C: Is for climate warnings

CNN states, our climate is about to drastically change some may disappear entirely. These changes endanger an array of plants and animals while providing new opportunities for others. On the endangered list the polar bear. The world's leading climate scientists, report that "warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as it is now evident from observation of the increasing levels in the worlds air and ocean temperatures. Widespread melting of snow and ice and the rising sea levels also are a contributor." Tropical regions in particular are facing change, particularly the rain forests in the Amazon and Indonesia. This was surprising, since the tropics tend to have little variation in weather. With a temperature change of 3 or 4 degrees these regions will face more of an impact than a change of 5 to 8 degrees in a region that is accustomed to change. Areas like the Southeastern United States and the Arabian Peninsula will also be affected. Mountain areas such as in Peruvian and Colombian Andes and regions such as Siberia and southern Australia face the risk of climates disappearing altogether. This means their climate would change and the conditions currently in these areas would not occur elsewhere on Earth.

Today the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season report came out and its news is scary. They expect a "very active," season with at least one major hurricane hitting the U.S. coast. Forecaster William Gray said he expects 17 named storms, five major hurricanes with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater. The probability of a major hurricane making landfall, 74 percent. The average was 52 percent in recent years. In the absence of El Niño, "winds aren't tearing the storm systems apart and conditions this year are likely to be more conducive to hurricanes," The team's forecasts are based on global oceanic and atmospheric conditions. The Atlantic hurricane season, runs from June 1 to November 30.

The reason for this column is because two weeks ago we had an earthquake and then a tsunami in Japan. Sunday another earthquake triggered a tsunami warning for a huge part of the Pacific including Australia and Indonesia. The U.S. National Weather Service said its West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued an advisory for residents along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska's coast, but it said a damaging tsunami was not expected in that area. The tsunami did hit and The Solomon Islands many of whose houses were on stilts are sitting on the ground. A number of the coastal communities have been completely wiped out. We live on what is known as tectonic plates and once they are jared it has a splintering affect. Right now the Pacific rim and all those on its course face danger. First Japan, then The Solomon Islands. All of these have being effected in a two week period of time. Friday's column will be on the Tectonic Plates and why this information is important. We should all know the F.A.C.T.S