Reducing carbon emissions is a simple matter of turning to
sources such as wind for alternate energy sources, right?
Not so fast, says Eugene Takle, director of the Climate
Science Initiative at Iowa State University. Takle states
that his research “demonstrates, rather conclusively in my mind, that average
and peak wind speeds have decreased over the U.S. in recent decades." He
found that wind speed in the American Midwest has suffered a 10 percent drop.
Furthermore, his calculations indicate
that wind speeds could drop an additional 10 percent over the next four
decades.
The cause, Takle suspects, is increased temperatures at
the earth’s poles, resulting in lower barometric pressure between the Arctic
and the equator.
Does this new discovery mean that wind energy will soon be
obsolete? Not quite, but wind turbines are likely to suffer a 27
percent reduction in energy, Takle says, with the most intense changes
taking place in states bordering the Great Lakes.
Atmospheric scientist Sara Pryor, the leader of the study,
claims, “at this point it would be premature to modify wind energy development
plans.”
Robert Gramlich of the American Wind Energy Association
agrees, hoping for verification from other studies before altering any plans.
Blowin' in the wind—or what's left of it
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