Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
NJ DEP: Climate Change in New Jersey: Temperature, Precipitation, Extreme Events and Sea Level
http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/trends/pdfs/climate-change.pdf[font face=Serif][font size=5]Climate Change in New Jersey: Temperature, Precipitation, Extreme Events and Sea Level[/font]
[font size=4]Background[/font]
[font size=3]There is good evidence that as a result of ever increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO[font size=1]2[/font]) and other greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, as well as natural climate variability, the Earth’s surface has warmed by over 1.3° Fahrenheit (0.7° Celsius) during the past century. These increased temperatures have contributed to an overall rise in sea level. Continued greenhouse gas emissions at or above current rates are expected to cause further warming and induce many changes in the global climate system during the 21st century that will very likely be larger than those observed during the 20th century.
In July 2007, the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA) released a report detailing the projected impacts of climate change on the Northeast Region of the United States. This research echoed the global findings of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report and also pointed out that states in the Northeastern United States are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and that the potential ecological, economic and public health impacts to New Jersey may be devastating.
Precipitation and runoff are likely to increase in the Northeast (and Midwest) in both the winter and spring. According to the State Climatolo- gist, New Jersey is getting wetter. The additional atmospheric moisture contributes to more overall precipitation in some areas, especially in much of the Northeast. Such areas, where total precipitation is expected to increase the most, would also experience the largest increase in heavy precipitation events. For the Northeast, projections indicate spring melts will begin up to 14 days earlier. Earlier runoff produces lower late-summer stream flows, which stress human and environmental systems through less water availability and higher water temperatures. Over the last 50 years, the Northeast has experienced snow pack reductions, and observations indicate a transition to more rain and less snow in both the Northeast and the Western regions of the country.
Despite a trend toward more precipitation, the Northeast is seeing longer periods without rainfall and longer growing seasons. The result is a drier growing season, especially during the summer months, when temperatures and evapotranspiration are highest. This summer drying trend is exacerbated by reduced recharge from spring snowmelt. New Jersey has experienced one severe water-supply drought (2001-2002) and three minor ones (2005, 2006 and 2010) in the last decade. The state has a comprehensive drought monitoring system which allows assessment of drought conditions on a regular basis.
…[/font][/font]
[font size=4]Background[/font]
[font size=3]There is good evidence that as a result of ever increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO[font size=1]2[/font]) and other greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, as well as natural climate variability, the Earth’s surface has warmed by over 1.3° Fahrenheit (0.7° Celsius) during the past century. These increased temperatures have contributed to an overall rise in sea level. Continued greenhouse gas emissions at or above current rates are expected to cause further warming and induce many changes in the global climate system during the 21st century that will very likely be larger than those observed during the 20th century.
In July 2007, the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA) released a report detailing the projected impacts of climate change on the Northeast Region of the United States. This research echoed the global findings of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report and also pointed out that states in the Northeastern United States are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and that the potential ecological, economic and public health impacts to New Jersey may be devastating.
Precipitation and runoff are likely to increase in the Northeast (and Midwest) in both the winter and spring. According to the State Climatolo- gist, New Jersey is getting wetter. The additional atmospheric moisture contributes to more overall precipitation in some areas, especially in much of the Northeast. Such areas, where total precipitation is expected to increase the most, would also experience the largest increase in heavy precipitation events. For the Northeast, projections indicate spring melts will begin up to 14 days earlier. Earlier runoff produces lower late-summer stream flows, which stress human and environmental systems through less water availability and higher water temperatures. Over the last 50 years, the Northeast has experienced snow pack reductions, and observations indicate a transition to more rain and less snow in both the Northeast and the Western regions of the country.
Despite a trend toward more precipitation, the Northeast is seeing longer periods without rainfall and longer growing seasons. The result is a drier growing season, especially during the summer months, when temperatures and evapotranspiration are highest. This summer drying trend is exacerbated by reduced recharge from spring snowmelt. New Jersey has experienced one severe water-supply drought (2001-2002) and three minor ones (2005, 2006 and 2010) in the last decade. The state has a comprehensive drought monitoring system which allows assessment of drought conditions on a regular basis.
…[/font][/font]
Hopefully, New Jersey residents will take notice…