I am not a scientist by any means, but I do know what I live with!
During the late spring, summer, and early fall we live in the shadow of the Shawangunk Ridge on which is perched the Mohonk Mountain House, founded in 1869 and still operated by the original family. We can see the Skytop Tower of the Mountain House from our home there. You can see the Shawangunk Ridge behind me in my avatar photo. Spectacular view!
In September we were in Copenhagen, staying at the Marriott Hotel which gives guests a brief news supplement from their respective home countries. We were so surprised to find an article about our home area by New Paltz, NY. This article had to do with 112 years of consistent meteorology measurements that reflect climate change right in our backyard. Following is one salient paragraph from that article, followed by the link to the complete article which is well worth reading.
Just plain, consistent meteorology readings. No agenda, no politics, no conclusion before starting the study. This is what we've lived with in our neighborhood since we live there. I urge everyone to read the whole article; it's quite a marvelous story.
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"The record shows that on this ridge in the Shawangunk Mountains, about 20 miles south of the better-known Catskills, the average annual temperature has risen 2.7 degrees in 112 years. Of the top 10 warmest years in that time, 7 have come since 1990. Both annual precipitation and annual snowfall have increased, and the growing season has lengthened by 10 days."
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/sc...th/16moho.html