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Climate Change Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X)

Underlying Science for Climate Change Adaptation

Underlying science documents are grouped by interest to help communities and individuals to better understand the science of climate change and guide adaptation efforts. 

Picture of America from a space view

Air Quality

An increase in temperature may increase the amount of ground-level ozone in some regions. The intensity and frequency of wildfires is increasing with warmer temperatures and droughts. These conditions can complicate those working to achieve outdoor air quality standards. Extreme weather conditions associated with climate change, such as more frequent and intense storm events, can threaten indoor air quality.

Water Management

  • EPA Climate Impacts on Water Resources Website – Website detailing how warming temperatures, changes in precipitation, and sea level rise have affected and will likely continue to affect water supply and quality.
  • EPA Climate Impacts on Coastal Areas Website – Website detailing how sea level rise, changes in the frequency and intensity of storms, increases in precipitation, and warmer ocean temperatures may affect the health of coastal environments.

Waste Management & Emergency Response

Some extreme weather and climate events have increased in recent decades. Extreme weather may complicate contaminated site management, threaten the effectiveness of cleanup efforts, and increase the need for disaster debris management.

National Climate Assessment – Extreme Weather

Public Health

Climate change threatens human health and well-being in many ways, including impacts from increased extreme weather events, wildfires, and decreased air quality.

Adaptation Planning

Many states, cities, businesses, and federal government agencies have realized the importance of reducing the harm climate change can cause and have begun developing their own adaptation plans and adopting policies that strengthen resiliency.


If you want to know more about climate change science…