Global Warming Campaign News

SARASOTA—Scientists have said for years that global warming was “loading the dice” when it comes to increasing the frequency of severe storms, and a new Environment Florida  report makes it clear that the Sarasota-Bradenton area is already experiencing extreme downpours much more frequently.  Specifically, the new report found that storms with heavy rainfall are now 95% percent more frequent in the Sarasota-Bradenton area than they were 60 years ago.

“At the rate we’re going, what was once the storm of the decade will soon seem like just another rainy day,” said Adam Rivera, an Environment Florida spokesperson.

Rivera pointed to the storm that hit Sarasota in June of 2006 as an illustration of what more extreme rainstorms could mean for the region.  That storm, which dumped seven inches of rain on the area, led to $140,000 in property damages.

“More frequent downpours, fueled by global warming, will leave Florida even more vulnerable to dangerous flooding in years to come,” said Rivera.

The new Environment Florida report, When it Rains, It Pours: Global Warming and the Rising Frequency of Extreme Precipitation in the United States, examines trends in the frequency of large rain and snow events across the continental United States from 1948 to 2006.  Using data from 3,000 weather stations and a methodology originally developed by scientists at the National Climatic Data Center and the Illinois State Water Survey, the report identifies storms with the greatest 24-hour precipitation totals at each weather station, and analyzes when those storms occurred.

Nationally, the report shows that storms with extreme precipitation have increased in frequency by 24 percent across the continental United States since 1948.  At the state level, 40 states show a significant trend toward more frequent storms with extreme precipitation, while only one state (Oregon) shows a significant decline. 

These findings are consistent with the predicted impacts of global warming.  Scientists expect some parts of the United States to receive more precipitation as a result of global warming, while other parts receive less.  But regardless of the trend in total precipitation, scientists predict that the rain and snow that does fall will be more likely to come in big downpours and heavy snowstorms. 

Environment Florida was joined by Eli Rosenfeld of the National Environmental Trust and Joe Smyth of Greenpeace at a press event to release today’s report. 

Rivera was careful to note that an increase in the frequency of extreme rainstorms does not mean more water will be available.  Scientists expect that, as global warming intensifies, longer periods of relative dryness will mark the periods between extreme rainstorms, increasing the risk of the sort of drought Florida is experiencing.  For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that, under a scenario of intense warming, the percent of land enduring severe drought globally could be 30 times greater by the end of the century than it is today.

“How serious this problem gets is largely within our control – but only if Congress acts boldly to reduce the pollution that fuels global warming,” said Rivera.

According to the most recent science, the United States must reduce its total global warming emissions by at least 15 percent by 2020 and by at least 80 percent by 2050 in order to prevent the worst effects of global warming. 

“Steep reductions in global warming pollution are challenging but achievable,” noted Rivera, “and we already have the energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies we need to get started.”

Tomorrow, the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee is expected to vote on amendments to the “America’s Climate Security Act” (S. 2191), a global warming bill introduced by Senators Lieberman (I-CT) and Warner (R-VA).  Environment Florida, while applauding the bill as an important starting point for action, is pushing for the bill to be strengthened to deliver the emission reductions demanded by science, close loopholes for polluters, and protect American consumers.

In addition to calling for a strengthening of the “America’s Climate Security Act”, Senators Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson should cosponsor the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, and Representative Vern Buchanan should cosponsor the companion House legislation, the Safe Climate Act.

“Representative Vern Buchanan can lead us toward real solutions to global warming by cosponsoring the Safe Climate Act," said Joe Smyth, Global Warming Organizer for Greenpeace's Project Hot Seat, “This legislation would take the necessary steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.”

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Environment Florida is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization.