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Smithsonian Institution 
Principal Areas of Focus Within the Smithsonian Institution,
global change research is conducted at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory,
the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center,
the National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute,
and the National Zoological Park. Research is organized around themes of atmospheric
processes, ecosystem dynamics, observing natural and anthropogenic environmental
change on daily to decadal time scales, and defining longer term climate proxies
present in the historical artifacts and records of the museums as well as in
the geologic record at field sites. The Smithsonian Institution program strives
to improve knowledge of the natural processes involved in global climate change,
provide a long-term repository of climate-relevant research materials for present
and future studies, and to bring this knowledge to various audiences, ranging
from scholarly to the lay public. The unique contribution of the Smithsonian
Institution is a long-term perspective—for example, undertaking investigations
that may require extended study before producing useful results and conducting
observations on sufficiently long (e.g., decadal) time scales to resolve human-caused
modification of natural variability.
Program Highlights for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 and FY 2005
Climate Variability and Change
Research at NASM will emphasize the
use of remote-sensing data to improve theories of drought, sand mobility, soil
stability, and climate change in the eastern Sahara. Studies at NMNH and STRI
will focus on the paleoecology of climate change.
Atmospheric Composition
At SERC, measurements will be made of spectral
UVB in Maryland (>25 year record), Florida, Arizona, and other sites
in the United States. These data will be electronically disseminated to
meet the needs for assessing the biological and chemical impact of varying
UV exposure. During FY2004-5, results will be used to update trends in
surface ultraviolet radiation and will be reported in national meetings
and peer reviewed publications (Question
3.4 of CCSP [Climate Change Science Program] Strategic Plan).
Terrestrial and Marine Ecosystems
Several Smithsonian programs will
examine biological responses to global change. At SERC, research will be conducted
on the responses of global ecosystems to increasing CO2 (also a contribution
to the Global Carbon Cycle program), invasive species, and solar UVB. Biodiversity
education and research will be performed at STRI, NMNH and NZP. Tropical biodiversity
research programs monitor global change effects through repeated sampling of
flora and fauna in tropical forests, and identifying the physical and biological
processes of growth and decline of species. Other studies on ecosystem response
to increasing habitat fragmentation will be conducted at NZP. During FY2004-5,
results will be reported from a study on long-term changes in Amazonian tree
communities, which are evidently related to climatic or atmospheric drivers
(Question
8.2 CCSP Strategic Plan).
Human Dimensions of Global Change
The general public and research
community will be informed of global change research conducted by Smithsonian
and other USGCRP [U.S. Global Change Research Program] agencies via exhibits.
During FY 2004-2005, exhibits will be displayed at NMNH in the "Forces
of Change: Global Links" series
concerning El Niño events, the Atmosphere, and the Arctic, with
accompanying educational programs and other ancillary information accessible
through the internet. (Chapter
14 of the CCSP Strategic Plan).
Related Research
Much of the global change research performed at the
Smithsonian is not supported by funds appropriated directly to the Smithsonian,
and instead is supported by other public and private sources (including other
CCSP participating agencies). These projects are nonetheless organized around
the CCSP research elements and thus amplify the scope and impact of research
supported directly by the CCSP. These include programs at the Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory studying stratospheric trace species that play an important role
in ozone photochemical cycles, as well as studies of solar activity and irradiance.
SERC and STRI receive agency support via competitive grants programs to perform
studies of the ecosystem responses to increased CO2, UV-B and invasive species.
Other contributing activities include research conducted by several units within
the Smithsonian in a variety of habitats concerning natural and human-induced
variations in species, populations-communities, and ecosystems. These studies
help clarify the relative importance of global change effects as one of several
agents of ecological change. Studies of environmental change over long time
periods are aided by the Institution's collections. Utilized by researchers
around the world, these materials provide raw data for evaluating changes in
the physical and biological environment that occurred before human influences.
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