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Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
U.S. National Climate Assessment
()
Date: May 11, 2014 06:29PM
What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
http://www.alexandrianews.org/what-climate-change-means-for-virginia-and-the-southeast-and-caribbean/
Today, the Obama Administration released the third U.S. National Climate Assessment—the most comprehensive scientific assessment ever generated of climate change and its impacts across every region of America and major sectors of the U.S. economy. The findings in this National Climate Assessment underscore the need for urgent action to combat the threats from climate change, protect American citizens and communities today, and build a sustainable future for our kids and grandkids.
The National Climate Assessment is a key deliverable of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution, prepare America’s communities for climate-change impacts, and lead international efforts to address this global challenge. Importantly, the plan acknowledges that even as we act to reduce the greenhouse-gas pollution that is driving climate change, we must also empower the Nation’s states, communities, businesses, and decision makers with the information they need prepare for climate impacts already underway.
The Obama Administration has already taken a number of steps to deliver on that commitment to states, regions, and communities across America. In the past year alone, these efforts have included: establishing a Task Force of State, Local, and Tribal Leaders on Climate Preparedness and Resilience to advise the Administration on how the Federal Government can respond to the needs of communities nationwide that are dealing with the impacts of climate change; launching a Climate Data Initiative to bring together extensive open government data with strong commitments from the private and philanthropic sectors to develop planning and resilience tools for communities;and establishing seven new “climate hubs” across the country to help farmers and ranchers adapt their operations to a changing climate.
VIRGINIA is part of the National Climate Assessment’s U.S. Southeast and Caribbean Region. The regional phenomena identified by the Assessment may not occur in every state that is part of a particular region. According to the third U.S. National Climate Assessment Highlights report:
“The Southeast and Caribbean region is exceptionally vulnerable to sea level rise, extreme heat events, hurricanes, and decreased water availability. The geographic distribution of these impacts and vulnerabilities is uneven, since the region encompasses a wide range of environments, from the Appalachian Mountains to the coastal plains. The region is home to more than 80 million people and some of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas, three of which are along the coast and vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge. The Gulf and Atlantic coasts are major producers of seafood and home to seven major ports that are also vulnerable. The Southeast is a major energy producer of coal, crude oil, and natural gas, and is the highest energy user of any of the National Climate Assessment regions.
The Southeast warmed during the early part of last century, cooled for a few decades, and is now warming again. Temperatures across the region are expected to increase in the future. Major consequences include significant increases in the number of hot days (95°F or above) and decreases in freezing events. Higher temperatures contribute to the formation of harmful air pollutants and allergens. Higher temperatures are also projected to reduce livestock and crop productivity. Climate change is expected to increase harmful blooms of algae and several disease-causing agents in inland and coastal waters. The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes in the North Atlantic and the amount of rain falling in very heavy precipitation events have increased over recent decades, and further increases are projected.” (NCA Highlights, p. 72)
Regional Findings of the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment: SOUTHEAST
•“Sea level rise poses widespread and continuing threats to both natural and built environments and to the regional economy.
•Increasing temperatures and the associated increase in frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events will affect public health, natural and built environments, energy, agriculture, and forestry.
•Decreased water availability, exacerbated by population growth and land-use change, will continue to increase competition for water and affect the region's economy and unique ecosystems.” (NCA, Ch. 17: Southeast)
Selected Findings and Information from the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment Relevant to VIRGINIA
•Agriculture: “Heat stress adversely affects dairy and livestock production. Optimal temperatures for milk production are between 40oF and 75oF, and additional heat stress could shift dairy production northward. A 10% decline in livestock yield is projected across the Southeast with a 9oF increase in temperatures (applied as an incremental uniform increase in temperature between 1990 and 2060), related mainly to warmer summers.“(NCA, Ch. 17: Southeast)
•Water Availability: “Water supply and demand in the Southeast and Caribbean region are influenced by many changing factors, including climate (for example, temperature increases that contribute to increased transpiration from plants and evaporation from soils and water bodies), population, and land use. While change in projected precipitation for this region has high uncertainty, there is still a reasonable expectation that there will be reduced water availability due to the increased evaporative losses resulting from rising temperatures alone.” (NCA, Ch. 3: Water)
•Sea Level Rise: “Large numbers of cities, roads, railways, ports, airports, oil and gas facilities, and water supplies are at low elevations and potentially vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise. Nationally, more than 5,790 square miles and more than $1 trillion of property and structures are at risk of inundation from sea level rise of two feet above current sea level – an elevation which could be reached by 2050 under a high rate of sea level rise of approximately 6.6 feet by 2100, 20 years later assuming a lower rate of rise (4 feet by 2100), and sooner in areas of rapid land subsidence. Roughly half of the vulnerable property value is located in Florida, and the most vulnerable port cities are Miami, Greater New York, New Orleans, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and Virginia Beach.” (NCA, Ch. 25: Coasts)
Examples of Efforts Underway in VIRGINIA to Address Climate Change
In Virginia, many efforts are already underway to mitigate and respond to the impacts of climate change, including:
Preparing Communities for the Consequences of Climate Change
Many important preparedness, resilience, and adaptation efforts are already being led by local, state, and regional entities across the country. Mechanisms being used by local governments to prepare for climate change include: land-use planning; provisions to protect infrastructure and ecosystems; regulations related to the design and construction of buildings, road, and bridges; and preparation for emergency response and recovery. These local adaptation planning and actions are unfolding in municipalities of different sizes, and regional agencies and regional aggregations of governments are also taking actions. And States have also become important actors in efforts related to climate change.
Cutting Carbon Pollution in VIRGINIA
In 2012, power plants and major industrial facilities in Virginia emitted more than 40 million metric tons of carbon pollution—that’s equal to the yearly pollution from more than 8 million cars. Through the Climate Action Plan and state initiatives, there are many efforts already underway to mitigate and respond to the impacts of climate change in Virginia, including:
•Investing in Clean Energy: Since President Obama took office, the U.S. increased solar-electricity generation by more than ten-fold and tripled electricity production from wind power. Since 2009, the Administration has supported tens of thousands of renewable energy projects throughout the country, including 87 in Virginia, generating enough energy to power more than 2,000 homes and helping Virginia meet its own goal of generating 15 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025.
•Improving Efficiency: Using less energy to power our homes, businesses and vehicles is critical to building a clean and secure energy future. President Obama has made essential investments in research and development for energy efficiency advances, and set new standards to make the things we use every day – from cars to microwaves – more efficient.
—President Obama established the toughest fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles in U.S. history. These standards will double the fuel efficiency of our cars and trucks by 2025, saving the average driver more than $8,000 over the lifetime of a 2025 vehicle and cutting carbon pollution.
—Since October 2009, the Department of Energy and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have jointly completed energy upgrades nearly two million homes across the country, saving many families more than $400 on their heating and cooling bills in the first year alone.
—As part of the President’s Better Buildings Challenge, the Arlington County and the city of Roanoke both committed to reduce their energy intensity 20 percent by 2020 in a combined 3.1 million square feet of public buildings. To date, Arlington and Roanoke have achieved improved energy performance of 12 percent and 11 percent respectively. The University of Virginia has committed to the same goal in 15 million square feet of university buildings.
http://www.alexandrianews.org/what-climate-change-means-for-virginia-and-the-southeast-and-caribbean/
Today, the Obama Administration released the third U.S. National Climate Assessment—the most comprehensive scientific assessment ever generated of climate change and its impacts across every region of America and major sectors of the U.S. economy. The findings in this National Climate Assessment underscore the need for urgent action to combat the threats from climate change, protect American citizens and communities today, and build a sustainable future for our kids and grandkids.
The National Climate Assessment is a key deliverable of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution, prepare America’s communities for climate-change impacts, and lead international efforts to address this global challenge. Importantly, the plan acknowledges that even as we act to reduce the greenhouse-gas pollution that is driving climate change, we must also empower the Nation’s states, communities, businesses, and decision makers with the information they need prepare for climate impacts already underway.
The Obama Administration has already taken a number of steps to deliver on that commitment to states, regions, and communities across America. In the past year alone, these efforts have included: establishing a Task Force of State, Local, and Tribal Leaders on Climate Preparedness and Resilience to advise the Administration on how the Federal Government can respond to the needs of communities nationwide that are dealing with the impacts of climate change; launching a Climate Data Initiative to bring together extensive open government data with strong commitments from the private and philanthropic sectors to develop planning and resilience tools for communities;and establishing seven new “climate hubs” across the country to help farmers and ranchers adapt their operations to a changing climate.
VIRGINIA is part of the National Climate Assessment’s U.S. Southeast and Caribbean Region. The regional phenomena identified by the Assessment may not occur in every state that is part of a particular region. According to the third U.S. National Climate Assessment Highlights report:
“The Southeast and Caribbean region is exceptionally vulnerable to sea level rise, extreme heat events, hurricanes, and decreased water availability. The geographic distribution of these impacts and vulnerabilities is uneven, since the region encompasses a wide range of environments, from the Appalachian Mountains to the coastal plains. The region is home to more than 80 million people and some of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas, three of which are along the coast and vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge. The Gulf and Atlantic coasts are major producers of seafood and home to seven major ports that are also vulnerable. The Southeast is a major energy producer of coal, crude oil, and natural gas, and is the highest energy user of any of the National Climate Assessment regions.
The Southeast warmed during the early part of last century, cooled for a few decades, and is now warming again. Temperatures across the region are expected to increase in the future. Major consequences include significant increases in the number of hot days (95°F or above) and decreases in freezing events. Higher temperatures contribute to the formation of harmful air pollutants and allergens. Higher temperatures are also projected to reduce livestock and crop productivity. Climate change is expected to increase harmful blooms of algae and several disease-causing agents in inland and coastal waters. The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes in the North Atlantic and the amount of rain falling in very heavy precipitation events have increased over recent decades, and further increases are projected.” (NCA Highlights, p. 72)
Regional Findings of the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment: SOUTHEAST
•“Sea level rise poses widespread and continuing threats to both natural and built environments and to the regional economy.
•Increasing temperatures and the associated increase in frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events will affect public health, natural and built environments, energy, agriculture, and forestry.
•Decreased water availability, exacerbated by population growth and land-use change, will continue to increase competition for water and affect the region's economy and unique ecosystems.” (NCA, Ch. 17: Southeast)
Selected Findings and Information from the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment Relevant to VIRGINIA
•Agriculture: “Heat stress adversely affects dairy and livestock production. Optimal temperatures for milk production are between 40oF and 75oF, and additional heat stress could shift dairy production northward. A 10% decline in livestock yield is projected across the Southeast with a 9oF increase in temperatures (applied as an incremental uniform increase in temperature between 1990 and 2060), related mainly to warmer summers.“(NCA, Ch. 17: Southeast)
•Water Availability: “Water supply and demand in the Southeast and Caribbean region are influenced by many changing factors, including climate (for example, temperature increases that contribute to increased transpiration from plants and evaporation from soils and water bodies), population, and land use. While change in projected precipitation for this region has high uncertainty, there is still a reasonable expectation that there will be reduced water availability due to the increased evaporative losses resulting from rising temperatures alone.” (NCA, Ch. 3: Water)
•Sea Level Rise: “Large numbers of cities, roads, railways, ports, airports, oil and gas facilities, and water supplies are at low elevations and potentially vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise. Nationally, more than 5,790 square miles and more than $1 trillion of property and structures are at risk of inundation from sea level rise of two feet above current sea level – an elevation which could be reached by 2050 under a high rate of sea level rise of approximately 6.6 feet by 2100, 20 years later assuming a lower rate of rise (4 feet by 2100), and sooner in areas of rapid land subsidence. Roughly half of the vulnerable property value is located in Florida, and the most vulnerable port cities are Miami, Greater New York, New Orleans, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and Virginia Beach.” (NCA, Ch. 25: Coasts)
Examples of Efforts Underway in VIRGINIA to Address Climate Change
In Virginia, many efforts are already underway to mitigate and respond to the impacts of climate change, including:
Preparing Communities for the Consequences of Climate Change
Many important preparedness, resilience, and adaptation efforts are already being led by local, state, and regional entities across the country. Mechanisms being used by local governments to prepare for climate change include: land-use planning; provisions to protect infrastructure and ecosystems; regulations related to the design and construction of buildings, road, and bridges; and preparation for emergency response and recovery. These local adaptation planning and actions are unfolding in municipalities of different sizes, and regional agencies and regional aggregations of governments are also taking actions. And States have also become important actors in efforts related to climate change.
Cutting Carbon Pollution in VIRGINIA
In 2012, power plants and major industrial facilities in Virginia emitted more than 40 million metric tons of carbon pollution—that’s equal to the yearly pollution from more than 8 million cars. Through the Climate Action Plan and state initiatives, there are many efforts already underway to mitigate and respond to the impacts of climate change in Virginia, including:
•Investing in Clean Energy: Since President Obama took office, the U.S. increased solar-electricity generation by more than ten-fold and tripled electricity production from wind power. Since 2009, the Administration has supported tens of thousands of renewable energy projects throughout the country, including 87 in Virginia, generating enough energy to power more than 2,000 homes and helping Virginia meet its own goal of generating 15 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025.
•Improving Efficiency: Using less energy to power our homes, businesses and vehicles is critical to building a clean and secure energy future. President Obama has made essential investments in research and development for energy efficiency advances, and set new standards to make the things we use every day – from cars to microwaves – more efficient.
—President Obama established the toughest fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles in U.S. history. These standards will double the fuel efficiency of our cars and trucks by 2025, saving the average driver more than $8,000 over the lifetime of a 2025 vehicle and cutting carbon pollution.
—Since October 2009, the Department of Energy and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have jointly completed energy upgrades nearly two million homes across the country, saving many families more than $400 on their heating and cooling bills in the first year alone.
—As part of the President’s Better Buildings Challenge, the Arlington County and the city of Roanoke both committed to reduce their energy intensity 20 percent by 2020 in a combined 3.1 million square feet of public buildings. To date, Arlington and Roanoke have achieved improved energy performance of 12 percent and 11 percent respectively. The University of Virginia has committed to the same goal in 15 million square feet of university buildings.
Re: What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
Snow-May-Geddon
()
Date: May 11, 2014 07:09PM
Apparently it means record May cold and snow in Colorado.
Re: What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
reality
()
Date: May 11, 2014 07:13PM
It also means fewer jobs for Americans who want to work. China, who could care less about global warming, will get more jobs.
It will also mean much higher energy costs for all Americans.
It will also mean much higher energy costs for all Americans.
Re: What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
mjcc1987
()
Date: May 11, 2014 07:14PM
Nothing is happening. It's all an illusion. The land is lowering and Moses rode Triceratops from Egypt. It's my understanding from the conservative abridged version of the old testament that King Solomon used Parasaurolophus to help build his temple. The only reason you don't see it in any of today's bibles, or those written over 2,000 years ago, is libards, teh gays, independent thinking women, contraception, public edu-ma=kashun, and of course benghazi.
Now, where's that can of gas................
Now, where's that can of gas................
Re: What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
mjcc1987
()
Date: May 11, 2014 07:25PM
Re: What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
libs are fucking stooopid
()
Date: May 11, 2014 07:52PM
Fucking idiots. They think they are so important they can change the weather on planet earth. Fucking libtards. Dumbest mother fuckers in the universe.
Re: What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
Stormbringer
()
Date: May 11, 2014 08:22PM
It also means more stronger storms...
Millions in Path of Possible Tornadoes and Large Hail in Plains
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/millions-path-possible-tornadoes-large-hail-plains-n102491
A tornado was spotted in Nebraska, warnings popped up across Iowa, and the governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency Sunday as a line of storms rolled through and threatened to spawn twisters and produce large hail.
The tornado was detected near Sutton, Neb.:
Forecasters from The Weather Channel warned that 3 million people, from the Plains to the Mississippi Valley, were in the path of possible “long-track” tornadoes, with Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa facing the greatest threat.
In Missouri, where a tornado damaged 200 to 300 homes in the town of Orrick a day earlier, Gov. Jay Nixon issued an emergency declaration and urged people to stay alert and heed weather warnings.
Counties in Iowa and Nebraska spent part of the day under tornado warning, but there were no early reports of heavy damage.
Ten tornadoes had already touched down during the weekend in Missouri and Indiana, bringing wind up to 120 mph, which knocked out power and damaged hundreds of homes, according to The Weather Channel’s Greg Forbes. No injuries were reported.
Northwest Oklahoma could also see “a strong tornado or two,” Weather Channel meteorologist Michael Palmer predicted.
The thunderstorms accompanying the twisters were expected to bring flash floods from Kansas through Iowa and into parts of Wisconsin well into the overnight hours, and on Monday the same dangerously wet conditions are expected to plague Texas into eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, Weather.com said.
The risk of tornadoes should lessen Monday, but the Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi Valley and central Texas could still see vicious winds and large hail, according to the National Weather Service.
While the flatlands expected tornadoes, the higher elevations in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska got a late-season snowstorm, with accumulations varying from 3 inches to 2 feet depending on altitude, Palmer said.
Attachments:
Millions in Path of Possible Tornadoes and Large Hail in Plains
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/millions-path-possible-tornadoes-large-hail-plains-n102491
A tornado was spotted in Nebraska, warnings popped up across Iowa, and the governor of Missouri declared a state of emergency Sunday as a line of storms rolled through and threatened to spawn twisters and produce large hail.
The tornado was detected near Sutton, Neb.:
Forecasters from The Weather Channel warned that 3 million people, from the Plains to the Mississippi Valley, were in the path of possible “long-track” tornadoes, with Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa facing the greatest threat.
In Missouri, where a tornado damaged 200 to 300 homes in the town of Orrick a day earlier, Gov. Jay Nixon issued an emergency declaration and urged people to stay alert and heed weather warnings.
Counties in Iowa and Nebraska spent part of the day under tornado warning, but there were no early reports of heavy damage.
Ten tornadoes had already touched down during the weekend in Missouri and Indiana, bringing wind up to 120 mph, which knocked out power and damaged hundreds of homes, according to The Weather Channel’s Greg Forbes. No injuries were reported.
Northwest Oklahoma could also see “a strong tornado or two,” Weather Channel meteorologist Michael Palmer predicted.
The thunderstorms accompanying the twisters were expected to bring flash floods from Kansas through Iowa and into parts of Wisconsin well into the overnight hours, and on Monday the same dangerously wet conditions are expected to plague Texas into eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas, Weather.com said.
The risk of tornadoes should lessen Monday, but the Great Lakes, Upper Mississippi Valley and central Texas could still see vicious winds and large hail, according to the National Weather Service.
While the flatlands expected tornadoes, the higher elevations in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska got a late-season snowstorm, with accumulations varying from 3 inches to 2 feet depending on altitude, Palmer said.
Attachments:
Re: What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
DOH!
()
Date: May 11, 2014 09:42PM
The weather is no more extreme than it has been in the past.
The climate change sheeple fail to mention the solar cycles that correlate real well to the weather cycles.
Will you climte change idiots start walking to work and stay out of our way????
The climate change sheeple fail to mention the solar cycles that correlate real well to the weather cycles.
Will you climte change idiots start walking to work and stay out of our way????
Re: What Climate Change Means For Virginia And The Southeast And Caribbean
Posted by:
DanielLee5
()
Date: March 27, 2021 04:19AM
May be I am mistaking, but I think that climate has changed during the last 20 years, but who knows what is the reason, may be it is rather natural, not technogenic and caused by humans. Anyways it is rather interesting to watch how companies providing sustainable energy are developing, I mean mostly Georgia Power https://georgia-power.pissedconsumer.com/customer-service.html .