency improvements in households and particularly industry have been more important over a longer period. Government policies designed primarily to address climate change have not been important contributors, until recently. Future reductions in emissions will require more proactive policies. However, they are possible without any economic difficulties, notably by adopting cost-effective energy efficiency measures, using new renewable energy sources and reducing dependence on private cars. These policies will improve economic efficiency. The new UK Climate Change Programme includes policies that combine regulation, investment, fiscal measures and other economic instruments. By working with the grain of other social, environmental and economic policies, they can achieve far more than a carbon tax alone, set at any politically acceptable level. Modelling the costs of emission reductions using a carbon tax as the only instrument would not only massively over-estimate costs, it would bear little resemblance to real world politics. The paper demonstrates that a more diverse set of policy instruments is likely to be an effective and politically acceptable approach in a mature industrial economy. It is concluded that the UK’s Kyoto target of a 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is not challenging. The UK Government’s target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% between 1990 and 2010 is also achievable. By 2010 per capita emissions from the UK will be well below 2.5 tC per year. Claims that some countries, notably the USA, could not reduce per capita emissions below 6 tC per year seem inconsistent with this experience.

Carbon reduction in the real world: how the UK will surpass its Kyoto obligations

Carbon dioxide emissions from UK energy use have fallen by more than 20% over the last 30 years, and carbon intensity—carbon emissions per unit of GDP—has halved. These reductions have been achieved by a combination of decarbonisation of the energy system and substantial improvements in energy efficiency. Use of natural gas in power generation has been a big factor in recent years, but energy efficiency improvements in households and particularly industry have been more important over a longer period. Government policies designed primarily to address climate change have not been important contributors, until recently. Future reductions in emissions will require more proactive policies. However, they are possible without any economic difficulties, notably by adopting cost-effective energy efficiency measures, using new renewable energy sources and reducing dependence on private cars. These policies will improve economic efficiency. The new UK Climate Change Programme includes policies that combine regulation, investment, fiscal measures and other economic instruments. By working with the grain of other social, environmental and economic policies, they can achieve far more than a carbon tax alone, set at any politically acceptable level. Modelling the costs of emission reductions using a carbon tax as the only instrument would not only massively over-estimate costs, it would bear little resemblance to real world politics. The paper demonstrates that a more diverse set of policy instruments is likely to be an effective and politically acceptable approach in a mature industrial economy. It is concluded that the UK's Kyoto target of a 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is not challenging. The UK Government's target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% between 1990 and 2010 is also achievable. By 2010 per capita emissions from the UK will be well below 2.5 tC per year. Claims that some countries, notably the USA, could not reduce per capita emissions below 6 tC per year seem inconsistent with this experience.

Metrology of total solar irradiance monitoring

The continuous observation of the solar irradiance at the highest possible precision and accuracy is an important objective of the earth climate change program. This requires: high quality metrology in the space environment, ground solar radiometric comparisons and laboratory characterisation activities. These different aspects are reviewed. Details on the cavity sensor requirements, its servo system and electrical measurements are analysed.

Kyoto and Beyond

By the middle of the next century, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere will be twice preindustrial values, if current trends continue. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the balance of evidence is that Earth's climate will warm as a result, although much uncertainty remains, particularly about local and regional effects. The effects of climate change go well beyond increases in temperature. Floods and droughts could become more common and severe. Sea levels are expected to rise by around 50 centimeters (give or take a factor of 2) over the next century. In the longer term, climate change could interfere with the Gulf Stream, which greatly warms the climate of northern Europe. Because of the long residence time of CO2 in the atmosphere, it takes around 100 years for a reduction in emissions to have an effect. The oceans' high heat capacity provides additional inertia. As heat diffuses slowly to the deeper oceans, it will cause further expansion, so even if there were no further change in climate (which would require a 60 decrease in CO2 emissions below current levels), sea levels would continue to rise for hundreds of years. As when turning a large ship, there are long lags between actions aimed at leveling off CO2 concentrations and actual stabilization of those concentrations. This is a strong argument for early action. The economic debate about reducing greenhouse gases tends to be split into two groups. One concludes that strong and early action is essential lest we (in President Clinton's words) burden our children with our failure to act. The other group is concerned that such action will be expensive, costing jobs and adversely affecting economic competitiveness. The naysayers' arguments deserve attention. But experience with environmental action in other areas, such as reducing sulfur emissions, chlorofluorocarbons, and lead in gasoline, suggests that abatement costs will turn out to be lower than initially feared. Several recent studies, including one by the U.S. Department of Energy, have suggested that significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are technically possible and can be made economically feasible, in large part by increasing the use of energy-efficient technologies. Many of these actions will bring other benefits, including increased industrial efficiency and thence competitiveness, and environmental gains such as improved air quality. The task of reducing emissions falls very broadly on all sectors of society. For example, the United Kingdom's emissions result about evenly from road transport (22), domestic uses (27), and industry (28); a miscellany of other categories (including other transport and heating and other energy use in shops and offices) makes up the remaining 23. The United Kingdom will hold a national consultation on a climate change program next year. The main features are likely to include more efficient production and use of energy in the main sectors of the economy, further drives to develop combined heat and power schemes and generate more electricity from renewable sources, and measures to create a more sustainable transport system. The United Kingdom already has a policy to increase taxation on road transport fuel at 6 above the rate of inflation each year. Much of the difference between the negotiating positions of the United States and the European Union (EU) derives from the United States' feeling that it will be harder for it to reach ambitious targets. This is largely because the United States is so far behind in addressing the problem of climate change; its emissions are projected to be around 13 higher in 2000 than in 1990. Per capita carbon emissions in the United States are double the EU average. We also need to think long. Whatever emissions target for 2010 is agreed upon at the third Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto, Japan, on 1 through 10 December must only be a first step. Decisions that are effective in the short term must not hinder our options for meeting future reduction targets. The actions needed to address climate change will be impossible to accomplish unless the public is persuaded of the need for them. This is hard, because although the truly serious consequences lie decades in the future, the magnitude of tomorrow's problems depends crucially on today's actions. Our institutions are not well adapted to handling issues such as climate change, on which our long-term fate hinges.

96/03125 - Acidification interacting with global changes: Research to manage drifting systems

Abstract A comparison is made between acidification and the climate change problems. The common cause and the variety of effects with an impact on many different ecosystems and aspects of society are discussed. A number of specific aspects of environmental pollution research are highlighted. For the Dutch Climate Change Program 1995–2000, a more system-oriented approach in stead of an effect-oriented approach is chosen. Research should determine the degrees of freedom the society has to manage these different systems.

The United Kingdom's assessment of greenhouse gas mitigation options

The UK published its Climate Change Programme in January 1994 and was the first country to do so. The published program contains market measures, voluntary agreements, and regulation. It was established following national consultation. The program was quantified using a combination of econometric modeling (for price based measures) and bottom-up analysis. It is monitored through the National Emissions Inventory with provisional CO2 trends updated every quarter. The program is being updated to take account of developments since its publication, including the publication of new national energy projections in March 1995.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF PACIFIC RIM DEVELOPMENT

Contemporary Economic PolicyVolume 12, Issue 4 p. 1-22 ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF PACIFIC RIM DEVELOPMENT JANE V. HALL, JANE V. HALLSearch for more papers by this authorDUANE L. CHAPMAN, DUANE L. CHAPMANSearch for more papers by this authorWILLIAM F. BARRON, WILLIAM F. BARRONSearch for more papers by this authorCLEMENT A. TISDELL, CLEMENT A. TISDELL *Hall is Professor of Economics and a member of the Institute for Economic and Environmental Studies, California State University, Fullerton. Chapman is Professor of Resource and Environmental Economics and Coordinator of the Climate Change Program, Cornell University, Ithaco, N.Y.; he also is leader of a U.S. Agency for International Development team on Energy, Industry, and the Urban Environment. Barron is Director of the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Environmental Management, University of Hong Kong. Tisdell is Professor and Head, Department of Economics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. This is an edited transcription of a general session at the Western Economic Association International Pacific Rim Conference, Hong Kong, January 12, 1994. Darwin C. Hall, California State University, Long Beach organized the session.Search for more papers by this author JANE V. HALL, JANE V. HALLSearch for more papers by this authorDUANE L. CHAPMAN, DUANE L. CHAPMANSearch for more papers by this authorWILLIAM F. BARRON, WILLIAM F. BARRONSearch for more papers by this authorCLEMENT A. TISDELL, CLEMENT A. TISDELL *Hall is Professor of Economics and a member of the Institute for Economic and Environmental Studies, California State University, Fullerton. Chapman is Professor of Resource and Environmental Economics and Coordinator of the Climate Change Program, Cornell University, Ithaco, N.Y.; he also is leader of a U.S. Agency for International Development team on Energy, Industry, and the Urban Environment. Barron is Director of the Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Environmental Management, University of Hong Kong. Tisdell is Professor and Head, Department of Economics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. This is an edited transcription of a general session at the Western Economic Association International Pacific Rim Conference, Hong Kong, January 12, 1994. Darwin C. Hall, California State University, Long Beach organized the session.Search for more papers by this author First published: October 1994 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-7287.1994.tb00441.xCitations: 3 AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume12, Issue4October 1994Pages 1-22 RelatedInformation

NOAA budget figures in

Congress has appropriated roughly $1.83 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for fiscal year 1995, which comes in just under the President's request of about $ 1.96 billion for the agency.Finalized last month, the conference agreement includes $259 million or about $21 million more than requested for oceanic and atmospheric research. The conferees allocated $78 million for the Climate and Global Change program, including $7 million for the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program. About $26.8 million of the remaining climate change funds are for research on the role oceans play in climate.

The Atlantic Climate Change Program

The Atlantic Climate Change Program (ACCP) is a component of NOAA's Climate and Global Change Program. ACCP is directed at determining the role of the thermohaline circulation of the Atlantic Ocean on global atmospheric climate. Efforts and progress in four ACCP elements are described. Advances include 1) descriptions of decadal and longer-term variability in the coupled ocean–atmosphere–ice system of the North Atlantic; 2) development of tools needed to perform long-term model runs of coupled simulations of North Atlantic air–sea interaction; 3) definition of mean and time-dependent characteristics of the thermohaline circulation; and 4) development of monitoring strategies for various elements of the thermohaline circulation.

A Preliminary Assessment of Forest Canopy Structure in Grand Teton National Park

The potential impact of environmental change on human welfare has renewed interest in understanding the patterns and processes associated with global climate change. Goals of the Committee on Earth Sciences (1989) regarding the U.S. Global Climate Change Program concentrated on the development of sound scientific strategies for monitoring and predicting environmental change. The scaling of ecological characteristics from local to regional and global scales were identified by the Committee as key priorities. The scaling of ecological information is not simply done by integrating or aggregating information from local scale investigations to regional and global scales (Caldwell et al., 1993). The complexity of the effects of scale variations rules out the use of simple generalizations (Foody and Curran, 1994). Information that is significant at local scales may be trivial when evaluated at regional or global scales. Biological interactions with the environment occur over many scales, suggesting a role for multiscale analysis in the description of these interactions (Sclmeider, 1994). Methods must be developed to better understand and evaluate ecological processes operating at multiple scales. Forest structure attributes have been measured using remotely sensed data. Leaf area index (LAI), for example, has been related to the infrared/red ratio (Running et al., 1986 Peterson et al., 1987), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (Leblon et al., 1993), and gap fractions (Nel and Wessman, 1993). These methods generate values for each pixel in a satellite scene based on the relationship between one or more spectral and/or ancillary data channels and the attribute of interest. The spatial autocorrelation or spatial dependence present in surface phenomena and satellite data are usually not ex-ploited during attribute assignment because of difficulty in quantifying the spatial patterns present (Woodcock et al., 1988). Geostatistics provides a statistically based technique to quantify spatial pattern. Geostatistical techniques, in particular cokriging, can serve as an efficient means of modeling forest canopy structure at a variety of spatial scales to serve as inputs to global change models. The key issue will be to determine the factors that influence remotely sensed spectral reflectance and relating them to the ecological model across scales (Ustin et al., 1993). The geostatistical techniques considered in this research include the following: the semivariograrn, which allows the user to compare values of a random variable at two points separated by a given lag distance (Milne, 1991); kriging which uses the information on spatial dependence present in the semivariogram to estimate values at unsampled locations based on scattered sample data (lsaaks and Srivastava, 1989); and cokriging, the multivariate extension of kriging, which is appropriate when two or more variables are spatially interdependent and the variable of interest is undersampled (McBratney and Webster, 1983; Leenaers et al., 1989). Geostatistical techniques have been successfully applied to remotely sensed data. Variograms have been used to determine components of coniferous canopy structure (Cohen et al., 1990), and to determine the spatial autocorrelation structure of Landsat Thematic Mapper (IM) imagery and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) (Lathrop and Pierce, 1991). Atkinson et al. (1992) used cokriging of ground-based radiometer data to estimate LAI, dry biomass and percent cover. Satellite imagery is an excellent candidate for inclusion as an explanatory variable in the cokriging process because it is an exhaustive sample of a given area.

Cumulus cloud base height estimation from high spatial resolution Landsat data: a Hough transform approach

This study develops a semiautomated methodology for estimating cumulus cloud base heights using high-spatial-resolution Landsat multispectral scanner data. The approach employs a variety of image processing techniques to match cloud edges with their corresponding shadow edges. Cloud base height is then estimated by computing the separation between the corresponding generalized Hough transform reference points. Sixteen subregions, each 30 km*30 km in size, are selected for four Landsat scenes. Standard deviations of cloud base height within each of the subregion range from about 100 m to 150 m. Differences between cloud base heights computed using the Hough transform and a manual verification technique are small. It is estimated that cloud base height accuracies of 50-70 m may be possible using HIRIS and ASTER instruments in the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) Global Climate Change program. >

Environment

Pacific ViewpointVolume 32, Issue 2 p. 201-209 ArticleFree Access Environment Roger Lawrence, Roger LawrenceSearch for more papers by this authorJudy Lawrence, Judy LawrenceSearch for more papers by this author Roger Lawrence, Roger LawrenceSearch for more papers by this authorJudy Lawrence, Judy LawrenceSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 October 1991 https://doi.org/10.1111/apv.322012AboutSectionsPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References 1Black, P. A. 1979. The National Development Bill New Zealand Law Journal 20: 433- 433 2 Minister for the Environment. 1990. Climate change: a response strategy, Government policy statement by Rt Hon Geoffrey Palmer, 4 August 1990 3 Ministry for the Environment, 1988a. Directions for Change: a discussion paper Wellington: MFE 4——, 1988b. People, Environment, and Decision Making: the Governments proposals for resource management law reform Wellington: MFE 5——, 1990a. Climate Change: a review of impacts on New Zealand, Impacts Working Group, New Zealand Climate Change Programme, Wellington: MFE 6——, 1990b. Climate change: impacts on New Zealand - implications for the environment, economy and society Impacts Working Group, New Zealand Climate Change Programme, Wellington: MFE 7——, 1990c. Responding to Climate Change: a discussion of options for New Zealand, Policy Working Group, New Zealand Climate Change Programme, Wellington: MFE 8 OECD. 1981. Environmental Policies in New Zealand Paris: OECD 9 Review Group. 1991. Report of the Review Group on the Resource Management Bill, Report to the Minister for the Environment 10 Royal Society of NZ. 1988. Climate Change in New Zealand, an abridged version of a report by the New Zealand Climate Committee of the Royal Society as a contribution towards the Climate Change Programme of the New Zealand Government Wellington: Royal Society of NZ 11 Royal Society of NZ. 1989. New Zealand Climate Report 1990, a report prepared by the New Zealand Climate Committee of the Royal Society of New Zealand as a contribution towards the Climate Change Programme of the New Zealand Government Wellington: Royal Society of NZ 12 Treasury. 1984. Review of the Major projects. Report to the Minister of Finance T39/21, T39/29, T39/29B 13 UNEP/WMO/ICSU. 1985. Conference Statement from UNEP/WMO/ICSU meeting on an assessment of the role of carbon dioxide and of other greenhouse gases in climate variations and associated impacts, Villach Austria 9-15 October 1985, Reprinted as Technical Information Circular 203 Greenhouse Gases and Climate Wellington: NZ Meteorological Service 14Willis, R. 1981a. The primary sector and national development - the continuing debate Pacific Viewpoint 22, 1: 65- 68 15——, 1981b. National development and the manufacturing sector Pacific Viewpoint 22, 2: 182- 187 16——, 1982. National development and the region: the case of Taranaki Pacific Viewpoint 23, 2: 194- 205 17——, 1983. National development strategy; progress report Pacific Viewpoint 24, 2: 189- 196 Volume32, Issue2October 1991Pages 201-209 ReferencesRelatedInformation

State of the Arctic Environment: updated draft proposal for AMAP

1. Following the establishment of the Rovaniemi initiative to develop an Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy, it was proposed that an Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) should be developed. AMAP will be responsible for the preparation of reports on the State of the Arctic Environment; for developing and approving the protocol and coverage assessment; deciding on monitoring requirements; and for advising on the research and other resources needed to undertake investigations. 2. It is proposed that AMAP should, as its first priority, monitor the levels and assess the effects of anthropogenic pollutants in all the component parts of the Arctic environment including the effects of contaminants on human health. To monitor the levels of anthropogenic pollutants, high quality measurements will be of fundamental importance. The measured components will include radionuclides; heavy metals; persistent organic pollutants; various atmospheric gases and aerosols; and various biological and physical parameters. Practical models will be used to complete the knowledge gained from measurements; to perform process studies; to understand transport mechanisms and pathways; to allocate contributions to different regions (transboundary transport), to define measurement strategies still further; and to indicate trends. 3. Two of the most significant threats to the Arctic environment may come from climate change, induced by global warming, and the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and increased UVb radiation on life forms (including humans) in the Arctic. National monitoring of climate parameters should be co-ordinated within the framework of AMAP when a mutual interest is recognized and not otherwise organized internationally. Programmes to discover the causes and effects of climate change and to understand the processes of climate change are to a large extent being developed by other international groups and in other fora. AMAP should be familiar with these programmes and develop links with them to encourage and facilitate an Arctic focus in climate programs. Measurements aimed at assessing climate change (e. g. extent and variability of sea-ice and glaciers; permafrost and soil-temperature measurements; and changing ecosystems) will provide important inputs to the AMAP dataset. In turn, AMAP data will be relevant to climate change programmes in the Arctic. 4. Campaigns to identify and quantify the extent of possible stratospheric ozone depletion will provide AMAP with useful data. In turn, AMAP will contribute data on the effects. 5. AMAP has noted that other impacts on the Arctic environment arise not only from the long-range transport of pollutants but from local activities, which include mining, hydrocarbon exploitation, and changing settlement patterns and changing lifestyles. 6. One of the first AMAP tasks will be to co-ordinate and assess national programmes and to develop these programmes in an international framework so as to meet the basic needs of the Rovaniemi process. Existing work by relevant international programmes will be utilised in such assessments. A further stage will be the development and extension of such measurement networks. 7. It is proposed that AMAP's organisational structure should include an Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Task Force (AMATF) and a permanent secretariat. The Task Force will consist of the eight Arctic nations plus observers from other nations with significant Arctic research programmes. A liaison mechanism will be developed for a wide range of international organizations involved in monitoring and regulatory activities, assessments and research (e. g. ICES; OSPARCOM; UNECE; World Climate Programmeof WMO/ICSU; WMO; the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme). It will also be necessary to liaise with organizations specialising in the Arctic such as the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the Arctic Ocean Sciences Board (AOSB) and with international organizations representing indigenous peoples. 8. The establishment of a central database that can serve the Task Force and participating scientists is recommended. In the first phase there is a need for a directory/ reference database and a system for the interchange of data. A system for preparing and presenting key information for the status reports has also to be established. 9. Coordination of research on the Arctic environment and processes should be encouraged between participating countries. Research projects should be linked to monitoring in such a way that essential processes important for understanding and explaining observations have high priority. Close co-operation between the IASC and AMAP should be established.

Der Strahlungshaushalt der terrestrischen Planeten Venus, Erde und Mars

The radiation budget of planets substantially determines their climates. For the terrestrial planets having their own imperceptible heat source compared to the solar radiation, the radiation budget supplies energy that can be transformed and used in their atmospheres and at their surfaces. The crucial role of the radiation budget for the Earth's climate is manifested in current international programs like the World Climate and Global Change Programs. The intercomparison and analysis of the radiation budget of the terrestrial planets, due to quite different atmospheric compositions and external conditions, provide a deeper insight into the relations of the different components of the radiation budget.

The Navy/NOAA Joint Ice Center's role in the climate and global change program

The Navy/NOAA Joint Ice Center (JIC) is responsible for producing global, regional, and local ice analyses and forecasts for the Arctic, Antarctic, and Great Lakes. Presently, satellite image products are the primary source of sea ice data at the JIC and the NOAA polar orbiting series satellites are the primary source of satellite data. In the future when the JIC's Digital Ice Forecasting and Analysis system (DIFAS) becomes operational, digital satellite data from the NOAA polar orbiters will be used. The JIC is the only organization in the free world that produces weekly global sea ice analyses. These analyses will likely become a good source of data for the cryospheric section of the Climate and Global Change program. Many scientists expect that a change in sea ice extent in the polar regions will be one of the first signals for a change in the earth's climate. A very important new source of data for ice operations and the Climate and Global Change program will be the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data which will be available in limited amounts starting in 1991. This high-resolution, all-weather data source will allow the JIC, in some polar regions, to provide more detailed analyses of ice extent, ice concentration, ice age and certain ice features such as leads and polynyas. Detailed lead and polynya analyses will yield a better estimate of the heat budget in the polar regions which is an important parameter for the Climate and Global Change program. This paper will describe the various products produced at the JIC and how these products and future ice data and products analyzed on DIFAS will contribute to the cryospheric section of the Climate and Global Change program.

Stratospheric monitoring with TOVS data

Stratospheric monitoring is a key element in the Climate and Global Change Program. Temperature data from the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounders have provided global information from which the entire stratospheric has been monitored on a daily basis since 1978. Operational soundings produced by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service have been analyzed at the Climate Analysis Center, National Meteorological Center, NOAA to produce daily fields of temperature and geopotential height at eight stratospheric pressure levels, 70−0.4 mb (18–55 km). These analyses support numerous real-time operational and research applications and also form the basis for assessing stratosperic temperature trends associated with stratospheric ozone. This paper provides an overview of several applications of TOVS stratospheric analyses, and offers suggestions for improving the TOVS data in the future.