Media interview Birkel, Koehler on climate change impacts in Maine
University of Maine Cooperative Extension associate scientist Glen Koehler and Mainte State Climatologist Sean Birkel were interviewed by the Bangor Daily News on how the climate is changing and the impacts of it on Maine. Koehler was also interviewed by The Maine Monitor. Koehler, who is also a member of Maine Climate Council, said the warming trend of the state’s average annual minimal temperature is projected to continue in the coming decades, but its positives such as higher crop yields are counteracted by negatives such as potential for new insects, disease and weed pests to survive the winter. Temperature variability is also becoming a major issue, he said. Birkel, assistant professor with the Climate Change Institute who holds a joint appointment with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, explained statistics behind how Maine is warming and getting more precipitation.