Global Warming and Oddball Winter Weather
Video: http://youtu.be/sxguE_RS7Iw
Web link: http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Global-Warming-is-Causing-Extreme-Weather/Winter-Weather.aspx
Key Climate Changes:
- Since the 1970s, December-February temperature increases have ranged from 1 to 2 degrees in the Pacific Northwest to about 4 degrees in the Northeast to more than 6 degrees in Alaska.
- Winters are getting shorter, too. Spring arrives 10-14 days earlier than it did just 20 years ago.
Global warming is bringing a clear trend toward heavier precipitation events.
- Many areas are seeing bigger and more intense snowstorms, especially in the upper Midwest and Northeast.
- Large economic uncertainty and potential losses are in store for many communities, especially in regions where winter recreation provides significant tourism revenue.
- A number of Northeastern ski areas are likely to see a 25-45% decline in the length of their ski season by the 2070s.
- Lakes across the Midwest are freezing later and have thinner ice, often leading to ice conditions to dangerous for safe ice fishing
- The report also includes recommendations for reducing the risk:
- Curbing global warming pollution to minimize future oddball winter weather.
- Accounting for greater variability in snow removal and flood management programs.
- Safeguarding wildlife, fish and habitats from more unpredictable winter weather.
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