New Government Report Tackles Global Warming Effects (broadcast Friday, May 30th, 2008)

In September 2007, the Northwest Passage was ice-free for the first time since satellite records began. NASA

Climate change is already affecting U.S. water resources, agriculture, land resources, and biodiversity, according to a new report published this week by the federal government.

Some of the effects could be seen as positive, such as an increase in the average length of the productive growing season in many parts of the country. Young forests will grow more productively. Other results are more clearly negative. Forests in the interior West, the Southwest, and Alaska are seeing more fires and insect infestations. Water use is on the increase, and invasive weeds are spreading. In this segment, we'll talk about the report, and about effects of climate change that are being seen now -- and that could be seen in the future. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.