The first major analysis of streams and rivers in the U.S., has found that 20 major rivers are warming at 0.02-0.14 degrees per year. Urban areas in general and the Delaware River in particular are warming fastest. Mitigation and adaption strategies are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Archive for the ‘North America’ Category
Study says U.S. waterways are warming
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010As Florida Keys residents confront rising sea levels, what lessons?
Friday, March 5th, 2010The Florida Keys are the “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to rising sea levels, which are 9″ higher than they were a century ago, and could rise 7-55″ more by 2100, hurting property values by $11-35 billion. Local officials want to act now.
Around the redwoods, the fog Is dissipating
Thursday, February 18th, 2010Researchers have found that coastal summer fogs in central California have decreased by about a third since the early 20th century. They don’t attribute the decline directly to climate change, but do suggest that the state’s redwoods, which transpire a lot, may be stressed by lower summer humidity.
Global warming changing birds’ habitats
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009According to a new report released by the Audubon Society, over 350 species of birds are spending winters further north than they did 40 years ago. While there are other factors which cause birds to change their range, scientists believe that the only explanation for such a large number of species to move north is global warming. Over the past 40 years, temperatures in January have risen approximately 5 degrees Fahrenheit. With the warmer temperatures, the birds need less food to survive in the cold, allowing them to live in places that were previously inhabitable. Temperature changes have different effects of individual species, so while some birds may not travel as far south in the winter, others are traveling further north at the same time.
Could cows heal the West?
Monday, January 26th, 2009There are no panaceas, of course, but holistic management of cattle ranges can contribute a lot to improving the soil and its productivity, and not just in the United States but worldwide. That’s the main message of this informative article from the Christian Science Monitor. By applying holistic management techniques, overgrazed, degraded rangeland can be returned to health and productivity.
Effects of rising sea levels on Middle Atlantic states
Monday, January 19th, 2009A report issued jointly by several US government agencies including the EPA and the US Geological Survey warns that a rising sea level threatens barrier islands and coastal wetlands in the Middle Atlantic states. The Outer Banks of North Carolina are particularly at risk. The agencies estimate that the rate of sea level rise will be about seven millimeters a year, or about two feet per century. They predict that this rate is almost certain to increase, due to the fact that water expands as it warms, and because runoff from melting glaciers and erosion are both expected to increase. In addition, they note, the Middle Atlantic region is subject to storms, is densely populated, and much of its infrastructure is low lying, all factors that increase its vulnerability. However, uncertainty remains about the timing and extent of the effects of sea level rise, in part because the states involved have conducted only a few analyses, whose results have not led to new statewide policies.