Climate report: Be ready for higher food prices, water shortages

[Newsjock]

Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Shocked by rising food prices? Get used to it -- and be ready for water shortages, too, says a sweeping new scientific report rounding up likely effects of climate change on the United States' land, water and farms over the next half-century.

Some effects already can be felt, says the report released Tuesday, which synthesizes results of more than 1,000 individual studies.

And it's not just humans' food that's at risk, said witnesses at a congressional field hearing in Seattle on Tuesday. An intense and sudden acidification of the Pacific resulting from climate change presages a possible breakdown in the marine food web, experts said at the hearing, headed by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

... "Let's acknowledged that we are heading into uncharted territory," said Jeff Koenings, a scientist who leads the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Clearly, he said, salmon runs are an indication of a struggling ecosystem and "something is going on," but more research is needed to pinpoint the precise effect.

Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/364800_climate28.ht...

[progressoid]

1. Increased fires and infestations of insects no longer killed off by cold winters could change...

"Increased fires and infestations of insects no longer killed off by cold winters could change the face of Western forests."


It already has. The pine beetle is wreaking havoc.

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. Brian Schweitzer brought up something I hadn't thought of...

That the melting of glaciers in Montana and nearby areas will dry up the Columbia River, a massive source of water for those downstream in places like Colorado and Vegas.

Big trouble is coming. I'm starting to tremble thinking these idiots will steal another election and the people on earth will still continue to bitch about food and gas prices while sticking their fingers in their ears and singing "I can't hear you!"

[WheelWalker]

9. You're probably thinking of the Colorado....

The Columbia for the most part drains Canada, Washington, Oregon & Idaho and empties into the Pacific at the Oregon-Washington border.

[glowing]

3. No wonder Bush bought land in Paraguay near one of the worlds largest

aquifers.. Even after the asshat is gone, he'll still own us.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "What problem? This is just another fact-based lib-rul conspiracy." - Commander AWOL & republicons

[nankerphelge]

5. Stop feeding all the food...

to farm animals and eat it ourselves. Problem solved.

[mdmc]

6. Thanks for this water shortage article

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/364800_climate28.ht...
Good God!

[Alameda]

7. Here in the Bay Area we are already

on mandatory restrictions.

"Water rationing went into effect Tuesday for East Bay residents after water managers unanimously passed a drought management program aimed at preserving the system's deteriorating water supply.

Residents of single-family homes throughout much of Alameda and Contra Costa counties are required to immediately reduce water use by 19 percent; golf courses face 30 percent cuts; refineries and manufacturers must trim 5 percent."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/0...

[mdmc]

8. kick