A rise of as much as 8 feet by cannot be ruled out. Annual average temperature over the contiguous United States has increased by 1. The report documents how, across the board, the higher temperatures projected for the United States and the world are expected to increase the intensity and frequency of extreme events.
Changes in the characteristics of extreme events are particularly important for human safety, infrastructure, agriculture, water quality and quantity, and natural ecosystems.
Below are peeks into some of the realms in which the United States is expected to face profound change. Coastal Flooding. Global sea level rise has already affected the United States; the incidence of daily tidal flooding is accelerating in more than 25 Atlantic and Gulf Coast cities. Sea level rise is expected to be higher than the global average in some parts of the United States, especially on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States.
Larger Precipitation Events. Heavy precipitation, as either rainfall or snowfall, is increasing in intensity and frequency across the United States Figure 2 and the globe. These trends are expected to continue. The largest observed changes in extreme precipitation in the United States have occurred in the Northeast and the Midwest.
Heat Waves. Heat waves have become more frequent in the United States since the s, whereas extreme cold temperatures and cold waves have become less frequent. Recent record-setting warm years are projected to become common in the near future for the United States as annual average temperatures continue to rise.
Forest Fires. The incidence of large forest fires in the western contiguous United States and Alaska has increased since the early s and is projected to further increase in those regions as the climate warms, with profound changes to regional ecosystems. The frequency of large wildfires is influenced by a complex combination of natural and human factors.
Annual trends toward earlier spring snowmelt and reduced snowpack are already affecting water resources in the western United States, with adverse effects for fisheries and electricity generation. Under the highest emissions scenarios and assuming no change in current water resources management, chronic, long-duration hydrological drought is increasingly possible before the end of this century. Recent droughts and associated heat waves have reached record intensity in some U.
At this time, the report notes that evaluating the human effect on recent major U. Little evidence is found for a human influence on observed precipitation deficits, but much evidence is found for a human influence on surface soil moisture deficits due to increased evapotranspiration caused by higher temperatures. Recently, however, the state issued a one-year moratorium preventing insurers from dropping customers who live in areas at risk from wildfire.
Travelers Insurance Company now requires separate deductibles in areas where hurricanes and tornadoes are more common. With continued global warming, heat waves are expected to increase in frequency, duration and intensity.
Jane Baldwin, a postdoctoral research scientist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, found that compound heat waves—heat waves that occur in sequence, one after the other—will also increase, making recovery from heat waves more difficult. Agricultural workers in California Photo: Holgerhubbs. People who work outdoors, such as construction workers, miners, firefighters and agricultural workers, will be most affected by increasing temperatures.
Florida, for example, has one of the highest rates of heat-related hospitalizations in the U. This summer during a heat wave, the majority of heat-related visits to emergency rooms in Virginia were made by people aged , 70 percent of whom were men. Indoor workers in warehouses and steel plants can also be affected by excessive heat. One study suggested that outdoor workers should begin their shifts earlier in the day, but if global warming continues at the current pace, by , they would have to start working four to six hours before dawn.
Currently, there are no federal laws that protect workers from heat stress, but in July, a bill was introduced into the House of Representatives that would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to establish standards to protect those working in the heat.
As temperatures rise, people will need to stay cool for health and comfort reasons. Climate Central analyzed cities in the U. As we rely more heavily on air conditioners and fans, electricity bills will get higher. The increased demand for electricity, especially during peak periods, can also over-tax the electrical grid, triggering brownouts or blackouts.
Extreme weather, such as hurricanes, heat waves or snowstorms, can cause power outages too. Between the mids and , there was a ten-fold increase in power outages, 80 percent of which were caused by weather. Pre-emptive blackouts could become a common occurrence. Brownouts or blackouts can also result if hydropower plants have less water to draw from in rivers and lakes, and if water becomes too warm to cool nuclear or coal power plants.
Municipalities are recognizing the need to make their communities more resilient in the face of climate change impacts. Grand Rapids, Michigan had problems with flooding and aging stormwater infrastructure. In , the residents rejected a Flooding in Norfolk, Virginia Photo: D. Warmer temperatures cause the pollen season to be longer and worsen air quality, both of which can result in more allergy and asthma attacks.
Ground-level ozone, a major component of smog, which increases when temperatures warm, can also cause coughing, chest tightness or pain, decrease lung function and worsen asthma and other chronic lung diseases.
Photo: NIH. In addition, after floods or storms, damp buildings may foster mold growth, which has been linked to allergies and other lung diseases. Prolonged exposure to heat can exacerbate cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney diseases, diabetes, and increase the chance for strokes. Older adults, pregnant women, and children are particularly vulnerable to excess heat.
Read next: Is Global Warming Real? All rights reserved. And how does it relate to global warming? Learn about the impact and consequences of climate change and global warming for the environment and our lives. This includes mountain glaciers, ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice.
In Montana's Glacier National Park the number of glaciers has declined to fewer than 30 from more than in Much of this melting ice contributes to sea-level rise. Global sea levels are rising 0. Rising temperatures are affecting wildlife and their habitats.
As temperatures change, many species are on the move. Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants have migrated farther north or to higher, cooler areas. Precipitation rain and snowfall has increased across the globe, on average. Yet some regions are experiencing more severe drought , increasing the risk of wildfires, lost crops, and drinking water shortages. Reduce your own carbon footprint by taking a few easy steps: Make conserving energy a part of your daily routine and your decisions as a consumer.
When you buy a car, look for one with the highest gas mileage and lowest emissions. You can also reduce your emissions by taking public transportation or carpooling when possible. And while new federal and state standards are a step in the right direction, much more needs to be done. Demand Climate Action Learn More. This story was originally published on March 11, and has been updated with new information and links. The western city of Ahmedabad is preparing residents to cope with the longer and more intense heat waves sweeping across South Asia—and inspiring other Indian cities and states to follow suit.
The most widespread, damaging storms on earth are getting worse, and climate change is a big reason why. The U. Healing the planet starts at home—in your garage, in your kitchen, and at your dining-room table.
Short answer: Yes. Even a seemingly slight average temperature rise is enough to cause a dramatic transformation of our planet. How smog, soot, greenhouse gases, and other top air pollutants are affecting the planet—and your health. As temperatures and carbon levels rise, even breathing has become a challenge.
NRDC senior attorney Ben Longstreth explains how plaintiffs for these cases get chosen—and how you can help advance the cause in or out of the courtroom.
Gun-control activists want to use financial levers to curtail firearm sales. Can we do the same for carbon emissions? We will keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports.
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