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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
More Rain in Maine: A Climate Change AssessmentThe rain in Maine is due to global climate In "Maine's Climate Future: An Initial Assessment," issued in February 2009 by the University of Maine at Orono, more precipitation, increased intensity of precipitation, and implications for water and wastewater management and water quality are among the many effects of climate change in Maine. They are based on quantifiable statistical data tracked for about 130 years. Highlights of the assessment include the observation that perhaps more than any other state, Maine's social and economic well-being depends on the health and productivity of forests, fields, lakes, rivers, and the marine waters of the Gulf of Maine, and that Maine's unique diversity of climates means that change will not be uniform across the state. In terms of rate of warming: "For the past century, the rate of warming in Maine has been increasing. All three of Maine's climate divisions are warmer today than 30 years ago. Regional sea surface temperatures have increased almost 2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970, and the rate of sea-level rise has intensified. Tide-gauge records in Portland, Maine, show a local relative sea-level rise of approximately eight inches since 1912. The seasonality of events is also shifting, especially in winter and spring, with earlier snowmelt, peak river flows, and ice-out on Maine lakes." Climate change, the report points out, will lead to changes in Maine's overall assemblage of plants and animals, will affect the forestry industry through longer mud seasons and shorter hard freeze, will make oceans waters more acidic, and is conducive to invasive species of plants. These are not necessarily negatives. Farmers will have access to a new and broader range of crops. Engineering standards will become more attuned to design structures with the capacity for future condiions. The relatively new public health system will of necessity grow and adapt quickly. And, tourism will experience a shift toward the "shoulder" seasons, spring and fall. Citing that "Maine needs an adaptation plan that includes the development of new opportunities that will be available in a changing climate," the report states that such a plan would, among other advantages, reveal opportunities and evaluate local adaptive capacity. In short, climate change is a unique time of opportunity, and the "Initial Assessment" is uniquely about Maine. In a study complex and scientific, the impact of climate change on central Maine's lakes, rivers and wetlands is of primary interest to area residents and vacationers, and the chapter in "Maine's Climate Future" on Freshwater Ecosystems is of primary importance. Climate change will alter the timing and magnitude of precipitation, length of growing season, spring ice-out, and spring runoff. Among other impacts, warming water will reduce the distribution of cold-water fisheries, local flooding and erosion damage may become more common, plant growth will increase, and mosquito-borne diseases may become more prevalent. Intensity of precipitation is cited in this chapter, along with the observation that several 100- to 500-year precipitation events have occurred in recent years. As with all studies, climate change evaluation leaves room for speculation about the future. Some observations are close to home and actionable. For example: "What happens when flood zones, bridges, culverts, and water treatment plants designed for "20- year" storms are overwhelmed with sediment and other precipitation-related pollutants?" Others are more remote, such as: "It is not unreasonable to imagine a time in the future when water-starved regions begin eyeing Maine's abundant freshwater supplies, and the potential for conflict inherent in such a scenario." All of them make local efforts: watershed studies, LakeSmart programs, Youth Conservation Corps, rainy day surveys, conservation trusts, milfoil monitoring, etc. designed to protect and preserve this region of Maine more meaningful. To get more information or download the full report, visit the website of the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute. | ||