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<p>WHOI to Host Public Forum on Climate Change and Global Water
Supplies<br>
</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.whoi.edu/main/news-releases?tid=3622&cid=136609">http://www.whoi.edu/main/news-releases?tid=3622&cid=136609</a></p>
<p> Severe droughts, floods, and storms are now a routine part of
our nation’s weather forecast. Remarkably hot and dry weather in
2011 caused droughts in Texas, the Plains states and the West. The
year also brought historic flooding along the Mississippi River.
In the Northeast, an unusually warm winter meant little snowfall
and bad news for the north country ski economy. What do these
extreme weather events tell us about our changing climate?</p>
<p>The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) will host a
public forum on the impacts of climate change on water
availability worldwide. “Drought or Deluge: The Ocean and Earth's
Changing Water Cycle,” will be held on May 17 at 7 p.m. in
Redfield Auditorium, featuring experts on extreme weather,
changing rainfall patterns, and the impact of changing water
supplies on the developing world.</p>
<p>Water is essential for civilization and to life on Earth. New
oceanic data show that the planetary water cycle is changing
faster than anticipated and in surprising ways. In the near
future, some parts of Earth are likely to experience intensified
drought while other regions can expect more frequent flooding.</p>
<p>“This forum will present the latest science related to the
changing global water cycle and its link to extreme weather, and
it will give the public a chance to ask experts what these
changing patterns mean for them,” said Raymond Schmitt, a senior
scientist in the WHOI Physical Oceanography department.</p>
<p>The panel discussion begins with featured keynote talks by: <br>
</p>
<p><strong>Dr. Kevin Anchukaitis</strong><br>
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University<br>
“Mega-Droughts of the Past” <br>
</p>
<p><strong>Dr. Anthony Patt</strong><br>
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis<br>
“Water and the Developing World” <br>
</p>
<p><strong>Dr. Raymond Schmitt</strong><br>
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution<br>
“The Oceans and the Changing Global Water Cycle” <br>
</p>
<p><strong>Dr. Kevin Trenberth</strong><br>
National Center For Atmospheric Research<br>
“Climate Change and Extreme Weather” <br>
</p>
<p>Mindy Todd, host of “The Point,” a program on WCAI, the Cape and
Islands NPR station, will moderate a panel discussion following
the presentations.</p>
<p>The program is part of the Morss Colloquia series at Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution. A generous gift by Elisabeth W. and
Henry A. Morss, Jr. has allowed the Institution to establish a
fund to support public colloquia on issues of global importance
that confront the human race.</p>
<p>Colloquia are intended to go beyond routine scientific meetings,
to expose the Institution's staff and public community to new
issues and new perspectives that cross disciplinary boundaries
between the sciences and social sciences.</p>
<em>The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private,
independent organization in Falmouth, Mass., dedicated to marine
research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930
on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, its
primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction
with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate a basic
understanding of the ocean's role in the changing global
environment.</em>
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