Global Warming

During the drought of 2002 over seven million acres burned in wildfires; these fires were the worst the West had seen in over 50 years. "The largest wildfires in state history occurred in Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon [from 1999-2002]" (NOAA, Drought). From 1999-2002 many other severe drought conditions arose: Texas, Florida and Louisiana broke the 104 year record for having the three driest months; Florida wildfires were the worst in 50 years; Dust storms pounded Colorado, Kansas and Montana; From September 2001 - February 2002 the Northeast experienced the second driest six month period ever recorded. (NOAA, Drought).
             With warmer temperatures rainfall increases and becomes more concentrated in areas. Due to heavy downpours in selected areas, the national annual precipitation has increased nearly 10 percent since the beginning of the 20th century. "During June 1998, stations in New England and parts of eastern New York were inundated with record-setting rainfall amounts." (NOAA, Rainfall). "Rainfall amounts were 350% of normal in Rhode Island, 276% of normal in New Hampshire and 218% of normal in Maine making [1998] the wettest June on record in these states" (NOAA, Rainfall). Severe floods battered the upper Midwest in early 2002 causing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage.
             More heat related deaths are likely to occur with warming temperatures. Air quality problems, already affecting over 75 million Americans, could be aggravated by warmer conditions. Insects "that transmit diseases [could] extend their ranges and increase both their biting rate and their ability to infect humans" (Global, Harbingers). In 1999, "more than 250 people died as a result of a heat wave that gripped much of the eastern two-thirds of the [U.S.]" (Global, Impact). With warmer weather insects that are capable of carrying diseases are now spreading to areas that were previously inhospitable to them.