A government report from the Global Change Research Project was released yesterday, and it affirms that climate change from rising carbon dioxide levels is already having an impact on the United States. The report combines research on global change from multiple federal agencies, and outlines a long list of climate change impacts that are being found across the country, including:
- Risks and costs in Alaska increase as thawing of permafrost damages roads, buildings, and forests, and declining sea ice increases coastal erosion and threatens the existence of some communities.
- Forest growth is generally projected to increase in much of the East, but decrease in much of the West as water becomes even scarcer. Insect infestations and wildfires are projected to increase as warming progresses.
- Salmon, trout, and other coldwater fish will face additional stresses as water temperatures rise and summer streamflows decline.
- Population shifts and development choices are making more Americans vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
- Rising water temperatures and ocean acidification threaten coral reefs and the rich ecosystems they
support.- Warming will decrease demand for heating energy in winter and increase demand for cooling energy in summer. The latter will result in significant increases in electricity use and higher peak demand in most regions.
- Increasing heat, pests, floods, weeds, and water stress will present increasing challenges for crop and livestock production.
- Heat waves will become more frequent and intense, increasing threats to human health and quality
of life, especially in cities.- Water supplies in the rapidly growing Southwest will become increasingly scarce, calling for difficult trade-offs.
- More rain is already coming in very heavy events, and this trend is projected to increase across the nation. Such events are harmful to transportation infrastructure, agriculture, water quality, and human health.
- Sea-level rise and storm surge will increase threats to homes and infrastructure including water, sewer, transportation, and communication systems.
- As warming increases there will be more competition for water, and the energy sector will be strongly affected because power plants require large amounts of water for cooling.
The report suggests immediate action to curb CO2 emissions, and also suggests that we adapt now to coming changes.
Read the full report here.
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Watch fascinating videos on their YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/marmillionco
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