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Saturday, October 03, 2009

Environment - "Study reports Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore threatened by climate change"

The Chesterton Tribune reported yesterday that:

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is one of 25 national parks identified as being most threatened by climate change in a study conducted jointly by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization.

The study, released on Thursday, characterizes the National Lakeshore as “vulnerable to a loss of ice and snow, a loss of water, more downpours and floods, a loss of plant communities, a loss of wildlife, more crowding, a loss of fishing, and more air pollution”: all the consequences of climate change caused by “human activities” resulting in “the emission of heat-trapping gases.”

The story continues with specifics of the impact on the Dunes, such as:
“With a changed climate, more precipitation comes in downpours,” the study states. “The amount of rain falling in heavy storms increased by 20 percent over the past century, while there has been little change in the amount from light and moderate storms. . . . With an increase in downpours, flooding is also likely to increase. Virtually all national parks in Indiana and elsewhere are at risk.”
For the Report itself, start here with a map showing the "25 national parks most at risk as human activities continue to change the climate."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 3, 2009 10:46 AM
Posted to Environment