This region consists of Canada and the United States south of the Arctic Circle. Within the region, vulnerability to and the impacts of climate change vary significantly from sector to sector and from subregion to subregion. This texture is important in understanding the potential effects of climate change on North America, as well as in formulating and implementing viable response strategies. Most ecosystems are moderately to highly sensitive to changes in climate.
Effects are likely to include both beneficial and harmful changes.
The ability to apply management practices to limit potential damages is likely to be low for ecosystems that are not already intensively managed. Water quantity and quality are particularly sensitive to climate change. Potential impacts include increased runoff in winter and spring and decreased soil moisture and runoff in summer. The Great Plains and prairie regions are particularly vulnerable. Water quality could suffer and would decline where minimum river flows decline.