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Global Warming Reports
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Executive Summary
In
the summer of 2006, Americans from coast to coast experienced a sweltering heat
wave that broke more than 2,300 daily temperature records in July alone. This
record warmth, however, was not an anomaly; rather, it is indicative of a
broader trend toward increasing temperatures and extreme weather resulting from
global warming. To examine recent trends in temperature in cities and towns
across the United States,
this report analyzes 2000-2006 temperature data from 255 major weather stations
and finds that temperatures were above normal almost everywhere during the
period.
Average
temperatures worldwide have risen by 0.8° C (1.44° F) in the past century and
now are increasing at a rate of about 0.2° C (0.36° F) per decade. The 10
warmest years of the global record have all occurred since 1990, and 2005 was
the warmest year to date.
The
consensus view of the scientific community is that most of the global warming
that has occurred is due to human activities, particularly the burning of
fossil fuels. Fossil fuel combustion releases carbon dioxide, which traps
radiation emitted from the earth’s surface that normally would escape back to
space. Since 1750, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has
increased by 35%.
The
United States
emits far more carbon dioxide than any other nation in the world.
Emissions
of carbon dioxide in the United
States – primarily from electric power
plants and passenger vehicles – have nearly doubled since 1960 and are
projected to increase dramatically in the years to come. In the continental United
States, the first seven months of 2006
were the warmest January-July of any year on record. The average temperature
was 55.3° F, or 3.2° F above the 20th century average. Every state in the
continental United
States experienced warmer-than-average
temperatures; in most states, temperatures were much warmer than the 20th
century average. For instance, according to the National
Climatic
Data
Center:
- Five
states experienced their warmest January-July on record (Kansas,
Missouri,
Oklahoma,
South Dakota,
and Texas).
- Eleven
states experienced their second warmest January-July on record (Illinois, Maine,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming).
- The
average temperature for the first seven months of 2006 ranged between 4.0° F
and 6.6° F above the 20th century average in Iowa,
Kansas,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
Montana,
Nebraska,
North Dakota,
Oklahoma,
South Dakota,
Wisconsin,
and Wyoming.
To
examine how recent U.S.
temperature patterns compare with temperatures over the last 30 years, we
analyzed temperature data from “First Order” weather stations for the years
2000-2005 and the first six months of 2006. First Order stations are those
staffed in whole or in part by National Weather Service personnel and therefore
provide the highest quality data. The 255 stations are located in all 50 states
and Washington,
DC.
We
compared this recent data to historical, or “normal,” data from the stations
for the three decades spanning 1971-2000.
Overall, we found that temperatures were above normal across the
country, indicating pervasive warming. Specifically:
Average
Temperatures Rising
- Between
2000 and 2005, the average temperature was above normal at 95% of the locations
we studied. Alaska
experienced the most warming on average, with Talkeetna reporting average
temperatures 4.6° F above normal.
Outside of Alaska,
weather stations in Colorado,
Michigan,
Montana,
Nevada
and Wyoming
reported the highest above-normal temperatures for the period.
- During
the first six months of 2006, the average temperature was above normal at 91%
of the locations. The average temperature was at least 3° F above normal in 43%
of the locations and at least 5° F above normal in 12 of the locations.
Temperatures were particularly warm in Texas
and the Great Plains
states. The average temperature was nearly 5.9° F above normal, the highest in
the country, in Kansas City,
Missouri
and 5.6°F above normal in Wichita
Falls, Texas.
Nights
Getting Warmer
- Between
2000 and 2005, the average minimum (nighttime low) temperature was above normal
at 92% of the locations. The average minimum temperature in Reno,
Nevada
was 5.2° F above normal, the highest in the United
States. Albuquerque,
New Mexico
recorded average minimum temperatures of more than 3° F above normal.
- During
the first six months of 2006, the average minimum (nighttime low) temperature
was above normal at 87% of the stations. The average minimum temperature was at
least 3° F above normal in 28% of the locations and at least 5° F above normal
in nine of these locations. Nighttime temperatures were particularly mild
on average in the upper Midwest,
with temperatures soaring to 6.7° F above normal in Sioux
Falls, South Dakota
and almost 6° F above normal in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester, and
St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Days
Getting Warmer
- Between
2000 and 2005, the average maximum (daytime high) temperature was above normal
at 80% of the locations. Alaska
experienced the most daytime warming. Locations outside of Alaska experiencing
the highest above normal average maximum temperatures include Goodland, Kansas;
Alamosa and Pueblo, Colorado; Brownsville, Texas; and Rapid City, South Dakota.
- During
the first six months of 2006, the average maximum temperature was above normal
at 87% of the locations. The average maximum temperature was at least 3° F
above normal in 39% of the locations and least 5° F above normal in 28 of these
locations. Warmer-than normal days hit Texas
and the Great Plains
the most, averaging more than 6° F above normal in Dodge
City, Concordia, and Wichita,
Kansas
as well as Grand Island,
Nebraska
and Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
To
curb global warming and protect future generations, the United
States should adopt a series of public
policies designed to quickly and significantly reduce emissions of global warming
pollutants from power plants, cars and trucks, and manufacturing facilities.
- Cap
global warming emissions. The United
States should establish mandatory,
science-based limits on carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants that
reduce emissions from today’s levels within 10 years, by 15-20% by 2020, and by
80% by 2050.
- Adopt
complementary clean energy policies to reduce global warming emissions. To
achieve these reductions, the United
States should
adopt strong policies to improve the efficiency
with which we use fossil fuels and increase
our use of clean, renewable energy.
- Encourage
action at the state level. Federal action to reduce global
warming pollution should promote innovative approaches at the state level and
not impede individual states or groups of states from pursuing policies that go
above and beyond the commitments made by the federal government.
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