Global Warming Reports
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Executive Summary
In
the summer of 2006, Americans from coast to coast experienced a
sweltering heat wave that broke more than 2,300 daily temperature
records in July alone. This record warmth, however, was not an anomaly;
rather, it is indicative of a broader trend toward increasing
temperatures and extreme weather resulting from global warming. To
examine recent trends in temperature in cities and towns across the
United States, this report analyzes 2000-2006 temperature data from 255
major weather stations and finds that temperatures were above normal
almost everywhere during the period.
Average temperatures worldwide have risen by 0.8° C (1.44° F) in the
past century and now are increasing at a rate of about 0.2° C (0.36° F)
per decade. The 10 warmest years of the global record have all occurred
since 1990, and 2005 was the warmest year to date.
The consensus view of the scientific community is that most of the
global warming that has occurred is due to human activities,
particularly the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuel combustion
releases carbon dioxide, which traps radiation emitted from the earth’s
surface that normally would escape back to space. Since 1750, the
concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 35%.
The United States emits far more carbon dioxide than any other nation
in the world. Emissions of carbon dioxide in the United States –
primarily from electric power plants and passenger vehicles – have
nearly doubled since 1960 and are projected to increase dramatically in
the years to come.
In the continental United States , the first seven months of 2006 were
the warmest January-July of any year on record. The average temperature
was 55.3° F, or 3.2° F above the 20th century average. Every state in
the continental United States experienced warmer-than-average
temperatures; in most states, temperatures were much warmer than the
20th century average. For instance, according to the National Climatic
Data Center :
• Five states experienced their warmest January-July on record ( Kansas , Missouri , Oklahoma , South Dakota , and Texas ).
•
Eleven states experienced their second warmest January-July on record (
Illinois , Maine , Minnesota , Montana , Nebraska , New Hampshire , New
Jersey , New Mexico , North Dakota , Vermont , and Wyoming ).
•
The average temperature for the first seven months of 2006 ranged
between 4.0° F and 6.6° F above the 20th century average in Iowa ,
Kansas , Minnesota , Missouri , Montana , Nebraska , North Dakota ,
Oklahoma , South Dakota , Wisconsin , and Wyoming .
To examine how recent U.S. temperature patterns compare with
temperatures over the last 30 years, we analyzed temperature data from
“First Order” weather stations for the years 2000-2005 and the first
six months of 2006. First Order stations are those staffed in whole or
in part by National Weather Service personnel and therefore provide the
highest quality data. The 255 stations are located in all 50 states and
Washington , DC . We compared this recent data to historical, or
“normal,” data from the stations for the three decades spanning
1971-2000.
Overall, we found that temperatures were above normal across the country, indicating pervasive warming. Specifically:
Average Temperatures Rising
•
Between 2000 and 2005, the average temperature was above normal at 95%
of the locations we studied. Alaska experienced the most warming on
average, with Talkeetna reporting average temperatures 4.6° F above
normal. Outside of Alaska , weather stations in Colorado , Michigan ,
Montana , Nevada and Wyoming reported the highest above-normal
temperatures for the period.
•
During the first six months of 2006, the average temperature was above
normal at 91% of the locations. The average temperature was at least 3°
F above normal in 43% of the locations and at least 5° F above normal
in 12 of the locations. Temperatures were particularly warm in Texas
and the Great Plains states. The average temperature was nearly 5.9° F
above normal, the highest in the country, in Kansas City , Missouri and
5.6° F above normal in Wichita Falls , Texas .
Nights Getting Warmer
•
Between 2000 and 2005, the average minimum (nighttime low) temperature
was above normal at 92% of the locations. The average minimum
temperature in Reno , Nevada was 5.2° F above normal, the highest in
the United States . Albuquerque , New Mexico recorded average minimum
temperatures of more than 3° F above normal.
•
During the first six months of 2006, the average minimum (nighttime
low) temperature was above normal at 87% of the stations. The average
minimum temperature was at least 3° F above normal in 28% of the
locations and at least 5° F above normal in nine of these locations.
Nighttime temperatures were particularly mild on average in the upper
Midwest , with temperatures soaring to 6.7° F above normal in Sioux
Falls , South Dakota and almost 6° F above normal in Minneapolis-St.
Paul, Duluth , Rochester , and St. Cloud , Minnesota .
Days Getting Warmer
•
Between 2000 and 2005, the average maximum (daytime high) temperature
was above normal at 80% of the locations. Alaska experienced the most
daytime warming. Locations outside of Alaska experiencing the highest
abovenormal average maximum temperatures include Goodland, Kansas;
Alamosa and Pueblo, Colorado; Brownsville, Texas; and Rapid City, South
Dakota.
•
During the first six months of 2006, the average maximum temperature
was above normal at 87% of the locations. The average maximum
temperature was at least 3° F above normal in 39% of the locations and
least 5° F above normal in 28 of these locations. Warmer-thannormal
days hit Texas and the Great Plains the most, averaging more than 6° F
above normal in Dodge City, Concordia, and Wichita, Kansas as well as
Grand Island, Nebraska and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
To curb global warming and protect future generations, the United
States should adopt a series of public policies designed to quickly and
significantly reduce emissions of global warming pollutants from power
plants, cars and trucks, and manufacturing facilities.
Cap global warming emissions. The United States should establish
mandatory, sciencebased limits on carbon dioxide and other global
warming pollutants that reduce emissions from today’s levels within 10
years, by 15-20% by 2020, and by 80% by 2050. Adopt complementary clean
energy policies to reduce global warming emissions. To achieve these
reductions, the United States should adopt strong policies to improve
the efficiency with which we use fossil fuels and increase our use of
clean, renewable energy.
Encourage action at the state level. Federal action to reduce global
warming pollution should promote innovative approaches at the state
level and not impede individual states or groups of states from
pursuing policies that go above and beyond the commitments made by the
federal government.
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