Climate change: Overview of data sources, observed and predicted temperature changes, and impacts on public and environmental health

Abstract

This chapter addresses the societal and the environmental impacts of climate change related to increasing surface temperatures on air quality and forest health. Increasing temperatures at and near the earth's surface, due to both a warming climate and urban heat island effects, have been shown to increase ground-level ozone concentrations in cities across the U.S. In terms of forest health, elevated surface air temperatures and increased water stress are raising the possibility that forests world-wide are increasingly responding to warming climate conditions, which may lead to widespread tree mortality. The importance of climate datasets is also addressed, specifically as it relates to understanding the observed and predicted changes in surface temperatures at the global, regional and local scale.