Contact: Kathryn Fox, 603-229-3222
Concord, NH—The
average temperature in New Hampshire
was 2.9 degrees F above average in 2006, according to a new report released
today by Environment New Hampshire. Environment
New Hampshire said this warmer-than-normal
weather is indicative of what New
Hampshire can expect with continued global warming.
“Throw out the record books, because global warming is
raising temperatures in New Hampshire
and across the country,” said Environment New Hampshire Field Organizer, Katie
Fox. “The long-term forecast is for more
of the same unless we quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution
from power plants and passenger vehicles,” continued Fox.
According to the National
Climatic Data
Center, the 2006 summer
and 2006 overall were the second warmest on record for the lower 48 states. 2007 is on track to be the second warmest
year on record globally.
To examine recent temperature patterns in the United States, Environment New Hampshire
compared temperature data for the years 2000-2006 from 255 weather stations
located in all 50 states and Washington,
DC with temperatures averaged
over the 30 years spanning 1971-2000, or what scientists call the “normal”
temperature.
Key findings for New
Hampshire include:
- In 2006, the average temperature was 2.7°F above
normal in Concord and 2.2°F above normal on Mount Washington.
Nationally, the average 2006 temperature was at least 0.5°F above normal
at 87% of the locations studied.
- In 2006, Concord
experienced average maximum temperatures — the highest temperatures recorded on
a given day — of 1.8°F above normal. During
the summer, average maximum temperatures were 0.7°F above normal.
- Mount Washington experienced
average minimum temperatures — the lowest temperatures recorded on a given day,
usually at night — of 2.6°F above normal in 2006 and 2.6°F above normal during
the 2006 summer. Warmer nighttime
temperatures exacerbate the public health effects of heat waves, since people
need cooler nighttime temperatures to recover from excessive heat exposure
during the day.
In April 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change found that North America could
experience significant water stress, forest fires, and “an increased number,
intensity, and duration of heat waves” as temperatures continue to rise.
“Scientists are sounding alarm bells about the impacts of
continued global warming,” stated Fox. “The
good news is that those same scientists say we can avoid the worst effects of
global warming by taking bold action now to reduce global warming pollution,”
continued Fox.
To avoid the worst consequences of global warming, the United States
must halt increases in global warming emissions now, cut emissions by at least
15-20% by 2020, and slash emissions by at least 80% by 2050.
“The better news is that we have the technology at our
fingertips to cut global warming pollution and forge a cleaner, more secure
energy future,” said Fox.
The United
States could substantially reduce its global
warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants,
businesses, homes, and cars more efficient and generate more electricity from
clean, renewable sources, such as wind and solar power.
Congress is poised to consider global warming legislation
this fall. The Safe Climate Act in the U.S.
House and the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act in the U.S. Senate are the
only bills that would reduce pollution to levels that scientists say are needed
to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
“The heat is on Congress to take decisive action to curb
global warming,” stated Fox. “Environment
New Hampshire
calls on New Hampshire Senators Sununu and Gregg to support the only bill that
does what scientists say we need to do—the Global Warming Pollution Reduction
Act,” concluded Fox.
