Cape Change:

A Local Perspective on Global Warming

By Heather Goldstone


Our original 4-part series. While it's not always apparent, climate change is already beginning to alter many of the defining features of the Cape and Islands - our weather, wildlife, coastlines, and fisheries. Science editor Heather Goldstone presents an in-depth look at the impacts on our region’s culture and economy. Stories tackle questions like: Is this mild winter the result of climate change? How much do New England's fishermen stand to lose from rising water temperatures and changing ocean chemistry? What can we do to adapt to a changing climate? And why aren't more Massachusetts residents worried about climate change?

Part 1: The Problem of Global Warming
LISTEN

Scientists predict that Cape Cod could have the climate of the Carolinas by late this century if global warming continues unabated. With temperatures several degrees above average, this winter has brought a taste of what may be to come. As Heather Goldstone reports, some wonder if that’s really such a bad thing.

Find a transcript and more on this story at CLIMATIDE.

Part 2: Fisheries in Hot Water
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Lobstermen in the Gulf of Maine have posted record harvests in recent years. But in the waters just south of Cape Cod, the situation is dramatically different. In one of the most dramatic examples of how climate change is affecting New England's fisheries, lobster populations there crashed a decade ago and have not recovered. .

Find a transcript and more on this story at CLIMATIDE.

Part 3: Shifting Sands
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Erosion is one of the most pressing problems facing Cape Cod communities. And it’s only expected to get worse as sea level rise accelerates in response to global warming. But, as Heather Goldstone reports, rising seas and eroding shorelines are nothing new for Cape Cod.
 
Find a transcript and more on this story at CLIMATIDE.

Part 4: Adapting to the New Normal
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The science is clear: temperatures are increasing, weather is getting more erratic, and sea level is rising. The question is: what to do about it? Heather Goldstone concludes our Cape Change series with a look at what the natural world can teach us about the need to adapt to climate change.