THE NORTHEAST REGION AND THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE
The Northeast Region, as defined by the USGS for its DOI Regional Climate Science Center, is a region of enormous diversity in geography, climate, biological diversity, and human land use. The Northeast region contains 22 states, multiple ecoregions, seven of the 21 regions established for the National Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) Program, and a human population of 131,000,000 (41% of the US population). Consequently, the Northeast region poses many unique challenges for understanding, adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change. (Read More)
fourth NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT - KEY MESSAGES FOR NORTHEAST AND MIDWEST REGIONS
NOTE: In 2018 the National Climate Assessment the regions are referred to as the Northeast and Midwest. Both of these identified regions fall within the the DOI Northeast Climate Science Center region. The following are excerpts from the NCA 4 with links to the chapters for further information.
The Fourth National Climate Assessment presents five key messages for the Northwest region and six key messages for the Midwest region. Click on the boxes below to see each key message in its entirety.
The Fourth National Climate Assessment presents five key messages for the Northwest region and six key messages for the Midwest region. Click on the boxes below to see each key message in its entirety.
NORTHEAST key messages
Changing Seasons Affect Rural Ecosystems, Environments, and Economies
The seasonality of the Northeast is central to the region’s sense of place and is an important driver of rural economies. Less distinct seasons with milder winter and earlier spring conditions are already altering ecosystems and environments in ways that adversely impact tourism, farming, and forestry. The region’s rural industries and livelihoods are at risk from further changes to forests, wildlife, snowpack, and streamflow.
Changing Coastal and Ocean Habitats, Ecosystem Services, and Livelihoods
The Northeast’s coast and ocean support commerce, tourism, and recreation that are important to the region’s economy and way of life. Warmer ocean temperatures, sea level rise, and ocean acidification threaten these services. The adaptive capacity of marine ecosystems and coastal communities will influence ecological and socioeconomic outcomes as climate risks increase.
Maintaining Urban Areas and Communities and Their Interconnectedness
The Northeast’s urban centers and their interconnections are regional and national hubs for cultural and economic activity. Major negative impacts on critical infrastructure, urban economies, and nationally significant historic sites are already occurring and will become more common with a changing climate.
Threats to Human Health
Changing climate threatens the health and well-being of people in the Northeast through more extreme weather, warmer temperatures, degradation of air and water quality, and sea level rise. These environmental changes are expected to lead to health-related impacts and costs, including additional deaths, emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and a lower quality of life. Health impacts are expected to vary by location, age, current health, and other characteristics of individuals and communities.
Adaptation to Climate Change Is Underway
Communities in the Northeast are proactively planning and implementing actions to reduce risks posed by climate change. Using decision support tools to develop and apply adaptation strategies informs both the value of adopting solutions and the remaining challenges. Experience since the last assessment provides a foundation to advance future adaptation efforts.
MIDWEST key messages
agriculture
The Midwest is a major producer of a wide range of food and animal feed
for national consumption and international trade. Increases in
warm-season absolute humidity and precipitation have eroded soils,
created favorable conditions for pests and pathogens, and degraded the
quality of stored grain. Projected changes in precipitation, coupled
with rising extreme temperatures before mid-century, will reduce Midwest
agricultural productivity to levels of the 1980s without major
technological advances.
forestry
Midwest forests provide numerous economic and ecological benefits, yet
threats from a changing climate are interacting with existing stressors
such as invasive species
and pests to increase tree mortality and reduce forest productivity.
Without adaptive actions, these interactions will result in the loss of
economically and culturally important tree species such as paper birch
and black ash and are expected to lead to the conversion of some forests
to other forest types or even to non-forested ecosystems by the end of
the century. Land managers are beginning to manage risk in forests by
increasing diversity and selecting for tree species adapted to a range
of projected conditions.
biodiversity and ecosystems
The ecosystems of the Midwest support a diverse array of native species and provide people with essential services such as water purification, flood control, resource provision, crop pollination, and recreational opportunities. Species and ecosystems, including the important freshwater resources of the Great Lakes, are typically most at risk when climate stressors, like temperature increases, interact with land-use change, habitat loss, pollution, nutrient inputs, and nonnative invasive species. Restoration of natural systems, increases in the use of green infrastructure, and targeted conservation efforts, especially of wetland systems, can help protect people and nature from climate change impacts.
human health
Climate change is expected to worsen existing health conditions and introduce new health threats by increasing the frequency and intensity of poor air quality days, extreme high temperature events, and heavy rainfalls; extending pollen seasons; and modifying the distribution of disease-carrying pests and insects. By mid-century, the region is projected to experience substantial, yet avoidable, loss of life, worsened health conditions, and economic impacts estimated in the billions of dollars as a result of these changes. Improved basic health services and increased public health measures—including surveillance and monitoring—can prevent or reduce these impacts.
transportation and infrastructure
Climate change is expected to worsen existing health conditions and introduce new health threats by increasing the frequency and intensity of poor air quality days, extreme high temperature events, and heavy rainfalls; extending pollen seasons; and modifying the distribution of disease-carrying pests and insects. By mid-century, the region is projected to experience substantial, yet avoidable, loss of life, worsened health conditions, and economic impacts estimated in the billions of dollars as a result of these changes. Improved basic health services and increased public health measures—including surveillance and monitoring—can prevent or reduce these impacts.
community vulnerability and adaptation
At-risk communities in the Midwest are becoming more vulnerable to climate change impacts such as flooding, drought, and increases in urban heat islands. Tribal nations are especially vulnerable because of their reliance on threatened natural resources for their cultural, subsistence, and economic needs. Integrating climate adaptation into planning processes offers an opportunity to better manage climate risks now. Developing knowledge for decision-making in cooperation with vulnerable communities and tribal nations will help to build adaptive capacity and increase resilience.
PREDICTED IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
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Temperature
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Forests
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Precipitation
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