2012 United Wine and Grape Symposium (Global Weather Update)

Growing Produce. 25 January 2012.  One of Americans’ favorite topics of conversation, the weather, was discussed at length at the opening session of the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento, CA, Tuesday.

The opening session, moderated by Hans Walter-Peterson of Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and a columnist for American/Western Fruit Grower magazine, kicked off with a discussion of global warming from Richard Snyder of the University of California-Davis.  Snyder said that global warming is a long-term problem, but a real problem nonetheless. He said by the end of the century we’re looking at a 4 degree increase in Celsius temperatures.  “It’s a big effect,” he said, “I don’t think you want to take this lightly.”

Snyder noted that during the ice age, temperatures only were reduced by 5 degrees Celsius.  Snyder said there could be some good effects. Carbon dioxide, which plants like, will increase, and crops will mature faster.  read more