Annual Average Max Temperature °F 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 http climatemaps co cc Source NOAA NCDC 1961 1990 People and animals adapt to the climate where they live New Yorkers own heavier coats than Texans but Texans probably have bigger stocks of sunblock Polar bears have thick fur coats to keep them warm in subzero temperatures and camels bodies store huge amounts of water because they live in such dry climates Texas summers average 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit 32 to 38 degrees Celsius for several months
CITIES UNDER WATER By 2100 scientists estimate that 670 U S coastal communities will experience regular flooding because of climate change Major U S cities most threatened by sea level rise include Miami Boston New York City Honolulu New Orleans San Diego Los Angeles and Seattle A region's climate affects nearly every part of animals and people's lives People can only grow citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons in warm climates while most berries grow in cooler climates Climate also affects health Texans must worry more about sunburn and heat stroke than Alaskans and frostbite is a bigger threat to Alaskans UNITED STATES CITRUS GROWING REGION Winters in northern Alaska can average 6 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit 14 to 6 degrees Celsius WARM WEATHER REGION
Climates change both from natural and human causes and the world's climate is changing faster now than ever before Worldwide temperatures have increased 1 6 degrees Fahrenheit 0 9 degree Celsius since 1901 That sounds small but has big effects just as ripples from a stone thrown into water become larger waves expanding outward An increase of 3 56 degrees Fahrenheit 2 degrees Celsius would destroy almost half the Amazon rainforest in South America Less rainfall in the Amazon could have disastrous effects on hundreds of species living there Eruptions from active volcanoes such as Mount Bromo in Indonesia can actually cause the climate to slightly cool because the ash particles reflect sunlight away from Earth NATURAL CYCLES Earth naturally experiences cycles of warming and cooling over thousands of years Volcanic eruptions ocean currents rainfall patterns and the planet's tilt all influence climate too Astronomical events such as sun storms or a large meteor hitting Earth can also cause big changes in the climate
The Sami people are used to an average seven months of snow each year but scientists predict 20 to 30 percent less snowfall where they live by the year 2100 In the Arctic where the Sami rely heavily on their environment temperatures are increasing twice as fast as in the rest of the world The Sami must adapt quickly to climate change to survive So must thousands of other communities and plants and animals across the world
