Pacific

Northwest

West

REGIONAL OVERVIEW

here are both important commonalities and important differences in the

climate-related issues and consequences

faced around the country. For example,

water is a key issue in virtually all

regions,but the specific changes and

impacts in the West,in the Great Lakes,

and the Southeast will differ. Regional

texture is thus critical in thinking

through how to best respond to the

changing climate we will face in the

coming decades and centur y.

Twenty regional workshops involving a

wide range of researchers and stakeholders helped identify key issues facing each

region and began identifying potential

adaptation strategies. This report groups

the findings of these efforts into larger

regions to offer a glimpse of the regional

mosaic of consequences that are possible

due to climate change and variability.

The impacts highlighted here suggest

that it is vital that people everywhere

start to learn about climate impacts and

consider them in their short- and longterm decisions about infrastructure,land

use,and other planning. In many cases,

research is needed to assess the feasibility, effectiveness,and costs of the adaptation strategies identified in the regional

overviews.

T

38

Alaska

Northwest

Increasing stream temperatures are very likely to

further stress migrating

fish,complicating restoration efforts.

Mountain West

Higher winter temperatures are very likely to

reduce snowpack and

peak runoff and shift the

peak to earlier in the

spring,reducing summer

runoff and complicating

water management for

flood control, fish runs,

cities,and irrigation.

Southwest

With an increase in precipitation,the desert ecosystems native to this region

are likely to decline while

grasslands and shrublands

expand.

Alaska

Sharp winter and springtime

temperature increases are very

likely to cause continued thawing of permafrost,further disrupting forest ecosystems,

roads,and buildings.

Annual Average Temperature by Region

Canadian Model Hadley Model

Average temperature is shown for

each region in oF. Both the significant year-to-year variability and

the projected upward slope of

each line are clearly evident.

Temperatures are projected to

increase more in some regions

than in others, with generally larger increases projected by the

Canadian model scenario than by

the Hadley model scenario.

75o

65o

55o

45o

35o

25o

75o

65o

55o

45o

35o

25o

1900 1950 2000 2050 2100 1900 1950 2000 2050 2100

Southeast

West

National

Great Plains

Midwest

Northeast

Northwest

Alaska

Observed Projected Observed Projected
Great

Plains

Midwest

Northeast

Southeast

39

Islands

Hawaii

Southeast Atlantic Coast

It is very probable that rising

sea levels and storm surge will

threaten natural ecosystems and

human coastal development and

reduce buffering capacity

against storm impacts.

Appalachians

Warmer and moister air

will very likely lead to

more intense rainfall

events,increasing the

potential for flash floods.

Islands

More intense El Niño and

La Niña events are possible and are likely to create extreme fluctuations

in water resources for

island citizens and the

tourists who sustain local

economies.

Northeast, Southeast,

and Midwest

Rising temperatures are

very likely to increase

the heat index dramatically in summer, with

impacts to health and

comfort. Warmer winters

are likely to reduce coldrelated stresses.

Great Lakes

Lake levels are likely to

decline,leading to

reduced water supply

and more costly transportation. Shoreline

damage due to high

water levels is likely to

decrease.

Southeast

Under warmer wetter scenarios,the range of southern

tree species is likely to

expand. Under hotter and

drier scenarios,it is likely

that far southeastern forests

will be displaced by grasslands and savannas.

Midwest/Great Plains

Higher CO2concentrations are likely to offset

the effects of rising temperatures on forests and

agriculture for several

decades,increasing productivity.

Great Plains

Prairie potholes,

which provide important habitat for ducks

and other migratory

waterfowl,are likely

to dry up in a warmer

climate.

Northern and

Mountain Regions

It is very probable that

warm weather recreational opportunities like

hiking will expand while

cold weather activities

like skiing contract.

Pacific Carribean

Southeast Gulf Coast

Inundation of coastal wetlands

will very likely increase,threatening fertile areas for marine

life,and migrating birds and

waterfowl.