GlobalWarmingSpeculationFilter

November 19, 2006 6:55 PM

Where can I learn about the possible consequences of future global warming, sea-level-rise, etc on the climate of the continental US?

Research for that sci-fi story I'm playing with. What would likely happen to the climate of the US if one of the worse-case scenarios in terms of climate change were to occur? I'm particularly interested in the southwestern US, and Appalachia, for now, but if anyone out there has generated maps or other reports dealing with the whole country (world?) that would be nice to know about too. I know climate prediction is an inexact science at best, but I'm looking for articles (layperson or scholarly) and other resources that I can use to inform my thinking and make interesting hypothetical predictions that are at least somewhat within the realm of possibility.

posted by Alterscape to grab bag (5 comments total)

job boom in environmental sciences.
posted by dobie at 6:59 PM on November 19, 2006

If you scroll down on this Harvard Magazine article you'll get satellite simulations of what Florida and Manhattan would look like after a 3.5m increase in sea level.
posted by furtive at 7:43 PM on November 19, 2006

Maybe you can try the realclimate.org folk. They might even convince you that climate prediction is more exact than you think.
posted by carmina at 8:38 PM on November 19, 2006

Can't speak for articles, but here is a Google Maps mashup that shows what gets flooded as sea levels rise.
posted by Upton O'Good at 9:06 PM on November 19, 2006

Check out the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group. This is part of UW/NOAA joint institute focused on the interaction of the atmosphere and the oceans (JISAO). They are focused on climate change impacts to the Pacific Northwest but members recently headed the call for national climate service.
posted by rosebengal at 1:12 PM on December 10, 2006