Peer Review Plans

Title and Description:
CCSP Product 5.2 Best Practice Approaches for Characterizing, Communicating and Incorporating Scientific Uncertainty in Climate Decision Making
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), established in 2002 to coordinate climate and global change research conducted in the United States and to support decision-making on climate-related issues, is producing twenty-one synthesis and assessment reports that address its research, observation, and decision-support needs. This report, produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in coordination with other agencies, will focus on best practices for characterizing, communicating and incorporating scientific uncertainty to policy makers. One purpose of the report is to synthesize and communicate the current state of understanding about the characteristics and implications of uncertainty related to climate change and variability to an audience of policymakers with an interest in developing a fundamental understanding of the issue. Such an understanding could contribute sound scientific underpinnings to an informed discourse about the nature and implications of climate change and variability. The purpose of the report is to provide recommendations for best practices for characterizing and analyzing uncertainty and communicating it to scientists, science managers, and technical operational entities involved in conducting and producing climate information in the context of decision support, based on a thorough, state-of-the-art assessment of the current state of understanding.

ID:  51 Info. Type:  HISA
Estimated Dissemination Date:  4/15/2007
Contact Person:  Krisa Arzayus NOAA Locator

Date First Posted in Peer Review Agenda:  6/16/2006
Estimated Peer Review Start Date:  9/19/2006
Review type:  NAS review
Expected number of peer reviewers:  more than 10
Peer reviewers will be selected by:  a designated outside organization

Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers?  no

Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed?  yes

How?  The  public will have an opportunity to review both the prospectus for the document, and the document itself.  The public review of the document will occur following the expert review. Also, the lead author will solicit comments from stakeholders throughout the drafting of the process.
 
When?  Public comment on the prospectus is expected to occur from mid-June to mid-July.  The public comment period on the draft product is expected to occur in December and January 2007 (for a 45 day period).

Will the agency provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before they conduct their review?  no

Primary disciplines or expertise needed in the review:  Social and physical sciences, including: decision analysis, policy studies, atmospheric studies, sociology, geography

Comments on Peer Review:
The charge statement will be included in the Prospectus at http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap5-2/sap5-2prospectus-final.htm#Review

The peer review report was completed in February 2007. Peer review (NRC report): http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11873

The agency response will be posted on this Web site.

The draft assessment for public comment will be posted on the CCSP website (http://www.climatescience.gov); a link will be provided from this Web site.