BU Now » global warming

BU Study: Changes in Store for Northeast Summers

Kira Jastive — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:30:37 +0000

A new study from Bruce Anderson, Ph.D., of Boston University’s Dept. of Geography and Environment has found that the summertime conditions in the Northeast have the potential to change dramatically as the century progresses.

According to Dr. Anderson, the study found “there is the threat that conditions across the Northeast are going to become significantly drier. In addition, they will become significantly warmer. More worrying though, is the health-related changes in the heat index for our region, which captures days with both high temperatures and high humidities.”

Anderson explains that not only does the average summertime heat index increase significantly – by up to 4C (7F) – but so do the number of potentially-threatening “extreme caution” days (where the heat index exceeds 90F). In fact, for the highly-populated Northeast megapolis stretching from NYC to Boston, over half the days during summer are expected to exceed the “extreme caution” value; and, the “extreme caution” value has the potential to become the norm for the region.

Similar studies carried out in parallel with this one suggest that the summertime climate of Massachusetts will become more and more like that of the deep South (Georgia and Florida) as the century progresses.

The research appears in the April issue of Climatic Change.

Contact: Bruce Anderson, 617-353-4807, brucea@bu.edu

Senate fight over “cap-n-trade”

Dick Taffe — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:53:02 +0000

The upcoming Senate battle over President Obama’s climate-change bill will center on the “cap-and-trade” system to allow trading of pollution permits as emission levels are increasingly tightened. Energy risk-management expert Mark T. Williams, who teaches finance in the School of Management, says not to expect Senate approval until the economy rebounds and there’s a stronger U.S. industrial sector – probably not until 2010.

Contact Mark T. Williams, 617-358-2789, williams@bu.edu

Widespread public support for greenhouse gas rules

Ron Rosenberg — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:18:07 +0000

A Washington Post-ABC News survey shows that 75% of Americans back federal government regulations on the release of greenhouse gases from power plants, cars and factories to reduce global warming. Cutler Cleveland, Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, knows the issues as Congress prepares to vote on climate change legislation.

Cutler Cleveland, 617-353-3083, cutler@bu.edu

Global warming will also lead to more allergy and asthma sufferers

Ron Rosenberg — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:19:33 +0000

Today’s warming climate changes is making pollen season last longer, as damp areas of the country will get wetter impacting those with mold allergies while in drier areas pollens and other airborne irritants will become more a problem along withy an influx of insects. What can people do? Make sure they know what their specific allergy is and be aware of mold and pollen cycles. More specific asthma and spring allergy issues are available from Frederic Little, MD, Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine’s Pulmonary Care Center and an allergy and asthma expert.

Contact Frederic Little, 617-638-4439, flittle@bu.edu