Weather disasters in the US and global warming
Scientists blame weather disasters on global warming
(National-NBC) Oct. 18, 2005 - Hurricanes, floods, mudslides and other weather disasters are hitting the US from coast to coast.
A new report says these conditions could be the norm in the US over the next 100 years. A team of climatologists say it's the result of global warming and greenhouse gases, a report that other scientists say is a lot of hot air.
It's already a record-tying year for hurricanes and tropical storms. Parts of the northeast have been flooded out after a week of rain. There was even enough water to overwhelm a century-old dam in Massachussetts.
But these may be remembered as the good old days by our grandchildren, if a new report on the effects of greenhouse gases is right. Climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh of
Noah Diffenbaugh led a
The Purdue study hinges on the theory greenhouse gases will double in a hundred years from sources like traffic and factories. A researcher from
But one critic doubts greenhouse gas levels will double. Environmental scientist Patrick Michaels of the Cato Institute counters, "This report is yet another report that uses an extreme scenario... "
Diffenbaugh stands by the findings, but, "I'd be thrilled to be wrong on this."
If the Purdue team is right, temperatures in some areas could shoot up 18 degrees higher than they are right now.