How can climate change affect natural disasters?
With increasing global surface temperatures the possibility of more droughts and increased intensity of storms will likely occur. As more water vapor is evaporated into the atmosphere it becomes fuel for more powerful storms to develop. More heat in the atmosphere and warmer ocean surface temperatures can lead to increased wind speeds in tropical storms. Rising sea levels expose higher locations not usually subjected to the power of the sea and to the erosive forces of waves and currents.
Related Content
Filter Total Items: 15
Global change impacts on mangrove ecosystems
Mangroves are tropical/subtropical communities of primarily tree species that grow in the intertidal zone. These tidal forests are important coastal ecosystems that are valued for a variety of ecological and societal goods and services. Major local threats to mangrove ecosystems worldwide include clearcutting and trimming of forests for urban, agricultural, or industrial expansion; hydrological al
Authors
Karen L. McKee
Sea level change: lessons from the geologic record
Rising sea level is potentially one of the
most serious impacts of climatic change. Even
a small sea level rise would have serious
economic consequences because it would
cause extensive damage to the world's coastal
regions. Sea level can rise in the future
because the ocean surface can expand due to
warming and because polar ice sheets and
mountain glaciers can melt, increasing the
ocean
Authors
Climate variation and its effects on our land and water : Part A, Earth science in climate research
To better coordinate information being generated by the U.S. Geological Survey, a workshop was convened near Denver, Colo., on December 7-9, 1976, to exchange ideas about research that is oriented toward climate, climate variation, and the effects of climate on the Nation 's land and water resources. This is the first circular of a three-part report resulting from that workshop. Hydrologic records
Related Content
Filter Total Items: 15
Global change impacts on mangrove ecosystems
Mangroves are tropical/subtropical communities of primarily tree species that grow in the intertidal zone. These tidal forests are important coastal ecosystems that are valued for a variety of ecological and societal goods and services. Major local threats to mangrove ecosystems worldwide include clearcutting and trimming of forests for urban, agricultural, or industrial expansion; hydrological al
Authors
Karen L. McKee
Sea level change: lessons from the geologic record
Rising sea level is potentially one of the
most serious impacts of climatic change. Even
a small sea level rise would have serious
economic consequences because it would
cause extensive damage to the world's coastal
regions. Sea level can rise in the future
because the ocean surface can expand due to
warming and because polar ice sheets and
mountain glaciers can melt, increasing the
ocean
Authors
Climate variation and its effects on our land and water : Part A, Earth science in climate research
To better coordinate information being generated by the U.S. Geological Survey, a workshop was convened near Denver, Colo., on December 7-9, 1976, to exchange ideas about research that is oriented toward climate, climate variation, and the effects of climate on the Nation 's land and water resources. This is the first circular of a three-part report resulting from that workshop. Hydrologic records