3-Year Study Outlines Alberta's Future: "Volatile" Farm Output, More Forest Fires, Less Snow

[hatrack]

EDMONTON - More forest fires, unreliable water supplies, volatile farming conditions and the emergence of unfamiliar diseases -- these are among the impacts Albertans can expect from a warming climate, a new report to the provincial government says.

The three-year study, one of the first to assess the vulnerability of Alberta's communities and industries to climate change, suggests the province must act quickly with new infrastructure and planning if it hopes to successfully adapt to the changing conditions. "The message is that we will still be able to enjoy a high quality of life, but we must move forward with adaptation and mitigation strategies starting today," said University of Alberta researcher Debra Davidson, one of the lead authors.

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"Basically, our water supply will become less reliable overall and that's even excluding the possibility of drought," Davidson said. "We are going to see greater variation in our water supply and, over time, probably a decline in supplies of water."

Such trends will have serious implications for Alberta's economy, and the forestry industry may be under the greatest threat, Davidson said. Tree stands already stressed due to low water levels will be at risk of collapsing, while the warmer winters will open the door to pests such as the mountain pine beetle. Then, as the woodlands dry out, more forest fires can be expected.

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http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=9d5b3737-7df0-434c-8ad5-c5d0e080fdf9

[XemaSab]

1. Hey, I thought Canada was going to be fine under our new climate regime!

:shrug:

[hatrack]

2. Yeah, I love the "longer growing seasons will extend agriculture farther north in Canada!" argument

Pity they keep forgetting about the Laurentian Shield.

Oops.

[XemaSab]

3. Hey, there's no corn like Nunavut corn!

:crazy: