DRBC - Climate Change Information

CLIMATE CHANGE

A Bit Of Background Information

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and water vapor, absorb radiation in the atmosphere. This trapping and build-up of heat naturally warms the Earth’s surface; without this greenhouse effect, the Earth would be inhabitable for most forms of life. However, scientists are attributing the record rate of warming of the twentieth century and present day to a human activity-enhanced greenhouse effect. As humans create and release more man-made greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the natural greenhouse effect is amplified, trapping more heat than is released into space and causing more warming of the Earth’s surface.

This phenomenon of global warming, now commonly referred to as climate change, as well as its effects, have been and are being studied by scientists all over the world. The term climate change refers to fluctuations in the Earth’s climate over a long period of time. Climate is defined as the average of global or of a locale ’s weather patterns over an extended period of time. This is different from normal variations in weather, which can change on a regional scale, hour to hour, day to day, season to season.

Current estimates geologically date the Earth to about 4.5 billion years, and it is important to note that the Earth’s climate has changed over time. In more recent history, the northern hemisphere experienced above average temperatures from the eleventh century through the fifteenth century, while the seventeenth through mid-nineteenth century experienced temperatures that were colder than normal. Climate can also vary on a short term basis due to volcanic eruptions or certain shifts in the Earth’s system, for example, El Niño, La Niña, or North Atlantic oscillation patterns.

While historically not a highlight of mainstream debate, over the past decade the notion of climate change has gained attention and acceptance and now demands focus and adaptation at all levels: internationally, nationally, and locally. The formation of various consortiums, groups, and governmental agencies that have released reports, models, and scenarios demonstrating the occurrence of climate change over the past century and the impacts it will have on the Earth in the future has brought the discussion of climate change to the forefront.

The Delaware River Basin includes portions of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware that drain to the 330-mile long Delaware River and Bay. The basin’s total area is over 13,500 square miles, and nearly 15 million people rely on its water resources for potable, industrial, and agricultural use. The effects of climate change will impact the Delaware River Basin, and water resource managers must seriously look at how it will affect the watershed and how to best adapt. The main focal points, all of which are interwoven, include increased temperature, changes in precipitation patterns, and sea level rise.

DRBC's executive director and other staff members are involved in committees, participated in panel discussions, given presentations, and have attended conferences on the subject of climate change. Additionally, the commission has and is currently exploring funding opportunities to investigate these important topics further. DRBC's recently released State of the Basin Report includes a feature on climate change (in the hydrology section), which highlights the need for more localized studies, mapping, monitoring, and modeling, as well as for planning initiatives that integrate the reality of a changing climate.

Climate Change Links of Interest

International

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
PEW Center on Global Climate Change
United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Gateway to Climate Change
World Meteorological Organization