PD: "study: global warming threatens North Coast vineyards"

[redwood trees could be threatened too]

Study: Global warming threatens North Coast vineyards

By NATHAN HALVERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Friday, July 1, 2011 at 12:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 1, 2011 at 12:32 p.m.


Stanford University scientists released a study Thursday projecting global warming could destroy 50 percent of the winegrape growing regions along the North Coast by 2040.

“We find that the projected warming over this period results in the loss of suitable winegrape area throughout much of California, including most counties in the high-value North Coast and Central Coast regions,” the study concluded.
The study predicts the regions will experience hotter temperatures, with Napa Valley seeing 10 more days a year when the temperature surpasses 95 degrees.
The extra heat will make the region less suitable for growing ultra-premium grapes, the study predicts, “suggesting a decrease in the overall quality and value of the producible area.”
Conversely, areas in Washington* will become better suited for growing high-end grapes as temperatures there begin to increase, according to the study.
The full study is available at www.documentcloud.org/documents/213855-stanford-vineyard-climate-study.html
Check back later today for more information on this story.




* skipping over Oregon entirely?

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by 2Bwacco:

[redwood trees could be threatened too]

Study: Global warming threatens North Coast vineyards

By NATHAN HALVERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Friday, July 1, 2011 at 12:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 1, 2011 at 12:32 p.m.


Stanford University scientists released a study Thursday projecting global warming could destroy 50 percent of the winegrape growing regions along the North Coast by 2040.

“We find that the projected warming over this period results in the loss of suitable winegrape area throughout much of California, including most counties in the high-value North Coast and Central Coast regions,” the study concluded.
The study predicts the regions will experience hotter temperatures, with Napa Valley seeing 10 more days a year when the temperature surpasses 95 degrees.
The extra heat will make the region less suitable for growing ultra-premium grapes, the study predicts, “suggesting a decrease in the overall quality and value of the producible area.”
Conversely, areas in Washington* will become better suited for growing high-end grapes as temperatures there begin to increase, according to the study.
The full study is available at www.documentcloud.org/documents/213855-stanford-vineyard-climate-study.html
Check back later today for more information on this story.




* skipping over Oregon entirely?

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Wow, other than turning my family's oceanfront property in Newfoundland into the next Riviera, this is the best news I've heard yet about "global warming" (I think the more accurate term is human-abetted climate change). It's about time our native woodlands and forests got a break from the onslaught of economic overprivilege that's ripping off the land base necessary to sustain life beyond the next social event. In the long term, we'll need the services provided by wild habitats a lot more than we'll need the buzz afforded by a glass or case or truckload of wine.

Here my first thought was, too bad it'll take that long to put an end to the rape of the land by Paul Hobbs.
If only one could train glassy-winged sharpshooters to stay in one vineyard.
Big Smile