Dr. Donald J. Wuebbles is the Harry E. Preble Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Illinois. He is also a Presidential Fellow at the University of Illinois, with the aim of helping the university system develop new initiatives in urban sustainability. Wuebbles will examine recent progress in our understanding of climate change from the 4th National Climate Assessment, and discusses what this means for the American people and our planet.
New observations and new research have increased our understanding of past, current, and future climate change. The 4th National Climate Assessment confirms prior assessments in concluding that the climate on our planet, including the United States, is changing, and changing rapidly. Observational evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans. Documented changes include surface, atmospheric, and oceanic temperatures; melting glaciers; disappearing snow cover; shrinking sea ice; and rising sea level. Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. Changes in the characteristics of extreme events are particularly important for human safety, infrastructure, agriculture, water quality and quantity, and natural ecosystems. Some extremes have already become more frequent, intense, or of longer duration, and many extremes are expected to continue to increase or worsen, presenting substantial challenges. The Earth’s climate is projected to continue to change over this century and beyond.
Location: B01 McCourtney Hall
Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Environmental Change Initiative, Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences
Originally published at environmentalchange.nd.edu.