Earth Talk: Climate change effects not equal across US

Dear EarthTalk: How do different regions of the U.S. compare with regard to vulnerability to impending climate threats?

-- Peter Greenville, Detroit

Answer: Climate change causes rising temperatures, fluctuating rain patterns and other extreme weather phenomena. However, the effects of climate change are not equally distributed across the country.

Regional climate change experiences can be broadly divided into two categories: (1) geographical and climatic factors (i.e., the actual climate change); (2) and socio-economic factors (i.e., the vulnerability of the population to these changes). It is crucial to understand how different regions experience climate change in order to develop effective climate policies. Some regions, for example, rely on climate-sensitive industries such as agriculture, tourism and natural resource extraction, while others do not. Those that do tend to be home to vulnerable populations such as people with low income and marginalized communities.

The Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) recognized certain region-specific patterns. The U.S. Northeast is experiencing significant increases in extreme precipitation, with some areas seeing up to a 60% rise from the historical average. Also, warming water temperatures are impacting local wildlife. In the Southeast, lengthy coasts make the region particularly vulnerable to hurricanes and increasing sea levels. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the region's reliance on coastal ecosystems and tourism.

Climate change negatively affects the Great Plains' huge energy sector. Agriculture is disrupted through the depletion of a critical water source: the High Plains Aquifer. The region is also vulnerable to habitat loss, changes in food availability and other unique problems. The Midwest, with its intense agricultural production, suffers extreme...