Global warming will produce widespread changes in the U.S. climate in future decades, a government report released Monday predicts. The report is the first national assessment of how global warming might affect the country and economy. Urban areas will face the double whammy of global warming and the urban heat-island effect, under which buildings and streets absorb heat, raising cities' temperatures. More extreme precipitation and faster evaporation, leading to greater frequency of very wet and very dry conditions. Drought is expected to be a growing concern in every part of the country.
Floods are more likely in some regions.
Extensive damage to some ecosystems. Rising sea levels in coastal areas. Coastal communities may be at greater risk for storm surges. The assessment predicts little impact on the U.S. economy as a whole, but predicts a rough time for some communities, such as coastal areas, and some businesses, such as maple-sugar producers and ski resorts. The report was prepared by an advisory panel that included government officials, academics, and representatives of industry and non-governmental organizations.