UI researcher writes section of climate change report

After two years of research conducted by more than 250 scientists from across the country, the National Climate Assessment was released by the White House on Tuesday, with a section authored by University of Idaho researcher Sanford Eigenbrode.

The assessment features 30 chapters discussing specific environmental sectors and response strategies broken up into the different regions of the country. Eigenbrode was among the scientists authoring the Northwest chapter and focused on how agriculture in the region will be affected.

"The take home is that agriculture has the ability to adapt to changing conditions and is capable of offsetting adverse climate change," Eigenbrode said.

The report was originally implemented under a requirement from the Global Change Research Act of 1990 as an attempt to evaluate and integrate scientific knowledge about climate change and the effects across the United States. It is based on observed changes, the current climate and what researchers anticipate for the future.

Eigenbrode said the Northwest chapter, which includes Washington, Idaho and Oregon, was co-authored by a number of contributors and well known climate scientists who have expertise in forest systems, surface waters, urban travel and sea coasts. Oregon State University's Philip Mote was one of the lead authors of the Northwest team.

Eigenbrode said concerns for the future of agriculture include the cost of adaptation, development of more climate resilient technology and management, and the availability and timing of water resources. Projections for the region are based on the amount of precipitation throughout the year and the warming trends well into mid-century.

He said the conclusion of the chapter shows there is a risk of drought and heat stress for crops and livestock in the area but they are no more severe than what we currently face and the risks are not unprecedented.

The report is the third in the climate assessment series, originally meant to be released every four years.

A draft of the report was released more than a year ago and was made available for extensive review and comment from scientists, researchers and the public at large. All of the authors had to address the comments and either improve the language or defend their position before final review and publication.

"The idea is to produce a transparent report in which the authors remain responsible by the public," Eigenbrode said.

Eigenbrode said as an author he was able to consult whomever he wanted in the research process and had to find relevant scientific literature based on published, peer reviewed works. He said the report in its entirety should be consulted as a document for all the citizens of the United States as a reference of science and the long-term implications of climate change.

"Hopefully this report sets the stage for doing so more regularly in the future," Eigenbrode said. "Things keep changing and the knowledge keeps improving on climate science and the implications of climate science."

Eigenbrode is an entomologist for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and is the project director for the Regional Approaches to Climate Change in Pacific Northwest Agriculture. The project combines research from the UI, Washington State University, Oregon State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists to focus on the wheat production in the Inland Northwest.

The full climate assessment can be found at http://www.globalchange.gov/ncadac.

Sunny Browning can be reached at (208) 883-4639, or by email to sbrowning@dnews.com.