A new report by Stanford University scientists finds that the earth is warming ten times faster than it has at any time since the dinosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago. If the current pace of greenhouse gas emissions continues, the researchers say, temperatures in North America, Europe and much of Asia could increase 4 degrees by 2050 and 9 degrees by the end of the century.
Extreme weather events, including heat waves and heavy rainfall, are expected to become more severe and more frequent. Although we can't stop some of the changes from happening, the researchers say how different the climate looks by 2100 will depend a lot on how we respond.
The work, a comprehensive study of climate models by scientists at Stanford's Woods Institute for the Environment, was published in the journal Science.
Tags: climate, climate change, featured, full-image, Stanford Woods Institute
Andrea is KQED's Senior Science Editor . Andrea was born in Los Angeles and discovered radio news through listening to her college radio station. With a curious mind and a love for telling stories, she set off for Tampa where she landed her first job as a reporter for Florida Public Radio. After three years reporting in an unbearably humid climate and a brief stint as a miscast opera reporter, Andrea returned to L.A. to work for public radio, then for television news and finally as a reporter for CBS radio. Andrea has been at KQED for over twelve years, working first as a producer for Forum, and then as the senior producer for The California Report. She is now KQED's Senior Science and Environment Editor and narrates the QUEST television program. Andrea says she feels lucky to cover emerging science and environmental trends in a place where geek is chic.
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