NEW: RI is the Fastest-Warming State on the Continent
Monday, June 18, 2012
Rhode Island is the fastest-warming state in the continental United States, according to a report issued by Climate Central, a nonprofit research organization.
The Ocean State has warmed more than every other continental state in the past century, with an average maximum daily temperature increase of .339 degree Fahrenheit per decade, according to the study.
"Most of the warming we've seen has been in our oceans," he said.
Rhode Island has a relatively smaller carbon footprint, addressing climate change with efficient energy usage, Collins said. However, the state could take more cars off the road and look into the potential of renewable energy, he said.
While the Ocean State has been boiling, the nation has experienced an average temperature increase of 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 100 years. The top 10 fastest-warming states have been heating up 60 times faster than the 10 slowest-warming states, though it should be noted that 21 state temperature trends were not significant and three states even cooled off.
Then again, the study also found that all states experienced rising temperature trends in the past 42 years, coinciding "with the time when the effect of greenhouse gas pollution started to overwhelm the other natural and human influences on climate at the global and continental scales."
Based on state data since 1970, Rhode Island falls into a more tolerable 15th place for average maximum daily temperature increase. New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah hold a scorching lead, while New Jersey managed to make 4th place.
Rhode Island will see dramatic temperature and sea level rises, Collins said, adding that another problem is ocean acidification, which poses a threat to the ecosystem. The more carbon that is in the atmosphere, the more acidic the ocean will become, he said.
"We need other places in the country to take the same steps that we're taking," he said.
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Comments:
paul zecchino
6:40pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Are they at it again with this big pile of doggie steam-dump called "Global Warming". They never quit. Getting caught in the massage parlors didn't stop algore, did it? Nope.
Rhode Island warmed but adjacent states didn't? My my. Remarkable. Is there an invisible thermal shield which surrounds Rhode Island, to prevent neighboring states from sharing the heat?
Spare us this. Please. Long Island, NY, actually has two distinct climates, the north shore climate and the south shore climate. Are citizens aware of that? It's why one side of the island is considered the wine country, flush with vineyards, while the other side is not.
Martha's Vineyard is known to be warmer than the rest of Massachusetts. At one time, fourth graders were taught the reasons.
But today, with PC Junk Science in high dudgeon, that simply will not do.
Ocean acidification? The greatest problem to do with acidification is one whose effects are coming into full bloom today. During the late 60s thru the mid 70s, many who are in positions of power and influence presently, at that time freely indulged in quite a bit of acid.
Though they scoffed at clinicians who warned of long lingering effects, seems the clinicians were downright prophetic.
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
18 June, 2012
Michael Trenn
10:16pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
My theory is the Emissions of Methane and other warming substances that rise from the area of Smith Hill; namely Statehouse Gasas.
george pratt
10:26am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Over the last 40 years Utah, Arizona and New Mexico have warmed up the most. It must be all that coastline?