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October 18, 2005
Scientific American: Climate Model Predicts Extreme Changes for U.S.
Topics: General Science
Lately, we've all seen much in the way of weather-related extremes such as floods, hurricanes and heat waves that have lead to loss of lives and property. Scientific American reminds us that Hurricane Katrina alone claimed more than 1,000 lives and Congress has already set aside $62.5 billion for relief and rebuilding efforts. One heat wave during the summer of 1995 took 1,100 lives and the government spent $88 billion between 1988 and 1993 on three weather-related disasters (drought and flooding in the Midwest and Hurricane Andrew).
In the light of our recent weather experiences, we can hardly be surprised by an SA report that the latest and most detailed climate model of the continental U.S. predicts temperatures so extreme by the end of the century they could substantially disrupt the country's economy and infrastructure. The climate simulation, churned out by supercomputers at Purdue University, factors in dynamic environmental variables previously unaccounted for and analyzes them at a resolution twice as fine as previous models. The results indicate an increase in heat, heavier rainfalls and shorter winters, which could strain water resources for people and crops and cause a catastrophic loss of life and property, among other things.
The SA article points out that although the new results are alarming, they are not meant to create an alarmist view, rather, they forecast a scenario that should be taken under serious consideration.
You'll want to read it all...
Posted by Richard at October 18, 2005 2:42 PM
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