Scientists use a wide range of techniques to study Earth’s climate. They measure changes to the planet’s atmosphere and oceans using tools like satellites and weather stations, sample ice cores to gauge past climates, examine tree rings to determine climatic history, and build computer models that predict how changing conditions will affect wildlife, humans and the ecosystems around us.
The scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that the world is warming at a rate unprecedented in millennia. From sea level rise to shrinking ice sheets, the planet is experiencing an array of changes driven by human activities and exacerbated by natural processes.
Climate change poses a significant risk to human health, including increased vulnerability to infectious diseases caused by shifts in optimum temperature ranges of disease vectors. It also accelerates biodiversity loss and threatens the sustainability of food, water and other resources.
Science literacy is key to understanding climate issues. When people understand basic concepts of climate science, they can evaluate news stories about climate-related topics and engage in informed conversations as citizens.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) researchers utilize expertise in atmospheric sciences, oceanography and geology to examine planetary systems that drive climate. PNNL scientists are also exploring strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and are working to improve our ability to predict future conditions. Those predictions will help guide international policy-making and inform local decisions that impact the communities in which we live.
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