Posted on 07/10/2006 7:57:44 PM PDT by Fractal Trader
Climate warming could spell disaster for much of the multibillion-dollar U.S. wine industry. Areas suitable for growing premium wine grapes could be reduced by 50 percent -- and possibly as much as 81 percent -- by the end of this century, according to a study Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The paper indicates increasing weather problems for grapes in such areas as California's Napa and Sonoma valleys.
The main problem: An increase in the frequency of extremely hot days, according to Noah Diffenbaugh of the department of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue University.
Grapes used in premium wines need a consistent climate. When temperatures top about 95 degrees they have problems maintaining photosynthesis and the sugars in the grapes can break down, Diffenbaugh said in a telephone interview.
"We have very long-term studies of how this biological system (of vineyards) responds to climate," said Diffenbaugh, and that gives the researchers confidence in their projection. Diffenbaugh is a co-author of the paper.
Scientists and environmental experts have become increasingly alarmed in recent years by accumulating gasses such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as a result of the burning of fossil fuels.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Horrible wine news!
Think Anyone will notice?
The more hot days in the US, the more the fog lingers around the coastal strip.
Surprise! That's where the grapes are grown!
Well then, the 3 west coast states should immediately outlaw privately owned automobiles and all good citizens should commence using public mass transportation to stop the global warming!
That is what the global warming crowd is working towards, is it not?
We could build some wind farms if politicians like Kennedy didn't object.
This one's for you, my fine feathered Fresno FRiend!!!
Minorities and the poor to be hit hardest... er, uh... never mind.
Could happen - might happen - sky will fall soon -- I'm soooooo tired of liberals.
LOL! Last week they were crying about not having enough $5.00 an hour illegals to pick ripe grapes.
Have you tried the Australian wines? Not shabby.
Oh, so frickin' what.
Something else will take it's place like a Starbucks coffee plantation - that should calm the lib hysteria.
The next generation of Kennedy's will notice...
Get ready for Icelandic Chablis,boys and girls.
the French pray... LOL
So drink beer. Sheesh!
More manufactured news.
They should be drinking scotch anyway.
I wish it would devastate whiners, especially enviro-whiners.
"We could build some wind farms if politicians like Kennedy didn't object."
He doesn't object.... as long as it is on your land, or blocks your view, or devalues your property.
No, I don't think so. The big earthquake will destroy the California wine country. The climate change will destroy the Nevada wine country.
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