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US. C:;IIo ba l CI °Harm^ esear,::[° IPirogirarn <br />112 <br />Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States <br />15 30 45 60 75 910 105 120 135, 150 165 IBO >180 <br />Number ff Days per Year 117 <br />results for future precipitation for the remainder of <br />the Southeast. Models project that Gulf Coast states <br />will tend to have less rainfall in winter and spring, <br />compared with the more northern states in the region <br />(see map on page 31 in the National Climate Change <br />section). Because higher temperatures lead to more <br />evaporation of moisture from soils and water loss <br />` from plants, the frequency, duration, and intensity of <br />droughts are likely to continue to increase. <br />The destructive potential of Atlantic hurricanes has <br />p <br />IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII r <br />increased since 1970, correlated with an increase in <br />sea surface temperature. A similar relationship with <br />the frequency of landfallin hurricanes has not been <br />q Y g <br />established9s,314 -117 (see National Climate Change sec - <br />tion for a discussion of past trends and future projec- <br />tions). An increase in average summer wave heights <br />Number ofDays � � along the U.S. Atlantic coastline since 1975 has been <br />attributed to a progressive increase in hurricane <br />2 2 1 .10 . � '�,�,; power.112 ,311 The intensity of Atlantic hurricanes is <br />N'OAA iN'e. f ae. likely to increase during this century with higher <br />I- 1970s, the number of days per year in which the peak wind speeds, rainfall intensity, and storm surge <br />Its below freezing has declined by four to seven Mays over 91,112 <br />�utheast. Some areas, such as western Louisiana, have height and strength. Even with no increase in <br />ore than 24 fewer freezing days. Climate models project hurricane intensity, coastal inundation and shoreline <br />ming across the region, with the greatest increases in retreat would increase as sea -level rise accelerates, <br />xpected in summer, and the number of very hot days <br />greater rate than the average temperature. which is one of the most certain and most costly con - <br />sequences of a warming climate .164 <br />