Global warming a boon to some and disaster for others

A couple of days ago I asked the question “What is going on with our spring weather?” Today, I stumbled across an article on EarthTalk blog about this same subject that stated “The effects of global warming manifest themselves differently in different locations, and winter is no doubt getting shorter and warmer across New England, the Canadian Maritimes and Northern Europe.”

The article goes on to say that average winter temperatures are increasing almost every year with the last eight five-year periods the warmest in history.

“Only western Maine is projected to retain a reliable ski season by the end of the century, and only northern New Hampshire would support a snowmobiling season longer than two months.”

The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment of 2004 reported that Arctic temperatures are now rising at nearly twice the rate of the rest of the world (as much as 14 degrees Fahrenheit over the next 100 years), reducing sea ice and melting frozen soils. It’s been widely reported that Alaska’s polar bears are probably doomed by 2050, but the scale of this climatic shift will likely do much more—completely changing the culture of the Arctic.

It will also change traditional gardening habits. Some of us can probably kiss cool season plants goodbye but we may now be able to grow some those exotic tropicals we thought we never could.

Skiers and snowmobilers may lament a shortened or disappearing season in which to play, we gardeners will have an even longer season in which to enjoy our passion.

Ski resorts may have to close down and return the mountain sides to their naturally forested beauty and we may even be able to see an increase in the number of wildlife in those areas as well.

Global warming can’t be all bad. At least for some people.