How Does Global Warming Affect the Country?

Hurricanes

• Hurricanes are one of several destructive natural phenomena that are projected to become even more destructive as a result of global warming. Hurricanes are formed out on the ocean, and when they form, one variable that determines the strength of the hurricane is the water temperature. Global warming raises the water temperature, which increases the strength of hurricanes. By 2011, though scientists have not necessarily confirmed a direct link between the count of yearly hurricanes and global warming, it has been confirmed that the strength of hurricanes has been affected. (Reference 1)

Rising Temperatures

• One of the most well-known effects of global warming is rising global temperature. In the United States, the average temperature has risen by about 2° Fahrenheit over the previous century, and is projected to keep on rising over the next century. (Reference 2) Temperature rises are projected to be worse than the global average in much of North America, and high-altitude areas are also projected to have larger temperature rises.

Less Water

• Another of the effects of global warming on the United States will be significant changes in the distribution of water throughout the country. The southwestern region of the United States is being hit especially hard. Temperature increases reduce the snow fall, and less snow fall means less snow melting in the summer months, and less water for low lying regions dependent on that snow melt. Drought is also expected to be a significant problem in this region of the country.

Changing Ecosystems

• One other effect that global warming is having in the United States and the rest of the world is that animals and plants move north, following their preferred temperatures, while some animals and plants flourish, and others fail, in the warmer climates. This has all kinds of unexpected consequences. The pine beetle, for instance, is a species of beetle found in the Pacific Northwest that does damage to pine trees. (See Reference 6) Warmer temperatures have caused pine beetle populations to explode, decimating entire forests. As the temperature rises, the pine beetle problem will likely only get worse.