Michigan Climate Disruption

Climate Change in Michigan

Below are some of the potential impacts:

  • By 2100 temperatures in Michigan could increase by about 4°F in all seasons (with a range of 2-8°F). The frequency of extreme hot days in summer is expected to increase along with the general warming trend.
  • Higher temperatures and increased frequency of heat waves may increase the number of heat-related deaths and the incidence of heat-related illnesses. Michigan, with its irregular, intense heat waves, seems somewhat susceptible.
  • Shorter ice-cover seasons and increased lake evaporation could have major effects on the Great Lakes. Fresh water flowing into the Great Lakes could decrease by 20% with a 4°F warming, potentially reducing lake levels by a foot or more. Flood damage could be reduced, but shorelines could be more susceptible to erosion damage from wind and rain. Reduced fresh water in the Great Lakes could impede shipping to and from Michigan ports, primarily because of lower water levels in the shipping channels connecting the lower Great Lakes.
  • A rise in water temperatures in the Great Lakes would reduce the size of favorable habitat for trout, whitefish, and other coldwater fish species. If groundwater-fed streams experienced an increase in temperature, brook trout could lose all their habitat, and brown and rainbow trout could lose most of their habitat. Warm water fish, both native and introduced, could experience longer growing seasons and flourish in a warmer climate.
  • The well-known Kirtland’s warbler breeds only in the jack pine forests of northern lower Michigan. Because the jack pines may not survive in Michigan if the climate warms, the existence of the Kirtland’s warbler could be threatened.

 

The above are based on from the Environmental Protection Agency’s report on climate change, which uses data from the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001).

Article found at www.nextgenerationearth.org

Climate Change Driving Michigan Mammals North

ScienceDaily (May 13, 2009) — Some Michigan mammal species are rapidly expanding their ranges northward, apparently in response to climate change, a new study shows. In the process, these historically southern species are replacing their northern counterparts.

“The finding, by researchers at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Ohio’s Miami University, appears in the June issue of the journal Global Change Biology.

“When you read about changes in flora and fauna related to climatic warming, most of what you read is either predictive—they’re talking about things that are going to happen in the future—or it’s restricted to single species living in extreme or remote environments, like polar bears in the Arctic,” said lead author Philip Myers, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at U-M. “But this study documents things that are happening right now, here at home.”

What will be the ultimate impact of Michigan’s changing mammal communities?

“We’re talking about the commonest mammals there, mammals that have considerable ecological impact,” Myers said. “They disperse seeds, they eat seeds, they eat the insects that kill trees, they disperse the fungus that grows in tree roots that is necessary for trees to grow, and they’re the prey base for a huge number of carnivorous birds, mammals and snakes. But we don’t know enough about their natural history to know whether replacing a northern species with a southern equivalent is going to pass unnoticed or is going to be catastrophic. It could work either way…”

Find more on this article at, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090512193300.htm

 

Great Lakes

THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION
 Critical Findings for the Great Lakes Region from the First National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change

– An Overview prepared by Peter Sousounis, Ph.D. (University of Michigan) and Patty Glick (National Wildlife Federation) –
 

Climate and changes in it � regardless of their cause � matter to people, communities and businesses. Global warming is likely to bring many changes to the nation. The United States as a whole is in a strong economic position to adapt to many of these changes, but adaptation is often expensive, not always possible or successful, and during transitions ecosystems, communities, and individuals could suffer. Moreover, national impact summaries disguise local dislocations and disruptions to the ways we live, work and recreate. Climate change adds a serious stress to our already threatened resources and treasured places. Overall impact statements also mask significant opportunities. To minimize the negative changes and make the most of the positive changes we need to take a close look at how climate change will affect each region. How will the Great Lakes region experience the effects of global warming? And how can we respond?

Summary
“As the single largest source of surface fresh water in the world, the Great Lakes region supports a burgeoning economy in the US. While being the linchpin for drinking water, hydroelectric power, commercial shipping, and recreation, the region also houses an amazingly diverse array of plants and wildlife. With scenic lakeshores, unique wildlife, and diverse recreational opportunities drawing millions of tourists annually, problems such as urban sprawl, air and water pollution, and habitat fragmentation are already stressing ecosystems of the Great Lakes region. Global climate change looms as an additional threat on the region�s economy, population and wildlife by changing climate patterns and compounding the negative effects of current environmental problems.

Given the heavy pressure from development on the hundreds of miles of delicate lakeshore and ecosystems, the Great Lakes region is particularly susceptible to the effects of rapid global warming. According to the scenarios used in the National Assessment, scientists expect average temperatures in the Upper Great Lakes region to warm by 2 to 4�C, while precipitation could increase by 25 % by the end of the 21st century. Despite this significant increase in precipitation, lake water levels are expected to fall by 1.5 to 8 feet by 2100 because of the higher temperatures, with serious implications for ecosystems and the economy. Although not necessarily due to global warming, the recent series of unusually warm years is already to blame for a drop of 3.5 feet in water levels for Lakes Huron, Michigan and Erie since 1997, and record low levels are expected later this summer. These lake-level declines from record high levels in the 1980s have caused concern among commercial shippers, hydroelectric companies, and recreational boaters.  Fewer cold air outbreaks and less lake-effect snow (especially around Lake Erie and Lake Ontario) may decrease annual snowfall significantly, a trend that has already been observed in the past few years. 
Although uncertainties remain, the research conducted through the National Assessment is an important first step in helping policymakers and residents understand the possible impacts of global warming on their region.  Identifying risks specific to the people and ecosystems of the Great Lakes will help them make better informed decisions about how to address the problem…”

More on this article at, http://www.climatehotmap.org/impacts/greatlakes.html

marisag | datetime September 11, 2009 9:31 am

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