A Warmer Wisconsin

As political debates rage over whether climate change is happening, and whether rising CO2 levels from burning fossil fuels are responsible, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have been working to determine what effects climate change will have on the state's resources.

Are there steps that can be taken to lessen any impact? Last summer Art Hackett travelled to Vilas County for a look at new research to determine whether future changes can be estimated by looking back at the landscape of northern Wisconsin during previous spikes in temperature.

He also checked into research underway at the UW-Madison Experimental Station at Arlington. Scientists are trying to see if plants found in warmer climates will grow in a warmer Wisconsin. Test plots also involve crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus which might take CO2 out of the atmosphere and provide feed stocks for production of bio-fuels such as ethanol.

If you'd like to find out more tune in tonight at 7:30 for "In Wisconsin" and this report on climate change. That report will also get posted right here on our website. The report is also part of our larger environment reporting project called "Quest". To learn more just go to the website.