Inching toward global warming

February 25th, 2009 at 07:29am Jennie Pollock

According to a new study, the Earth doesn’t have to warm up as significantly as previously thought to cause extreme weather events and threaten ecosystems.

The AP reports:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated that the risk of increased severe weather would rise with a global average temperature increase of between 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 3.6 degrees above 1990 levels. The National Climatic Data Center currently reports that global temperatures have risen 0.22 degree since 1990.

Now, researchers report that “increases in drought, heat waves and floods are projected in many regions and would have adverse impacts, including increased water stress, wildfire frequency and flood risks starting at less than (1.8 degrees) of additional warming above 1990 levels.”

Side note: In looking for this story, I found on CNN.com the five places you should travel before “global warming messes them up.”

1. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

2. New Orleans, La.

3. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo.

4. Alpine Glaciers, Switzerland

5. Amazon rain forest, Brazil

I’ve been to the Rockies, the Alps and the Big Easy. Not sure I’ll make it to the other two, though I’d pick Australia in a heartbeat over South America.

Entry Filed under: In the news, Global warming