US Global Change report

The U.S. Global Change Research Program just recently released a report on the current and projected future impacts of climate change in the US (http://globalchange.gov/). In the Northeast:

• Extreme heat and declining air quality are likely to pose increasing problems for human health, especially in urban areas.

• Agricultural production, including dairy, fruit, and maple syrup, are likely to be adversely affected as favorable climates shift.
• Severe flooding due to sea-level rise and heavy downpours is likely to occur more frequently.
• The projected reduction in snow cover will adversely affect winter recreation and the industries that rely upon it.
• The center of lobster fisheries is projected to continue its northward shift and the cod fishery on Georges Bank is likely to be diminished.

Northeast annual average temperature has increased by 2°F since 1970, with winter temperatures rising twice this much. Warming has resulted in many other climate-related changes including more frequent very hot days, a longer growing season, an increase in heavy downpours, less winter precipitation falling as snow and more as rain, reduced snowpack, earlier break-up of winter ice on lakes and rivers, earlier spring snowmelt resulting in earlier peak river flows, rising sea surface temperatures, and rising sea level. These trends are projected to continue, with more dramatic changes under higher emissions scenarios compared to lower emissions scenarios. Some of the extensive climate-related changes projected for the region could significantly alter the region’s economy, landscape, character, and quality of life.

Here's an article about what this report might mean for the enactment of federal climate legislation, especially with the House debate on the Waxman/Markey ACES bill just around the corner (maybe next week?): http://www.grist.org/article/index/2009-06-16-climate-science-impacts-usa/P1