Portsmouth, New Hampshire—Scientists
have said for years that global warming was “loading the dice” when it comes to
increasing the frequency of severe storms, and a new Environment New Hampshire report makes it clear that New England is
already experiencing extreme downpours and heavy snowstorms much more
frequently. Specifically, the new report
found that storms with heavy rainfall or snowfall are now 61 percent more
frequent in the New England than they were 60
years ago.
“At the rate we’re going,
what was once the storm of the decade will soon seem like just another
downpour,” said Piper Crowell, Field
Associate for Environment New Hampshire.
Portsmouth Fire Chief,
Christopher LeClaire pointed to the rainstorms that hit New Hampshire in April of last year as an
illustration of what more extreme rainstorms could mean for the region.
“More frequent downpours,
fueled by global warming, will leave New
Hampshire even more vulnerable to dangerous flooding
in years to come,” said Mayor Steve Marchand.
The new Environment New Hampshire report, When it Rains, It Pours: Global Warming and
the Rising Frequency of Extreme Precipitation in the United States, examines
trends in the frequency of large rain and snow events across the continental United
States from 1948 to 2006. Using data
from 3,000 weather stations and a methodology originally developed by
scientists at the National
Climatic Data
Center and the Illinois
State Water Survey, the report identifies storms with the greatest 24-hour
precipitation totals at each weather station, and analyzes when those storms
occurred.
Nationally, the report shows that
storms with extreme precipitation have increased in frequency by 24 percent
across the continental United
States since 1948. At the state level, 40 states show a
significant trend toward more frequent storms with extreme precipitation, while
only one state (Oregon)
shows a significant decline.
Key findings for the New
England and New Hampshire
include:
- Storms with extreme precipitation increased in
frequency by 61 percent in New England
from 1948 to 2006. The New England region ranks 1st nationwide
for the largest increase in the frequency of storms with heavy
precipitation.
- New Hampshire experienced an 83 percent increase
in extreme rainstorms and snowstorms during the period studied.
These findings are consistent
with the predicted impacts of global warming.
Scientists expect some parts of the United States to receive more
precipitation as a result of global warming, while other parts receive
less. But regardless of the trend in
total precipitation, scientists predict that the rain and snow that does fall
will be more likely to come in big downpours and heavy snowstorms.
Environment New Hampshire was joined by Mayor Steve Marchand,
Fire Chief Christopher LeClaire and Sarah Brown, from St. John Stewardship of the Earth at
a press event to release today’s report. A statement from Congresswoman Carol
Shea-Porter was also read at the event.
Chair of St. John's
Stewardship of the Earth Committee, Sarah Brown said, "This report
confirms what the residents of the Seacoast already know -- our New England way of life is being profoundly changed by
global warming. These numbers show more
than ever that every individual needs to reduce their own carbon dioxide emissions and encourage their leaders
to enact legislation to do the same."
Piper
Crowell was careful to
note that an increase in the frequency of extreme rainstorms does not mean more
water will be available. Scientists
expect that, as global warming intensifies, longer periods of relative dryness
will mark the periods between extreme rainstorms, increasing the risk of
drought. For example, the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that, under a
scenario of intense warming, the percent of land enduring severe drought
globally could be 30 times greater by the end of the century than it is today.
“How serious this problem
gets is largely within our control – but only if our country acts boldly to
reduce the pollution that fuels global warming,” said Piper
Crowell.
According to the most recent
science, the United States
must reduce its total global warming emissions by at least 15 percent by 2020
and by at least 80 percent by 2050 in order to prevent the worst effects of
global warming.
"We know that the
effects of climate change aren’t going to go away on their own. We need real
action – from businesses, individuals, educational institutions, and the
government, working together to cut carbon emissions now," said
Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter.
"Cities and local
governments can only do so much to stop global warming, and Portsmouth has taken important steps.
However, we need our Representatives in Congress to take the lead on reducing
our nation's global warming pollution emissions," said Mayor Steve
Marchand.
Tomorrow, the U.S. Senate
Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee is expected to vote on
amendments to the “America’s
Climate Security Act” (S. 2191), a global warming bill introduced by Senators
Lieberman (I-CT) and Warner (R-VA). Environment
New Hampshire
while applauding the bill as an important starting point for action, is pushing
for the bill to be strengthened to deliver the emission reductions demanded by
science, close loopholes for polluters, and protect American consumers.
Environment New Hampshire also applauded Representative
Hodes and Shea-Porter for backing a previous and more comprehensive global
warming bill, the Safe Climate Act, and
urged them to speak out in favor of strengthening the “Lieberman-Warner
Climate Security Act of 2007."
“In addition to calling for a strengthening of
the “Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007”, Senators Sununu and Gregg
should cosponsor the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act – the only
legislation in Congress that would reduce pollution fast enough to protect
future generations from the worst effects of global warming,” concluded Piper
Crowell.
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