Iowa Climate Statement 2015: Time for Action

Climate Statement of Iowa Scientists:

http://cgrer.uiowa.edu/files/cgrer.uiowa.edu/files/pdf_files/Iowa%20Climate%20Statement%202015%20Time%20for%20Action_May_11_2015_FINAL.pdf

Iowa Climate Statement 2015: Time for Action
Over the past four years, researchers and educators at nearly every college and university in Iowa have produced annual statements to communicate in plain language the state of climate science and the impacts of climate change on Iowans. This process has been open to all of our state’s academic climate experts to ensure that our statements are factual. Climate change has been measured, and the integrity of the measurements has been accepted through review by thousands of scientists worldwide.
The upcoming Iowa caucuses provide Iowans with a unique opportunity to bring their questions into the national conversation about climate change. As presidential candidates come to our state to ask Iowans for their votes, we feel it is important to know how candidates use science to inform decisions. Therefore, we hope that all candidates will be asked and will answer at least the following question:
Iowa farmers and communities are already adapting to climate change, and 188 researchers and scientists at 39 Iowa colleges and universities have signed a statement warning that its effects are expected to get worse. What polices do you support to address this critical issue?
In support of this question, we share the following information:

•   Humans are adding heat‐trapping gases to the atmosphere. These gases are a major contributor to climate change.
  
•   Climate change is already having significant effects on Iowans economically, socially, and psychologically, and these impacts are expected to intensify.
  
•   As the climate warms, evaporation increases. During dry periods with little rain, increased evaporation makes dry soils even drier, while during wet periods it adds even more moisture to the atmosphere. In these ways, climate change may strengthen both droughts and floods. The recent sequence of extreme rainfall years—flood events in 2008, 2010, and 2014 interrupted by the drought of 2012—illustrates the Iowa impacts from enhanced evaporation. The emergence of years with both drought and flood, as in 2011 and 2013, is concerning.
  
•   There is clear evidence that the frequency of intense rain has increased in Iowa over the past 50 years.
  
•   Natural systems are responding to the increase in the global average temperature. The northward
  expansion of species formerly restricted by a colder climate could disrupt natural ecosystems and
  introduce new agricultural pests and diseases.
  
•   The changes are also expected to lead to negative health effects for Iowans, including the direct impacts
  of flooding, stresses on the heart and lungs, allergens that are more abundant and have a longer season,
  and the spread of diseases carried by organisms like mosquitoes and ticks.
  
•   If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, agriculture, human health, and economic stability will
  be affected in new and dramatic ways.
  
•   There are policies and practices that, if implemented, would help Iowans adapt to climate change in the
  short term and avoid unmanageable consequences in the long term.
  We recognize the important responsibility Iowans have in the process of vetting presidential candidates, and we encourage all Iowans to demand that political leaders ground their decisions in sound, peer‐reviewed science and ask them what specific policies they will advocate to address climate change in Iowa.
  

Signed by ‐
David Courard‐Hauri
Associate Professor
Director, Environmental Science and Policy Program
Drake University
Chris Anderson
Research Assistant Professor Assistant Director, ISU Climate Science Program
Iowa State University

David Osterberg
Clinical Professor
Occupational & Environmental Health, College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Jerald Schnoor
Co‐Director
Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research University of Iowa

Gene Takle
Director, ISU Climate Science Program Professor of Geological & Atmospheric Sciences
Department of Agronomy
Iowa State University
Yogesh Shah
Associate Dean
Department of Global Health Des Moines University

May 2015

Peter S. Thorne
Professor and Head
Occupational & Environmental Health, Director, Environmental Health Sciences Research Ctr, College of Public Health University of Iowa
Neil Bernstein
Chair, Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
Mount Mercy University
Matt Abbott
Biology Professor
Des Moines Area Community College
Marc P. Armstrong
Professor and CLAS Collegiate Fellow Department of Geography and Sustainability Sciences
University of Iowa
Mark Aronson Department of Biology Scott Community College
Neil C. Aschliman Assistant Professor Biology Department St. Ambrose University
Richard G. Baker
Professor Emeritus
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Iowa
Paul E. Bartelt Professor and Chair Department of Biology Waldorf College
William D. Beavis
Professor of Agronomy
Department of Agronomy and Plant Sciences Institute
Iowa State University
Philip W. Becraft
Professor of Genetics & Agronomy Genetic, Development and Cell Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Iowa State University
Russ Benedict
Professor of Biology
Director of Prairies for Agriculture Project Central College
Peter Berendzen
Associate Professor Department of Biology University of Northern Iowa
Bryson Bergerud
Biotechnology Coordinator
Iowa Central Community College

Greg Carmichael
Co‐Director
Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research University of Iowa
E. Arthur Bettis III
Academic Coordinator, Environmental Sciences Program, Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Iowa
Ryan Bezy
Assistant Professor of Biology
Dept. of Natural & Applied Sciences Mount Mercy University
Diane Birt
Distinguished Professor
Food Science and Human Nutrition College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and College of Human Sciences
Iowa State University
Gail A. Bishop
Professor of Microbiology & Internal Medicine, Director, Center for Immunology & Immune‐Based Diseases Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
University of Iowa
Andrea Bixler Associate Professor Department of Biology Clarke University
Amy Blair
Associate Professor Department of Biology St. Ambrose University
Garry R. Buettner
Professor
Free Radical and Radiation Biology Department of Radiation Oncology College of Medicine
University of Iowa
Anya Butt
Associate Professor of Biology Environmental Studies Program Central College
Beth E. Caissie
Assistant Professor Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Iowa State University
David G. Campbell
Professor of Biology and
Chair of Environmental Studies Department of Biology Grinnell College

David A. Swenson Associate Scientist Department of Economics Iowa State University
Ryan Carnahan
Associate Professor Department of Epidemiology College of Public Health University of Iowa
James Cheaney
Associate Professor of Biology Department of Science & Mathematics Ellsworth Community College
Silvia Cianzio
Professor
Department of Agronomy Iowa State University
Russell Ciochon
Director of Museum Studies Professor and Associate Chair Department of Anthropology University of Iowa
Ronald J. Cisar
Assistant Professor
Biological Sciences
Iowa Western Community College
Elizabeth Collins
Science Instructor
Science Department
Iowa Central Community College
John Collins
Instructor
Sustainable Living Department Maharishi University of Management
Alejandro Comellas
Assistant Professor
Department of Internal Medicine Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
Charles Connerly
Professor and Director
School of Urban and Regional Planning University of Iowa
James L. Cornette
Emeritus Professor of Mathematics Iowa State University
Mary Kathryn Cowles
Professor
Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science
University of Iowa

Iowa Climate Statement 2015: Time for Action

Endorser affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not reflect the views of their academic institutions.

May 2015 2

Travis Cox
Co‐Director, Undergraduate Sustainable Living Program, Assistant Professor, Sustainable Living Department Maharishi University of Management
Richard Cruse
Professor and Director of the Iowa Water Center
Department of Agronomy
Iowa State University
Dennis Dahms
Professor
Quaternary Geochronology & Stratigraphy, Department of Geography University of Northern Iowa
Radford Davis
Associate Professor of Public Health Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine
College of Veterinary Medicine
Iowa State University
Thomas A. Davis
Professor of Biology
Division of Molecular and Life Sciences Loras College
John Dawson
Associate Professor
Department of Mathematics and Science Kirkwood Community College
Robert L. De Haan
Chair, Department of Environmental Studies
Professor of Biology
Dordt College
Diane Debinski
Professor
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Iowa State University
Rhawn Denniston
Professor
Department of Geology
Chair, Environmental Studies Program Cornell College
Gary Donnermeyer
Biology Professor Emeritus Kirkwood Community College
Dale Easley
Professor of Geology
Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
University of Dubuque
Julie Ehresmann
Advanced Instructor, Science Science Department
Iowa Central Community College

Kenneth Elgersma
Assistant Professor Department of Biology University of Northern Iowa
Kamyar Enshayan
Director
Center for Energy & Environmental Education
University of Northern Iowa
Barry Ferm
Laboratory Coordinator Chemistry Department St. Ambrose University
R. William Field
Professor
Occupational & Environmental Health, Department of Epidemiology,
College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Brittany Flokstra
Instructor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Northern Iowa
Andrew A. Forbes
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Academic Co‐Coordinator, Environmental Sciences Program
University of Iowa
Johanna Foster
Associate Professor of Biology Biology Department Wartburg College
Laurence Fuortes
Professor
Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Laurie Furlong Professor
Biology Department Northwestern College
Lonnie Gamble
Co‐Director
Sustainable Living Department Maharishi University of Management
Stratis Giannakouros
Assistant Director, Center for Sustainable Communities
Environmental Studies
Luther College
Jack Gittinger Professor
Science Education Simpson College

Charles E. Glatz
Professor
Chemical and Biological Engineering Iowa State University
Jenny Gernhart
Instructor, Science
Iowa Central Community College
Fredric Gerr
Professor
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Vicki F. Grassian
Wendell F. Miller Professor Departments of Chemistry & Chemical and Biochemical Engineering University of Iowa
David Grewell
Associate Professor
Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
Iowa State University
Bill Gutowski
Professor of Meteorology Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Iowa State University
Bill Harwood
Professor of Chemistry University of Northern Iowa
Mary Mincer Hansen
Adjunct Associate Professor College of Health Sciences and Global Health Department Des Moines University
Emily Heaton
Assistant Professor Biomass Crop Production Department of Agronomy Iowa State University
John R. Helms
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Biology and Chemistry Department Morningside College
Steve Hendrix
Professor, Department of Biology Director of Academics and Research, Iowa Lakeside Laboratory
University of Iowa
Brian Hornbuckle
Associate Professor
Department of Agronomy, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Geological & Atmospheric Sciences
Iowa State University

Iowa Climate Statement 2015: Time for Action

Endorser affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not reflect the views of their academic institutions. May 2015 3

Keri C. Hornbuckle
Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Associate Dean for Academic Programs, College of Engineering
University of Iowa
Stephen Howell
Professor
Plant Sciences Institute
Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology
Iowa State University
Mohammad Iqbal
Professor of Geology & Environmental Science
Department of Earth Science University of Northern Iowa
Erin Irish
Associate Professor of Biology University of Iowa
Laura Jackson
Director, Tallgrass Prairie Center Professor of Biology Department of Biology University of Northern Iowa
Samuel W. James
Adjunct Associate Professor Department of Biology University of Iowa
Brandi Janssen
Clinical Assistant Professor
Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health
University of Iowa
John Jorstad
Science Instructor
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Craig Just
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Iowa
Kristopher J. Keuseman Assistant Professor of Chemistry Mount Mercy University
Frederick Kirschenmann
Distinguished Fellow
Department of Religion and Philosophy Iowa State University
Andrew Kitchen
Assistant Professor Department of Anthropology University of Iowa

Erwin Klaas
Professor Emeritus of Animal Ecology Natural Resources Ecology Management Iowa State University
Joel N. Kline
Professor of Medicine & Occupational and Environmental Health
Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
Witold Krajewski
Director, Iowa Flood Center,
Rose & Joseph Summers Chair in Water Resources Engineering
University of Iowa
Dennis Lavrov
Associate Professor
Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology,
Iowa State University
Hans‐Joachim Lehmler
Associate Professor
Occupational and Environmental Health University of Iowa
Louis Licht
Adjunct Associate Professor Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Iowa
Matt Liebman
Professor and H.A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture Department of Agronomy
Iowa State University
Ronald Lindblom
Science Instructor, VESTA Coordinator, Outdoor Learning Lab Manager Northeast Iowa Community College
Marc Linderman
Associate Professor
Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences University of Iowa
Gabriele Ludewig
Professor
Occupational & Environmental Health University of Iowa
Charles F. Lynch
Professor
Department of Epidemiology College of Public Health University of Iowa
J. Elizabeth Maas
Instructor
Math/Science Department Kirkwood Community College

Mark T. Madsen Professor
Department of Radiology University of Iowa
Amy Madsen‐Smith Biology Department Clinton Community College
Sunil Malapati
Associate Professor of Biochemistry Clarke University
Dave May
Professor
Department of Geography University of Northern Iowa
Paul Mayes
Professor of Biology‐Retired Eastern Iowa Community College
M. Patrick McAdams
Emeritus Faculty
Division of Health and Life Science William Penn University
Katherine McCarville
Associate Professor of Geosciences School of Science and Mathematics Upper Iowa University
Paul B. McCray
Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
David McCullough
Professor of Biology, Co‐coordinator Environmental Science and Studies Wartburg College
Paulina Mena
Assistant Professor of Biology Central College
James Merchant
Professor Emeritus
Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Laura C. Merrick
Lecturer
Department of Agronomy Iowa State University
Tammy Mildenstein Department of Biology Cornell College
Kenneth J. Moore
Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor Department of Agronomy
Iowa State University

Iowa Climate Statement 2015: Time for Action

Endorser affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not reflect the views of their academic institutions. May 2015 4

Peter L. Moore
Adjunct Assistant Professor Natural Resources Ecology & Management
Iowa State University
Marian Muste
Research Engineer and Adjunct Professor IIHR‐Hydroscience & Engineering University of Iowa
Connie Mutel
Senior Science Writer IIHR‐Hydroscience & Engineering University of Iowa
Robert Mutel
Professor of Astronomy
Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Iowa
William M. Nauseef
Director, Inflammation Program Professor of Medicine and of Microbiology
Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
University of Iowa
Maurine Neiman Associate Professor Department of Biology University of Iowa
Marit Nilsen‐Hamilton
Professor
Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Iowa State University
Fred Ochs
Professor of Chemistry and Earth Science Kirkwood Community College
Steve L. O’Kane, Jr. Professor of Biology Department of Biology University of Northern Iowa
Resmiye Oral
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Director, Child Protection Program University of Iowa Children's Hospital, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
Patrick T. O'Shaughnessy
Professor
Director, Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety Occupational & Environmental Health University of Iowa
Dale W. Olson
Professor of Physics Department of Physics University of Northern Iowa

Corrine Peek‐Asa
Professor, Associate Dean for Research, Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Maria Perez
Adjunct Instructor Department of Biology University of Northern Iowa
Reuben J. Peters
Professor
Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology
Iowa State University
Laura Peterson
Associate Professor
Environmental Studies Program and Department of Chemistry
Luther College
Gary Phillips
Professor
Environmental Studies Department Iowa Lakes Community College
Jeffrey T. Ploegstra
Assistant Professor of Biology Dordt College
Jim Raich
Professor
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology
Iowa State University
Mark Rasmussen
Director
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Iowa State University
Mark Reagan
Professor
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Iowa
Ryan Rehmeier
Associate Professor and Chair Department of Biology and Environmental Science Simpson College
Rachel Reimer
Associate Professor
Chairperson and Program Director Master of Public Health Program College of Health Sciences
Des Moines University
Peter Reilly
Anson Marston Distinguished Professor Emeritus in Engineering
Chemical and Biological Engineering Iowa State University

Michael Renner
Professor
Environmental Science and Policy Program
Drake University
Larry Robertson
Professor
Occupational & Environmental Health College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Jennifer G. Robinson
Professor, Departments of Epidemiology & Medicine, Director, Prevention Intervention Center,
College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Nilda E. Rodriguez
Assistant Professor of Biology Department of Biology University of Northern Iowa
Diane Rohlman
Associate Professor
Occupational & Environmental Health College of Public Health
University of Iowa
Thomas Rosburg
Professor
Department of Biology Biodiversity Center and Herbarium Drake University
Amber D. Ruskell‐Lamer
Natural Sciences Instructor Department of Math and Sciences Southeastern Community College
Ann E. Russell
Adjunct Associate Professor Natural Resources Ecology & Management
Iowa State University
James B. Sacco
Assistant Professor
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Drake University
Melanie H. Sadeghpour Professor/Program Chair, Environmental Science
Des Moines Area Community College
Aliasger K. Salem
Professor and Head
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics
College of Pharmacy
University of Iowa
J. Michael Sallee
Biology Instructor
Southeastern Community College

Iowa Climate Statement 2015: Time for Action

Endorser affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not reflect the views of their academic institutions. May 2015 5

Paula Sanchini Professor
Department of Biology Coe College
Michelle Scherer
Professor and Chair
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Iowa
Lisa Schulte Moore
Associate Professor
Natural Resource Ecology & Management Iowa State University
Timothy M. Sesterhenn
Assistant Professor of Biology Department of Biology and Chemistry Morningside College
Paul M. Shand
Interim Head
Physics Department University of Northern Iowa
David A. Shealer
Associate Professor of Biology Loras College
William W. Simpkins Professor and Chair Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Iowa State University
Mindy Skarda
Biology Instructor
Math, Science and Health Department Southwestern Community College
Daryl Smith
Professor of Biology and Advocate Tallgrass Prairie Center
University of Northern Iowa
Tex A. Sordahl Professor of Biology Department of Biology Luther College
Scott Spak Assistant Professor Public Policy Center University of Iowa
Muhammad A. Spocter
Martin St. Clair
Professor
Department of Chemistry and Environmental Studies
Coe College

Charles Stanier
Associate Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
College of Engineering
University of Iowa
Bill Stigliani
Professor
Center for Energy & Environmental Education
University of Northern Iowa
Elizabeth A. Stone Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry University of Iowa
Monica R. Storm
Instructor, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology Biological & Chemical Sciences Dept.
Iowa Western Community College
Jim Stroh
Professor
Biology and Chemistry Department Morningside College
Robert Summerfelt
Professor Emeritus
Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
Iowa State University
Keith S. Summerville
Professor, Environmental Science and Policy
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Drake University
Geb Thomas
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
University of Iowa
Richard L. Valentine
Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Iowa
Kristina Walkup
Associate Professor
Biology
Des Moines Area Community College
Michael Walter
Associate Professor Department of Biology University of Northern Iowa
Alan D. Wanamaker Jr. Assistant Professor Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences

Emily O. Walsh
Associate Professor of Geology Cornell College
Anna J. Waterman
Assistant Professor
Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
Mount Mercy University
Larry Weber
Edwin B. Green Chair in Hydraulics Director, IIHR ‐ Hydroscience and Engineering
University of Iowa
Paul Weihe
Associate Professor
Biology & Environmental Science Biology Department
Central College
Jerrold Weiss
Professor
Department of Internal Medicine,
The Inflammation Program, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
Michael D. Wichman Associate Director Environmental Health Division State Hygienic Laboratory University of Iowa
Darrell Wiens
Professor of Biology Department of Biology University of Northern Iowa
Sally L. Wilson
Professor
Biology & Agriculture
Iowa Valley Community College
Lee Wymore
Professor and Program Director Department of Science and Math Indian Hills Community College
Mark A. Young
Associate Professor Department of Chemistry University of Iowa

Catherine Zeman
Professor
Environmental Health Division University of Northern Iowa

Assistant Professor of Anatomy Department of Anatomy
Des Moines University

Iowa State University
Endorser affiliations are for identification purposes only and do not reflect the views of their academic institutions.

May 2015 6