Impacts of Global Climate Change on Temperature and Precipitation Patterns in the Midwest and the Consequences for Soils

Climatic changes are expected to change species distributions, phenologies, interspecific interactions, community composition, and ecosystem function (Schneider & Root 2002). Many of these impacts have already been observed (Parmesan 2006). In California’s San Joaquin Valley, temperatures are projected to be warmer in both winter and summer, with a mean annual increase of 1.4–2.0°C by 2070 (PRBO Conservation Science 2011). Additionally, precipitation is projected to decrease (-9% to -30%), although there is a high degree of uncertainty surrounding the magnitude of the precipitation changes (PRBO Conservation Science 2011). Summer heat waves are projected to become longer and hotter, and droughts more severe (Garfin et al. 2012).

Heavy precipitation events that historically occurred once in 20 years are projected to occur as frequently as every 5 to 15 years by this late century. Short term droughts are expected to intensify in most regions. Longer term droughts are expected to intensify in larger regions in the Southwest. Flooding may intensify in many U.S regions. Climate change is affecting the groundwater availability also. Sea level rising and storms surges are expected to compromise the sustainability of coastal freshwater and

According to Dr. Denning, “as the global climate changes, average temperatures will rise sharply. Because Colorado is so far inland, this effect will be stronger because large bodies of water help mitigate temperature swings and Colorado is far from our oceans or Great Lakes. Imagine the climate of Albuquerque as far north as Greeley.” Additionally, we must consider the agriculture industry is estimated to be worth around forty-one billion dollars in Colorado, which means climate change will have a drastic impact on food production. Colorado’s geographic location is problematic in itself, but the continuous temperature changes means longer growing seasons. Ultimately, the rising temperatures make plants consume more water and it reduces the annual snowpack, which creates a conundrum of issues. Similarly, we can assume a warmer Colorado will also mean a much drier Colorado, which will hurt agriculture on every level.

Changes in climate have affected the growth of crops. Particularly climate change has increased the amount precipitation fall in North Dakota.

Climate change is a issue that widely talked today. As the National Weather Service reports, the hottest temperature records are extending all over the United States since year 2010 (Schlesinger, William H, 2014). It is obvious that our world is heating. Global warming become more and more seriously. With the increase of temperature, many environment problems occur to have huge impact on our urban life, including: the sea level rise, air pollution and drought. These environment problems also endanger our area in a large part.

Climate projections for Wisconsin indicate that increasing temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns will affect both the quantity and quality of the state’s water resources. The changes will have major impacts on the Mississippi River, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, 5.3 million acres of wetlands, 15,000 inland lakes, and 84,000 miles of streams. Due to differences in land use, soil type, groundwater characteristics, and runoff and seepage, hydrological responses will vary among geographic regions. Continuing population and socioeconomic shifts, combined with heat waves, heavy rains, and drought are expected to intensify the effects on aging infrastructure, health, agriculture, forestry, transportation, and air and water quality. This

Today, the threat of human-induced global warming has caused some scientists to speculate that the Great Plains region is set to experience semipermanent drought conditions similar to what was experienced during the Dust Bowl. However, other scientists have claimed that conditions will be much tamer by comparison.. This inconsistency of results is discussed by Hoerling et al in their paper “Is a Transition to Semipermanent Drought Conditions Imminent in the U.S. Great Plains?” In their paper, it is suggested that the variance in results is due to the fact that the primary studies that have been conducted have used different methods and models to predict drought conditions and temperature in the Great Plains area. The models and methods discussed include the Palmer Drought Severity Index, the Coupled Model

Shifts in temperature and precipitation will be a shock to fragile ecosystems which depend on specific climatic conditions. Many species will be unable to adapt as fast as their environment changes and face sharply reduced numbers or extinction. Scientists estimate that a warming of just 2 degree will put as many as 30% of the world's species at risk of extinction. Plants and animals aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure of changing ecosystems. Many regions will face severe water shortages in a warmer world, creating the potential for conflict. It is believed that the genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region is at least in part a response to water shortages resulting from global warming.

Forest Composition- As climate changes, species can often adapt by changing their ranges. Maps show current and projected future distribution of habitats for forest types in the Midwest under two emissions scenarios, a lower scenario that assumes reductions in heat-trapping gas emissions, and a very high scenario that assumes continued increases in emissions.Habitats for white/red/jack pine, maple/beech/birch, spruce/fir, and aspen/birch forests are projected to greatly decline from the northern forests, especially under higher emissions scenarios, while various oak forest types are projected to

Climate change affects people and nature in countless ways, and it often increases existing threats that have already put pressure on the environment.

Being in the Midwest, it is not common for major hazards, such as hurricanes or earthquakes that need to be managed or promptly executed in the case of an emergency. There is the yearly tornado season that rolls around near June and occasional flooding if the summer is not dry. The biggest obstacle that will affect the physical geography, specifically the biosphere, is the rapid rate of population growing and then having to accommodate living spaces for new

Agriculture is highly dependent upon weather and climate in order to produce the food necessary to sustain human life. North America is the world’s largest and most productive supplier of food and fiber (3). Canada is the second largest country in the world however it only contains five percent of land that is suitable for farming (7). This small farming area is divided in two different zones. The first zone is the great Prairies located in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the mixed Wood Plains of the St. Lawrence River and the second zone is the Great Lakes regions (7). Approximately 80% of Canada’s major farming is done the Prairies (7). There have been several recent studies that indicate most regions of Canada to warm up during the next 60 years (3). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 projected that global average temperature to increase by 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius (3). Ironically, this would be the largest increase in global mean temperature in the last 10, 000 years (3). According to the comprehensive Canada Country Study (CCS) all the Global Climate Model (GCM) indicates Canada will be impacted with the most warming (7). The impacts of this climate change will be greatly reflected on the

Climate change is influenced by the greenhouse effect which is the increase of Carbon dioxide, Methane, Ozone and Nitrogen Oxide. On one hand, the presence of these gases in the atmosphere make the earth habitable with respect to regulating the earth’s temperature. However, an increase in the concentration of these gases results in trapping energy in the atmosphere and this in turn increases earth’s temperature. “Global greenhouse gas emissions have grown since pre-industrial times, with an increase of 70% between

Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas naturally found in the atmosphere. Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s, humans have devised many inventions that burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gases, which, along with other human activities such as clearing land for agriculture or urban settlements, help some of these greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere that in turn trap more heat radiation in the atmosphere causing the Earth’s climate to become warmer than it would naturally (Mastrandrea). This unnatural phenomenon is termed global warming by scientists and they blame it for an increase in the Earth’s surface temperature of about 0.6°C (about 1°F) over the last 100 years (Mastrandrea).

Climate change otherwise known as global warming has been an ongoing issue for decades. Beginning in the 19th century, climate change has increasingly affected Earth and its atmosphere. Rising levels of carbon dioxide are warming the Earth’s atmosphere, causing rising sea-levels, melting snow and ice, extreme fires and droughts, and intense rainfall and floods. Climate change has and will continue to affect food production, availability of water, and can add to many health risks in humans and animals. In fact, in an article by Justin Gillis titled, “Scientists Warn of Perilous Climate Shift Within Decades, Not Centuries” he focuses on a paper written by a former NASA climate scientist, James E. Hansen, explaining the effects of climate change on Earth today. Although many believe Hansen’s theories in the paper are quite far-fetched, the author mentions, “Despite any reservations they might have about the new paper, virtually all climate scientists agree with Dr. Hansen’s group that society is not moving fast enough to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, posing grave risks” (Gillis). Gillis validates the fact that climate change has been rapidly expanding throughout Earth and society has not been able to reduce it fast enough. Many negative risks are being posed and will continue to mount if the issue of climate change is not taken seriously. Although climate change negatively affects nearly all aspects of Earth, it poses a big