Latest David Battisti Stories

There have been instances in Earth history when average temperatures have changed rapidly, as much as 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) over a few decades, and some have speculated the same could happen again as the atmosphere becomes overloaded with carbon dioxide.New research lends support to evidence from numerous recent studies that suggest abrupt climate change appears to be the result of alterations in ocean circulation uniquely associated with ice ages."There might be...

Yields from some of the most important crops begin to decline sharply when average temperatures exceed about 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 Fahrenheit. Projections are that by the end of this century much of the tropics and subtropics will regularly see growing season temperatures above that level, hotter than the hottest summers now on record.An international panel of scientists writing in the Feb. 12 edition of the journal Science is urging world leaders to dramatically alter their notions about...

Scientists warn that looming global warming could induce a worldwide food shortage crisis by the next century. Warming could result in a reduction of crop yields in the tropics and subtropics by 2100, said Prof David Battisti of the University of Washington, Seattle. His team used 23 models to predict a future of unprecedented heat."The hottest seasons on record will represent the future norm in many locations," said Battisti, a professor of atmospheric sciences."The stresses...