Schoenefeld & McCauley – Appendix
Climate Change Information Used in Experimental Conditions
1. Local Climate Change Information
Please read the following information about climate change. You will later be asked to
respond to questions about the information you read here.
Vermont/New England Local Climate Change Impacts
This information about climate change in the United States comes from the Global
Climate Change Impacts in the United States Report, which was published by the
U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), an entity of the U.S. government, in
2009 (http://www.globalchange.gov). The Global Change Research Program is backed by
all major federal departments, for example the Department of the Interior, the Department
of Defense or the US EPA.
Who wrote this report?
“An expert team of scientists operating under the authority of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, assisted by communication specialists, wrote the document. The report
was extensively reviewed and revised based on comments from experts and the public.
The report was approved by its lead USGCRP Agency, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the other USGCRP agencies, and the Committee on the
Environment and Natural Resources on behalf of the National Science and Technology
Council.” (http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/fullreport/about-this-report)
Mechanics of Climate Change
Climate change is caused by heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, most importantly
carbon dioxide. Over the past centuries, carbon dioxide emissions from human activity
have increased significantly, mostly due to the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal or
gasoline in power plants, airplanes, cars, etc. These heat-trapping gases have increased
temperatures in the atmosphere and will continue to do so over the next centuries.
However, how much temperatures will increase depends on what human societies choose
to do now and in the future.
According to the report, at the LOCAL LEVEL in Vermont & New England,
human-caused climate change…
…has already caused average temperatures to rise by 2º Fahrenheit in the last 50 years
with winter temperatures rising twice as much.
In Vermont, without major changes in policy and decision making, climate change will
…
…result in additional warming of 2.5-4.0º Fahrenheit by the end of this century.
… eventually cut the snow season in half, having strong negative effects on the
winter-sport industry, including skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing and ice
fishing in Vermont.
…lead to more short-term droughts (2-3 months), particularly in the summer in
Vermont. These droughts result from longer dry periods between rain storms.
… lead to more heat waves in the summer (temperatures above 100º Fahrenheit),
which will impact people as well as hurting the dairy industry by reducing milk
production by 10-20% due to cow’s heat stress.
…reduce agricultural production and farmer income, because some crops, for
example some apples, as well as blueberries, cranberries, and sugar maple will no
longer do well in Vermont.
…significantly increase extremely heavy rain downpours that cause severe flood
damage to homes, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, such as the recent flash
floods in Ripton, Vermont. At the same time, short-term droughts are likely to
occur between these storms, because precipitation will be concentrated in fewer
and very intense storms.
2. Global Climate Change Information
Global Impacts of Climate Change
This information about worldwide climate change comes from the Global Climate
Change Impacts Report, which was published by the U.S. Global Change Research
Program (USGCRP), an entity of the U.S. government, in 2009
(http://www.globalchange.gov). The Global Change Research Program is backed by all
major federal departments, for example the Department of the Interior, the Department of
Defense or the US EPA.
Who wrote this report?
“An expert team of scientists operating under the authority of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, assisted by communication specialists, wrote the document. The report
was extensively reviewed and revised based on comments from experts and the public.
The report was approved by its lead USGCRP Agency, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the other USGCRP agencies, and the Committee on the
Environment and Natural Resources on behalf of the National Science and Technology
Council.” (http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/fullreport/about-this-report)
Mechanics of Climate Change
Climate change is caused by heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, most importantly
carbon dioxide. Over the past centuries, carbon dioxide emissions from human activity
have increased significantly, mostly due to the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal or
gasoline in power plants, airplanes, cars, etc. These heat-trapping gases have increased
temperatures in the atmosphere and will continue to do so over the next centuries.
However, how much temperatures will increase depends on what human societies choose
to do now and in the future.
According to the report, at the GLOBAL LEVEL (worldwide), human-caused
climate change…
…has caused average temperatures to rise by 2º Fahrenheit in the last 50 years with
temperatures in the northern territories rising much faster than in the south.
On a global level, without major changes in policy and decision making, climate
change will…
…lead to an additional warming of 2.5-4.0º Fahrenheit by the end of this century.
...significantly decrease permanent and seasonal snow and ice cover, especially
from the melting of glaciers. On a worldwide scale, the winter seasons will
become shorter.
…lead to more droughts, particularly in drier regions that are closer to the
equator. These droughts result from longer dry periods between rain storms.
…lead to more heat waves in the summer (temperatures above 100º Fahrenheit),
such as the 2003 heat wave in Europe. These heat waves have and will lead to the
deaths of thousands of people and often have a negative impact on agriculture
because of heat stress in plants.
...reduce agricultural production and thus farmer income, particularly in coastal
and floodplain areas. In many places in Asia, the production of rice, wheat and
corn will decrease notably.
…significantly increase extremely heavy rain downpours that cause severe flood
damage to homes, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, such as recent floods in
Pakistan. At the same time, short-term droughts are likely to occur between these
storms, because precipitation will be concentrated in fewer and very intense
storms.