Alabama

Alabama is a state in the southern United States. It includes a stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, and includes the port of Mobile and Mobile Bay. The state is noted for its rich diversity of plant, animal, and aquatic species: Alabama ranks fifth in the country for biodiversity, and nearly 100 plant species in the state are considered globally rare. Nearly two-thirds of Alabama is covered in forest, and the pulp and paper industries are important to the state's economy. Alabama has a warm and humid climate, with average rainfall of 40–70 in. (100–177 cm) annually, and the average state temperature has shown a warming trend since the 1960s. The sea level along the Gulf Coast has risen substantially over the past 100 years (as much as eight in.) due to rising sea levels and subsidence (sinking of the land). The Alabama coast, on average, experiences a tropical storm every nine to 10 years, with hurricane frequency strongly related to the El Niño/La Niña cycle.

The Union of Concerned Scientists predicted that sea levels around Alabama could increase 15 in. (38 cm) between 2011 and 2100, moving the shore inland. Because the coastal area is primarily flat, this could cause major effects for human and animal life in the area. Some models predict an increase in rainfall, while others predict a decrease. In either case, an increase in intensity of storms is expected (with longer dry spells in-between), and coastal flooding is also expected to increase. Winter low temperatures are expected to rise 3–10 degrees F (1.6–5.5 degrees C), and summer highs are expected to rise 3–7 degrees F (1.6–3.8 degrees C), with the freeze line moving north and a more substantial increase in the July heat index (a combination of temperature and humidity) expected to rise substantially, by 10–25 degrees F (5.5–13 degrees C).

Several deleterious effects on human health are predicted if global warming is allowed to proceed unchecked. First of all, more illnesses and deaths related to increased summer heat are expected, particularly in the urban areas of Mobile, Montgomery, and Birmingham. Second, air quality will decrease as increased temperatures lead to greater production of smog and ground-level ozone. The risk of waterborne illnesses will also increase with greater rainfall and runoff, particularly in coastal areas. Agriculture and forestry are also at risk as wetter conditions increase the risk of forest pests and favor hardwoods (such as oaks and maples) over softwoods such as pine. On the other hand, if conditions become drier, fire risk increases, and a drier climate favors savannahs and grasslands over forests. Similar threats will be felt by agriculture: In regions where the climate becomes drier, greater irrigation will be required, while agricultural pests can be expected to increase in regions that become wetter.

Alabama's freshwater resources face several challenges due to global warming. Increased temperatures will cause more evaporation and thus a greater demand for water resources, a problem exacerbated by Alabama's increasing population (currently about 4.5 million, but expected to grow to 5.2 million by 2025). Extreme rainfall can cause an overload for sewer systems, leading to contamination of water supplies, while rising sea levels may contaminate freshwater supplies with seawater. Rising water temperatures also disturb the ecosystem of many types of aquatic life. A decreased supply of freshwater into Alabama's sounds will result in an increase in salinity, which [Page 25]will also affect the aquatic food web. Mobile Bay already experiences periods of hypoxia (reduced oxygen) caused by runoff, resulting in declines of shrimp and fish production.

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