Weather Changes Flooding, Draught, Temperature Extremes, Hurricanes, etc.

Change in Precipitation

Growth in number of people affected by weather disasters

Heavy Rain and Flooding

Increase in Heavy Rain Events

Number of Floods by Continent and Decade From 1950 to 2000

Global Increase in Heavy Precipitation

Cedar Rapids, Iowa During the Flood of June, 12, 2008 The “100-Year” flood of 1993 was followed 15 years later by this “500-Year” flood.

Draughts are Increasing in Parts of the World

Predicted Increase in Drought

Lake Powell 18 months apart during the most recent period of drought The original lake level was at the top of the bright white band above the lake in the left image.

The European Heat Wave of 2003 During two weeks in August 2003 Europe experienced the highest temperatures in at least the past 500 years. Parts of Europe had temperatures of 41° C or 107° F. The heat wave resulted in about 35,000 deaths, almost half of which were in France. Under current greenhouse gas emissions, these temperatures will be the summer norm in about 40 years.

Observed European Temperature Rise and Computer Projections

Atlantic Ocean Surface Temperature Variations

Increase in Hurricane Strength

Decrease in Food Production The world has been consuming more food than farmers have been producing for most of the past decade. The rapid increase in population, 8 billion by 2025, is a major driver of increased food demand. The corn used to make a 25-gallon tank of ethanol would feed one person for a year. Thirty-five percent of world grain production is used to feed livestock instead of people. The poorest people are the most vulnerable to the increasing food prices that are near historic highs. If current emissions continue, global warming will result in disastrous decreases in food production.

Map of the Largest Agriculture Production

Current Grain Production

Grain Production, Stockpiles and Prices From National Geographic, June 2009

Impact of global Warming on Grain production for IPCC Worst Case Scenario (underestimated) Recent studies indicate the IPCC worst case scenario is very underestimated.

Decrease in barley and corn production by 2030

About 150,000 people die each year (2000) from the effects of global warming