By Kristin Pene, Research Associate
That the weather has an impact on the U.S. economy might not come as a surprise. On hot days we splurge on an extra scoop of ice cream and use more energy to air-condition our homes. When it storms, construction projects are put on hold and flights are often delayed.
Thanks to a study recently published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, we now know how changes in average weather conditions can influence our economy. “U.S. economic output varies by up to $485 billion a year of 2008 gross domestic product — about 3.4% — owing to weather variability,” the authors explain.
To arrive at this estimate, the study’s authors paired decades of historical weather observations with economic data from 11 major sectors of the U.S. economy: agriculture, communications, construction, manufacturing, mining, retail trade, services, transportation, utilities, wholesale trade and FIRE (finance, insurance and real estate).
All of these sectors — but especially agriculture, FIRE and mining — are impacted by weather variability, the findings indicate. Extreme weather means crop losses for farmers and flood damage payouts for insurance agencies.
Results also show that states, each with a unique climate and industry composition, vary in their degree of sensitivity to weather. See the map below and see how your state compares. You’ll notice the map is a true mosaic: generalizations cannot be made by region.
If routine weather variability is already impacting economic output on such a measurable scale, what effects might be in store given the realities of climate change? We already know a warming climate will increase the odds of more frequent and intense weather events, as a post last week illustrated.
What will more variable weather in your town mean for the industries closest to you? Leave us a comment and let us know.
I am a student at Kaplan University and I am heading up a new club at my school for renewable resources. I was wondering if you could answer just a few questions so that I could share them with my club and my Eng. Comp class mates that are interested in getting this renewable energy club up and running. Because you are respected umongst my peers I would love to have your input on these questions.
1. How will the constructing of wind turbines affect local economy in that state, is the construction of the turbines going to leave thousands of local coal miners unemployed or is there a program in place where you can easily train the coal miners to help construct and keep the turbines running?
2. How will the construction of wind turbines affect the local power supply, will there be an easy way to switch existing power supplies over to wind energy?
3. How will the construction of wind turbines affect the local wildlife, is there any evidence of the turbines interfering with the wild life?
4. Do you have documented research that a switch to wind turbines as alternate source of renewable energy will in fact cut America’s carbon foot print promoting clean air, water and land?
5. Do you have sufficient research proving a positive outcome on cities that have already implemented wind energy as their main source of energy?
It is so important that we educate our new generation on the alternatives in energy sources.
Thank you so much,
Angela Dobson
Kaplan Univesity student
Renewable non-food crops are available now. Jatropha is an excellent source of green fuel. China already is cultivating ten (10) million acres. There are more possibilities for use in Marijuana than just the cannibols people use for enjoyment, way beyond the many medical uses. We the People have to tell our politicians to either decriminalize this valuable crop or get out of the way. The moralistic argument is proven to be false. The cost of having more prisoners than the rest of the world, with private for profit corporations is not sustainable in a free world.