Uncertainty in Climate Change Research

This edited volume with open access discusses all aspects of uncertainty in climate change research, with a unique emphasis on decision making under uncertainty and the assessment of various uncertainties in the landscape of decision making. By analyzing uncertainty through the lens of decision making, the book seeks to understand and assess the various uncertainties inherent in climate change research, including uncertainties in economic impacts, human health and vulnerability, fluctuations in the physical climate system, changes in infrastructure, and future climate projections. Very little published material exists on the uncertainties regarding vulnerability of different populations to climate change, and so the book characterizes the uncertainty in vulnerability to better formulate solutions to climate change problems in affected populations. The volume will be of interest to students, post-docs, early career scientists, and researchers interested in all aspects of climate change.

After an introduction that addresses the issue of uncertainty in general as it pertains to climate change research, the book is divided into 5 main sections. Section 1 focuses on uncertainty in policy and decision making, and how climate-related policy choices affect risk management, mitigation, and adaptation. Section 2 discusses uncertainty in climate change impacts, including impacts in agriculture, water resources, transportation infrastructure, and human health and vulnerability. Section 3 analyzes physical climate uncertainties, such as Earth system projections, emissions concentrations, and sea-level rise projections. Section 4 details the methods for quantifying uncertainty from a statistical perspective. Section 5 concludes the volume with discussions on special topics and integrated themes within uncertainty, including ethics and uncertainty, communication, the economics of climate change, and integrated modeling for decision support.