Average Global Temperature Expected to Rise in 21st Century

The average global temperature is expected to rise in the 21st century from 1.5 to 6 degrees centigrade, Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Service on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Alexander Frolov said speaking on Wednesday at a Federation Council meeting. He informed the senators on the measures undertaken by the Russian Government on forecasting and preventing natural disasters.

According to Frolov, over the past 100 years the average global temperature rose by 0.6 degrees, however this century will probably see a more noticeable warming. The Deputy Head of the Russian Hydrometeorological Service warned that if the forecasts prove true the expected warming might entail such negative consequences as flooding in some regions.

Alexander Frolov said that last year saw 258 dangerous weather-related incidents, which killed 264 people.

Frolov informed the senators on the restoration activities, namely, the setting up of special stations for conducting hydrometeorological tests in the Chechen republic. About 30 such stations are to be restored in 2003.

Touching upon one of last year's big ecological catastrophes, namely, the avalanche in the Karmadon Gorge (North Ossetia), which caused destruction and casualties, the Deputy Head of the Russian Hydrometeorological Service stressed that it was "an exceptional case" when a hanging glacier developed. The avalanche resulted in a system of underwater lakes. Meteorologists are concerned about it because spring thaw might cause flooding.