Richard Tafoya
Jul 29th, 2009, 01:40 AM
Cleveland Plain Dealer:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07/scientists_group_claims_big_cl.html
Ohio is heading for a future with more heat waves, more flooding, reduced crop yields and a diminishing Lake Erie to its north if the United States does not significantly curb heat-trapping emissions, the Union of Concerned Scientists claimed this morning in a news release.
The report, Confronting Climate Change in Ohio asserts that Ohio's climate could change under two scenarios - a "business-as-usual increase in heat-trapping emissions from continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels" and one based on lower emissions due to an increased reliance on other energy sources.
The timing of the release of the report was awkward on at least two counts -- July so far has been a near record cold month throughout the Midwest and recent reports have noted that water levels throughout the Great Lakes are up significantly this year.
Nevertheless, the scientists contended that most global warming scenarios also account for natural fluctuations.
"The science is clear. We have to get started now so that our children and grandchildren don't suffer from deadly heat waves, and our farmers don't have to battle more extreme droughts and floods, and greater pest and weed infestation," said Ron Burke, the group's Midwest office director.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07/scientists_group_claims_big_cl.html
Ohio is heading for a future with more heat waves, more flooding, reduced crop yields and a diminishing Lake Erie to its north if the United States does not significantly curb heat-trapping emissions, the Union of Concerned Scientists claimed this morning in a news release.
The report, Confronting Climate Change in Ohio asserts that Ohio's climate could change under two scenarios - a "business-as-usual increase in heat-trapping emissions from continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels" and one based on lower emissions due to an increased reliance on other energy sources.
The timing of the release of the report was awkward on at least two counts -- July so far has been a near record cold month throughout the Midwest and recent reports have noted that water levels throughout the Great Lakes are up significantly this year.
Nevertheless, the scientists contended that most global warming scenarios also account for natural fluctuations.
"The science is clear. We have to get started now so that our children and grandchildren don't suffer from deadly heat waves, and our farmers don't have to battle more extreme droughts and floods, and greater pest and weed infestation," said Ron Burke, the group's Midwest office director.