Boosting signal strength

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"Human-induced climate change is a reality."
       -Jane Lubchenco, 
        Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

On Tuesday, the U.S. government released a report on the impacts of global climate change on the United States, both changes that are already occurring and projections for the end of this century. The non-partisan report is written in plain language, and there's an easy-to-read online summary. You should check it out.

Some highlights:

• Global warming is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping pollution.
• Earlier reductions in emissions will have a greater effect in reducing climate change than comparable reductions made later.
  
• In the United States, climate change is now causing increases in temperatures, more heavy downpours, sea-level rise, and less snow and ice cover. 
• Unless polluting emissions are reduced significantly, heat waves will become more frequent; heavy downpours will cause more severe flooding; and agriculture will be increasingly challenged by insects, diseases and drought.
  
• Reduced summertime water availability will create greater demand for water in some regions, especially in the West.
  
• Rising water temperatures and ocean acidification threaten coral reefs and diverse ecosystems, with major implications for our fish supply, our fishing industry and our coastal communities.
• Local sea-level rise of 3 to 4 feet on top of storm surges will increasingly threaten homes and coastal infrastructure; more of our coastal lands will be lost to rising seas.
• In the Northeast, climate change is likely to adversely affect maple syrup production, and the lobster and cod fisheries.