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With rising sea levels and many parts of the west experiencing droughts, it seems like there is one region in the US that might come out just fine when it comes to climate change.
The Great Lakes. Why? Here is why:
- Plenty of freshwater abound. Rivers, the great lakes themselves and aquifers. These states, especially coastal cities won't be running out water anytime soon.
-Risk of droughts are super low. They region per change might get less precipitation, but not enough to turn it into a desert.
-Rising sea levels will have no impacts, even on the coastal cities of the Great Lakes.
-No increase in hurricanes.
-No earthquakes (except for the areas closer to New Madrid)
Is it just me or do the Great Lakes cities and region look like the safest bet to you right now with climate change and what not?
I'm not really in the Great Lakes region, but not far from it, and it feels like the weather has been trying to kill us for the last 2 years. Floods, tornadoes, record blizzards, scorching heat. Climate change is not a friend to the northern Plains.
I'm not really in the Great Lakes region, but not far from it, and it feels like the weather has been trying to kill us for the last 2 years. Floods, tornadoes, record blizzards, scorching heat. Climate change is not a friend to the northern Plains.
I suppose I can't speak for the entire Great Lakes region but can tell you in Michigan our weather hasn't fluctuated that much. The biggest difference is that over the last few years December has been warmer than normal and April has been colder than normal so it's like winter has shifted by a month. Outside of that our weather patterns have been fairly consistent. We do get tornado's(we've always gotten them). The differences between our tornado's and plains tornado's is that they tend to be far weaker. Storm systems typically follow a west to east track and Lake Michigan usually weakens systems as they cross. We only get strong damaging storms every 3-4 years, and a tornado that causes enough damage to injure people about once every 10-20 years. It will be interesting to see if there is enough of a weather pattern shift for people to move toward our abundant water resources.
I suppose I can't speak for the entire Great Lakes region but can tell you in Michigan our weather hasn't fluctuated that much. The biggest difference is that over the last few years December has been warmer than normal and April has been colder than normal so it's like winter has shifted by a month. Outside of that our weather patterns have been fairly consistent. We do get tornado's(we've always gotten them). The differences between our tornado's and plains tornado's is that they tend to be far weaker. Storm systems typically follow a west to east track and Lake Michigan usually weakens systems as they cross. We only get strong damaging storms every 3-4 years, and a tornado that causes enough damage to injure people about once every 10-20 years. It will be interesting to see if there is enough of a weather pattern shift for people to move toward our abundant water resources.
Agreed. I feel in Chicago we are experiencing perhaps gloomier yet milder winters (although this winter was an exception). But outside of that, the weather in Chicago hasn't drastically changed.
I also agree with you that it seems like winter weather starts a little bit later nowadays but also ends a little later. I remember growing up in Chicago April used to be awesome weather. Nowadays April is a crapshoot.
Climate change would benefit a lot of *future* people, since there are huge areas of land that are locked in pretty hostile cold climate conditions. Raising the global temperature by ~5C, would probably increase the total habitable land area for humans, despite the coastal areas getting flooded.
I'm not really in the Great Lakes region, but not far from it, and it feels like the weather has been trying to kill us for the last 2 years. Floods, tornadoes, record blizzards, scorching heat. Climate change is not a friend to the northern Plains.
I think if this winter showed us anything, it's that the good ole winters of the northern US really did suck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gantz
Climate change would benefit a lot of *future* people, since there are huge areas of land that are locked in pretty hostile cold climate conditions. Raising the global temperature by ~5C, would probably increase the total habitable land area for humans, despite the coastal areas getting flooded.
Exactly. In the short run it may cost more due to coastal flooding, but in the long run, it will be better because of more habitable land for animals, plants, and humans.
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