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Global warming/meeting and evidence



For your info - P. Dines

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From: INTERNET:sf.moderator@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
To: Patricia Dines, 73652,1202
To: sc-action@igc.apc.org
Date: Sun, Nov 24, 1996, 1:57 AM
Subject: SC-Action #310- Scientists Endorse Ozone Chemical Ban


ON THE HILL: ENVIRONMENTAL HERO HOSTS GLOBAL WARMING ROUNDTABLE 

Yesterday, Senator Joe Lieberman hosted a roundtable discussion 
on global warming.  Scientists from around the nation discussed 
evidence that global warming is already underway, and its 
possible impact on our future.  

Dr. Tom Karl of the National Climate Data Center was one of the 
roundtable participants.  He discussed evidence that global 
climate change is already underway.  Though the average yearly 
temperature of the US has already risen 1 degree Fahrenheit in 
the last 100 years, he cautioned that things may be worse than 
they appear.  Temperatures in many areas of the west, midwest, 
and northeast are as much as 3 degrees warmer today than they 
were 100 years ago. The speed with which these changes have 
occurred is unprecedented.

Dr. Karl has also found that more of the rain and snow that falls 
in the US is falling in extreme weather events.  This trend leads 
to huge blizzards or rainstorms in the winter that often lead to 
flooding.  Summers, however, have become more and more dry.  Many 
parts of the nation now experience a "double whammy" from flooding 
in the winter and droughts in the summer.  This new pattern of 
weather events is beginning to severely impact agriculture, 
wetlands, and wildlife and will only increase as global 
temperatures rise.

<<PD NOTE:  I remember reading that even a few degrees change can have great
impact - increased algae blooms that do harm, too hot for fish to survive, etc.
I also remember reading somewhere that the ice age was only a few degrees
different than now - does anyone remember this fact? - maybe in average
temp....?>>




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