Potential impacts of climate change to selected regions of the United States.

The recently released (2000) National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change for the United States, provides a comprehensive analysis of what climate change could mean for us, our natural resources, the places we live and our way of life. Making a connection between weather, climate and lifestyle is important for educating the public and elevating the level of public discourse on this critical topic. Using the National Assessment as a basis, I will describe research that models the possible effects of increases in greenhouse gas emissions on our natural and built environment. Direct potential impacts include: increased risk of storm surge for coastal communities, alteration of timing and amount of water supplies, risks to agriculture due to increases in both drought and flood frequency, risks to human health from increases in heat waves, mosquito-borne disease, allergy and asthma and impacts to recreation including to skiing, fishing, and hiking. Potential impacts to our natural ecosystems include: increased loss of coastal wetlands, melting of glaciers, loss of barrier islands and beaches, and loss of alpine meadows.