Global Warming Will Alter Character of the Northeast
Photo by Kelly Ryerson/Getty Images
From the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS): “A group of leading scientists find that unless steps are taken to slow global warming, several states in the Northeast could have climates similar to those of the modern-day South.”
Two emissions scenarios were postulated by the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA), a collaboration between UCS and a team of independent scientists from universities across the Northeast and the nation. The first: if we continue to rely on energy sources that produce high levels of heat-trapping gas (e.g., coal and oil); the second: if we shift to clean and renewable energy to power our economy.
While the two emissions scenarios lead to similar consequences in early decades, the report finds the scenarios lead to starkly different outcomes as children born today reach middle-age. The projections analyze the impacts in 30 year increments: 2010-2039, 2040-2069, and 2070-2099.
Average annual temperatures. Under the higher emissions path, temperatures are projected to increase 6.5-12.5°F by the end of the century. An increase of 3.5-6.5°F is projected on the lower path.
Extreme heat days in cities. By the end of the century, many Northeast cities can expect 30 or more days over 90°F under the lower emissions scenario, and 60 or more days per year under the higher emissions scenario. Currently, Northeast cities experience one or two days per summer over 100°F. This number could increase to three to nine days under lower emissions and 14 to 28 days per year under higher emissions.
Less snow. Across the Northeast, the number of days with snow on the ground will be reduced by 50 percent in the higher emissions scenario, but only by 25 percent under the lower scenario. More winter precipitation will fall as rain. Both projections will likely have implications for winter recreation and tourism in the region.
Droughts. Droughts in the region are projected to be much more frequent on the higher emissions path.
Extreme precipitation events. Under both emissions scenarios, more frequent and more intense heavy rainfall events are expected.
“The Northeast’s economy and lifestyle is built around the seasonal cycles—pleasant summers, winter recreational opportunities, and iconic fall foliage,” said report co-lead Katharine Hayhoe, Research Associate Professor in the Dept. of Geosciences at Texas Tech University. “Fortunately, the worst consequences of global warming can be avoided by reducing our emissions starting today.”
(Emphasis is mine.)
Update: The West isn’t immune to this, of course.
Related articles:
1. Lick Global Warming
2. The Canary Project
3. Kids Starting to Feel the Heat
4. It’s Getting Hot In Here: Act Now
Online resources:
1. Undo It
2. StopGlobalWarming.org
3. An Inconvenient Truth
You may not know it, but households across the globe are infested with vampires. Energy vampires, that is. Taking the form of everyday household appliances (psst, your TV is one of them), their nasty pointed teeth are plunged deep into your wall socket, sucking up power all day and all night, even when they’ve been turned off. Other sleeper agents of the electric undead that consume 1,000 kilowatt hours a year per household while in standby mode: your toaster, coffeemaker, hair dryer, PC, printer, cable box, and cellphone charger. “As a country we pay $1 billion a year to power our TVs and VCRs while they’re turned off,” Maria T. Vargas, a spokeswoman for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program told the New York Times.
You don’t have to live in a constant state of fear, however, forever looking behind your back for that one appliance you forgot to pull the plug of. The easiest solution is to plug adjacent equipment into power strips with surge protectors. Just before you crawl under the safety of your covers—or before you head out to work—simply flip the switch. Happy vampire slaying!
thissinglespark said,
October 5, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Hey Chekhov,
Great tip. Let me back up your sage advice with some numbers. My hydro provider changed its billing system last summer (from monthly average based on your previous year, to monthly actual amounts), so the first month that I can really compare is September. My September 2005 bill was $33.82. Started unplugging the microwave and the tv (just those two things) in January 2006. September 2006 bill was $22.02. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
I never understand why people are resistant to making changes that are good for the Earth. So often they turn out to be good for the pocket book, too. Unless it’s because everyone else just has more money than me…
Noogies,
TSS
Jessica said,
October 6, 2006 at 11:14 am
On a somewhat related note to energy vampires, we just launched a new tool over at envrionmentaldefense.org which allows you to calculate how much you’d save on your electric bill and how much global warming pollution you’d cut by switching to energy-saving bulbs.
Heidi said,
October 6, 2006 at 2:27 pm
We definitely need to be better about doing this at our house, but one of the first (and easiest) things we did last year when we bought our house was to disconnect the Jacuzzi spa that came with it. What an energy vampire! Do people really run these things for 4 hours a day as recommended, yet only sit in it for about 15 minutes? Crazy! Now if we could just bring ourselves to actually turn off our computers when not using them.
The Worsted Witch » This is the Cold That Never Ends said,
February 2, 2007 at 11:03 am
[...] Related articles: 1. The Warming of Greenland 2. Manhattan in January 3. CO2’s Double Identity 4. Your Carbon Diet 5. Global Warming Will Alter Character of the Northeast 6. Lick Global Warming 7. The Canary Project 8. Kids Starting to Feel the Heat 9. It’s Getting Hot In Here: Act Now [...]