Global Warming and U.S. Precipitation

A new government report predicts that in the next 50 years there will be significant shifts in precipitation across the United States as a result of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The report predicts that the arid Southwest and West, already struggling with chronic water shortages, will become even drier. In contrast, parts of the Northeast and East will experience up to 20% more precipitation, leading to increased runoff in streams and rivers. These changes are likely to disrupt water supplies, affect agricultural and forest productivity, and alter ecosystems.

So it’s not just a rising average temperature that we have to worry about with global warming; shifting weather patterns are likely to be just as disruptive. See “Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.3 (SAP 4.3): The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States”, at climatescience.gov.