Texas Tech Researcher Available to Discuss Climate Change, Projections
May 29, 2009
By: John Davis
A prominent Texas Tech University climate researcher can discuss how global climate
change will affect the United States during the coming century.
The report from the Global Humanitarian Forum warns that more than 300 million
people are already seriously affected by the gradual warming of the earth and that
number is set to double by 2030.
A prominent Texas Tech University climate researcher can discuss how global climate
change will affect the United States during the coming century. Also, she can discuss
the current global warming legislation pending in Congress and how the choices made
now will shape future patterns of climate change.
Katharine Hayhoe, a research associate professor at the Department of Geosciences
at Texas Tech, said that though global climate change is happening now, making immediate
changes in the United States' current emissions can dramatically reduce the impacts
we can expect down the road. By taking steps now to reduce emissions, the result will
be much like the old adage: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Most recently, Hayhoe worked with the University of California, Berkeley, on a project
that modeled how climate change would affect the global wildfire patterns. Also, she
has led large research teams that have assessed the potential impacts of climate change
on the Northeastern part of the U.S., the state of California and the city of Chicago's
people, ecosystems, water resources and economy.
Hayhoe served as a reviewer and contributor to the United Nations Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change's massive international analysis of the impact of human activities
on Earth's climate. The IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 together with
former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
CONTACT: Katharine Hayhoe, associate professor, Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech
University, (806) 392-1900, or katharine.hayhoe@ttu.edu