As southeast Texans swelter under what local National Weather Service forecasters label a “death ridge,” the latest federal report on climate change indicates the abnormally high temperatures, oppressive humidity and dearth of rain may offer a taste of typical Houston summers to come. Issued as Congress debates how to reduce man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are heating the globe, the study by top government scientists, entitled “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States,” warns that Americans are already feeling the effects of global warming, which will rapidly get worse.
As the report states, “global warming is unequivocal and primarily human-induced.” Climate-related changes are already being observed and include increases in heavy downpours, melting glaciers and lengthening growing seasons.
If the current run of days in the high 90s here seems intolerable, just wait. According to projections, by the last few decades of this century the number of days over 90 degrees in southeast Texas will increase from 75 to 165 days a year, making a Houston summer that much more daunting.
Still recovering from Hurricane Ike, Gulf Coast residents can expect rising sea levels that will endanger low-lying communities, roads, rail lines and vital oil and gas industry infrastructure. Gulf waters could rise three to four feet by 2100, pushing beaches back while bringing salt water much farther inland.
Tropical storms are likely to be more intense due to warming sea waters, while the southwest United States can look forward to prolonged droughts and water shortages in major urban areas.
Average U.S. temperatures have already risen 1.5 degrees in the past half century, and could range from two to 11 degrees more if current levels of carbon dioxide emissions are not lowered.
Latest U.S. climate study predicts sweltering future | Editorial | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
As the report states, “global warming is unequivocal and primarily human-induced.” Climate-related changes are already being observed and include increases in heavy downpours, melting glaciers and lengthening growing seasons.
If the current run of days in the high 90s here seems intolerable, just wait. According to projections, by the last few decades of this century the number of days over 90 degrees in southeast Texas will increase from 75 to 165 days a year, making a Houston summer that much more daunting.
Still recovering from Hurricane Ike, Gulf Coast residents can expect rising sea levels that will endanger low-lying communities, roads, rail lines and vital oil and gas industry infrastructure. Gulf waters could rise three to four feet by 2100, pushing beaches back while bringing salt water much farther inland.
Tropical storms are likely to be more intense due to warming sea waters, while the southwest United States can look forward to prolonged droughts and water shortages in major urban areas.
Average U.S. temperatures have already risen 1.5 degrees in the past half century, and could range from two to 11 degrees more if current levels of carbon dioxide emissions are not lowered.
Latest U.S. climate study predicts sweltering future | Editorial | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
