Here are the devastating weather forecasts for North America

Editor --While Groundhog Day brings prediction of an early spring for the United States, the news isn't good for the climate in general, according to the latest report of a team of Cornell researchers.  In fact, they have determined that the earth will face serious challenges from climate-induced weather storms and catastrophes that will require serious governmental intervention across the world.

[caption id="attachment_16780" align="aligncenter" width="568"] Hurricane Sandy's path according to original predictions[/caption]

According to Drew Harvell, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, and David Wolfe, professor of horticulture, Americans can expect more heat waves, greater and greater amounts of rainfall causing floods and droughts,  with an increasing rise in ocean temperatures and acid levels.   The lack of intervention with reference to greenhouse gas emissions could exacerbate these conditions.  This is particularly critical since 64 million people live in highly populated areas that can be impacted by climate change, so that people in the Northeast may suffer extreme situations like Hurricane Sandy.

"This document will be an essential science-based resource for decision-makers in our communities and businesses who are rolling up their sleeves to take on the challenges and build resilience to climate change," said Wolfe.

Highlights of the report for 12 Northeast states include these findings:

• Heat waves, coastal flooding due to sea level rise and river flooding from extreme precipitation events will increasingly threaten the region's environmental, social and economic systems.


• These climate-related hazards, along with increased pressure from pests and disease, will stress agriculture and ecosystems. Research and outreach efforts are under way to help farmers cope.


• State and municipality-level measures to implement adaptations are still at early stages, even though many local and state governments and organizations have begun planning for climate changes.

So could there be another Hurricane Sandy with devastating consequences again?  Scientists maintain climate change has indeed made storms bigger and more threatening.  And scientists also say that North America will be particularly prone to these storms, something even those in the insurance business now believe as well.  Scientific American quotes a selection from an article in the New Yorker that states Munich Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurance firms, did a study of severe weather conditions and wrote, “Nowhere in the world is the rising number of natural catastrophes more evident than in North America.”

President Barack Obama declared he would make environmental protection and action on climate change a priority in the next four years.  Scientists tell us it is an urgent one.