SEDAC--Thematic Guide to Integrated Assessment Modeling--Section 3

This Information Product is Undergoing Alpha Test

[HOME] [PREVIOUS] [NEXT] [UP] [BOTTOM] [FAQ] [NAV]

Thematic Guide to Integrated Assessment Modeling

Section 3: Design Issues in Integrated Assessment

This section discusses two kinds of issues likely to arise in any project in integrated assessment. The first are broad issues that must be addressed by any assessment, whether of climate or another issue: the purpose of the assessment, who its audience is, and how it should be bounded and organized. The second are problems of how to represent particular components of the climate issue, which are organized around a conventional causal chain from human activities to impacts. This discussion summarizes the main approaches used to represent each component that are taken by current assessment projects, with particular emphasis on those pieces whose representation poses the most significant challenges.

Purpose, Design, and Other Large-Scale (Non-Representational) Issues --issues inherent to all integrated assessment projects

Audience, Purpose, and Relationship--matching the assessment to its audience and the purpose it is intended to serve
How Integrated and Over What Dimensions?--determining the necessary scope of integration
Integrated Assessment and Integrated Models--comparing different activities, often confused
Flexibility, Abstraction and Accessibility--designing assessment to incorporate changing knowledge

Representing Components of the Causal Chain for Integrated Assessment--key issues in integrated assessment of climate change

Future Emissions Paths--three major approaches to projecting emissions
Technological Change--a powerful determinant of long-term emissions paths that is not well-understood
Population Growth--another powerful determinant of long-term emissions paths
Land Use--beginning projects to represent land-related emissions and impacts
Atmosphere and Oceans--reduced-form representations of chemistry and climate
Ecological Impacts--changes in location and properties of ecosystems
Socioeconomic Impacts--estimates of the value of climate-induced changes to people
Treatment of Uncertainty--knowledge, uncertainty, and information in integrated assessments
Discounting--an evaluation of future changes relative to present ones
Resolution--the challenge of combining, reconciling, and propagating information available at various spatial and temporal scales
Representing Policies--abatement, adaptation, and geoengineering measures
Incorporating Political Processes and Negotiation--decisions and behaviors of other agents that affect climate change

The next page is Audience, Purpose, and Relationship.

[SEDAC] [PREVIOUS] [NEXT] [TOP]

Sources

Parson, E.A. and K. Fisher-Vanden, Searching for Integrated Assessment: A Preliminary Investigation of Methods, Models, and Projects in the Integrated Assessment of Global Climatic Change. Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN). University Center, Mich. 1995.

Suggested Citation

Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN). 1995. Thematic Guide to Integrated Assessment Modeling of Climate Change [online]. University Center, Mich.
CIESIN URL: http://sedac.ciesin.org/mva/iamcc.tg/TGHP.html

Acknowledgement

This work, including access to the data and technical assistance, is provided by CIESIN, with funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Contract NAS5-32632 for the Development and Operation of the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC).

Data Errors, Corrections and Disclaimer
CIESIN follows procedures designed to ensure that data disseminated via CIESIN Web site are of reasonable quality. If, despite these procedures, users encounter apparent errors in CIESIN data, they should contact CIESIN User Services at 517/797-2727 or via Internet e-mail at CIESIN.Info@ciesin.org. CIESIN will notify the original data provider of these apparent errors or misstatements and will attempt to correct them in the most efficient manner possible. Neither CIESIN nor NASA verifies or guarantees the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the data provided.

For more information contact CIESIN User Services: e-mail: CIESIN.Info@ciesin.org; Tel: 1-517-797-2727.

Configuration control information:
TGsec3.htmlpp Version 1.12. Last updated 01/06 1996.