Iowa Scientists and Professors Say Climate Change Will Bring More Extreme Weather

Iowans can expect more extreme weather ahead because of climate change, according to a report issued this week by a group of Iowa scientists.

The group of 138 science faculty and research staff from 27 Iowa colleges and universities released the Iowa Climate Statement: The Drought of 2012 at a news conference on Monday, reports KCCI.com.

The group said it believes Iowans should act now to reduce economic costs due to climate change.

"In a warmer climate, wet years get wetter and dry years get dryer. And dry years get hotter -- that is precisely what happened in Iowa this year," said Chris Anderson, a research assistant professor at Iowa State University.

Researchers said they do not see the drought continuing into next summer.

"If we do not get rain this winter and subsequent spring, it would become a multi-year drought and that would be serious. But most long-range forecasts indicate that is not going to happen," said Jerry Schoor of the University of Iowa.

"In the current year period since 1981, the likelihood of extremely wet spring has doubled. What was once a 1 in 10 year wet spring is now occurring 2-3 times every 10 years," Anderson said.

The group said the report shows the growing consensus among Iowa science faculty and research staff that action is needed now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, KCCI reported.

You can read the group's complete report at http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu.