The federal government on Tuesday released the Fifth National Climate Assessment — highlighting the severe impacts global warming is expected to have on the nation. |
Among the report’s findings: -
The planet is likely to heat up by an average of between 4.5 and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 and 4.0 degrees Celsius) compared to pre-industrial levels — reaching levels of warming the international community is hoping to avoid.
- How the U.S. might fare: At 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) of global warming, the average U.S. temperature is likely to increase between 4.4 and 5.6 degrees, the report found.
- At 3.6 degrees F of warming, the Midwest could see 10 more days each year above 95 degrees; the Southeast could see six more days above 100 degrees and the Southern Great Plains could see eight more days above 105.
The U.S. will see more extreme impacts from climate change: Climate change is expected to make food less available and more expensive as high temperatures reduce crop yields and introduce disease. Air pollution could worsen as smog-producing chemical reactions speed up with higher temperatures and more sunlight. -
The northeastern U.S. is already seeing more rain and snow, and “extreme precipitation events” have increased by about 60 percent.
- In the Southwest, climate change is exacerbating water supply issues. Between 1913 and 2017, average water discharge from the Colorado River decreased by 9.3 percent for each 1.8 degrees F of warming.
Read more at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. |
