Front Matter -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Summary -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Diversity of Assessments and Their Potential Contributions -- 3 Major Challenges to Achieving an Effective Assessment Process -- 4 Case Studies of Global Change Assessments -- 5 Advice for Effective Assessments -- References -- Appendixes -- A Statement of Task -- B U.S. Global Change Research Act of 1990 Public Law 101-606 [S.169] -- C Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Products -- D Climate Change Science Program Guidelines for Producing Its Synthesis and Assessment Products -- E Biographical Sketches of Committee Members -- F Acronyms.