Examines Rhode Island’s Changing Climate
Narragansett, RI — April 25, 2002 — According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earths surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. So how does this affect Rhode Island?
Gail Scowcroft, Associate Director for Marine and Environmental Education in the URI Office of Marine Programs, will present a free public lecture on Global Environmental Change and a Changing Rhode Island Climate. The lecture will take place in the Coastal Institute Auditorium on the URI Bay Campus in Narragansett on Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the lecture.
Global environmental change is affecting most of the earths ecosystems. Here in Rhode Island we are seeing the evidence of these changes manifest in shifting habitats, sea level rise along our shorelines, and increases in vector borne disease. This lecture will explore these topics as well as others.
Scowcroft has been educated at the University of Rhode Island. As Associate Director of the Office of Marine Programs, she combines more than 16 years of marine geological research with a decade of teaching. Her expertise is in global environmental change and her programs at the University reach a wide variety of audiences.
Established in 1985 to support and promote the activities of the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, Friends of Oceanography informs and educates the membership and the general public about the scientific, technological, and environmental research that takes place at GSO. The organization sponsors public lectures, open houses, marine-related mini-courses, science cruises on Narragansett Bay, and an annual auction. The Friends office is located in the Coastal Institute building on URIs Narragansett Bay Campus. For information about Friends of Oceanography, call 874-6642.
Contact: Lisa Cugini, (401) 874-6642, lcugini@gso.uri.edu