Europe's Killer Heatwave Damages Forests
Anyone who spends time outdoors or is reasonably in touch with nature can tell you that climate is changing, and rapidly. The signs are all around us. In 2003 Europe experienced a heatwave that most blame upon climate change which killed 35,000 people and cost some £7bn. A recent report demonstrates the degree to which climate initiated heatwaves of this sort decimate forests and other native vegetation. The heatwave's scorching temperatures and prolonged drought were found to have stifled Europe's forest growth and released huge quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In fact, during the 2003 heatwave, European plants produced more carbon dioxide than they absorbed from the atmosphere. Few doubt the existence of global warming in Europe as a result. Oh that America were willing and able to acknowledge that climate change is behind their hurricane disasters. Overcoming denial of the obvious is the first step towards getting help.
Comments
Interesting and frightening. The drought in the midwest has been awful this year. The air quality in Chicago has been horrid. Even the hardiest of native plants have been wiltin g and dying around here. I wonder what the longer term effects of this summer will be, and whether we'll see more drought conditions next year.
Posted by: mattie | September 22, 2005 7:40 PM