CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXTRATROPICAL STORMINESS IN THE UNITED STATES: AN ASSESSMENT

The historical and projected changes in extratropical storms and storm tracks over North America as a result of climate change are examined. Compilations of monthly storm tracks published by the National Weather Service are summarized as the base case, and three climate scenarios are then examined based on a carbon dioxide-warmed world in the years 2005, 2020, and 2085, using the Hadley Center's Climate Model. The products of the model permit comparison of model output with the historical record of storminess derived from daily weather maps. The projections of North American storminess show no sensitivity to elevated CO sub(2).