Warming Trends Could Plague New Mexico.
From today’s washington post, Expert: Warming Trends Could Plague N.M.
ALBUQUERQUE — Warming trends could cause more water shortages in New Mexico, a climatologist predicts. Experts point to carbon dioxide emissions at the primary cause of global warming.
Researchers are trying to prove that fossil fuel emissions have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, trapping heat in the atmosphere and causing an increase in the Earth’s temperature. Computer simulations support the idea, but that’s not necessarily proof, said David Gutzler, a University of New Mexico climatologist.
Technorati Tags: climate change, eco, politics
From the article:
“We’ve never gone through global temperature changes like this before,” he [Gutzler] said. “But if we’re waiting for 100 percent ironclad proof, we’ll just have to keep going and see what happens.”
Gutzler has been tracking temperature increases over the past 50 years. His work includes showing how much people use heaters in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. Since the 1960s, his charts show a 10 percent increase in air conditioner use in Albuquerque and a 10 percent decrease in heating use, he said.
“That means things have gotten significantly warmer,” he said.
see also New Mexico Climate Change Advisory Group.
-DS
