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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 I 5 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 abovenormal 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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