Global Climate Change Impacts By Avi Ortega, Gracie Grandberg, Maddox Smith, William Nochvay, Jesse Miller
Midwest-Overview
-home to more than 61 million people
-is subject to extremely cold air masses from the Gulf of Mexico
-outside cities are expansive croplands and forests
-between 1900 and 2010 the average air temperature increased by 1.5%
-southern states experience more hot days with a greater number of days over 95 degrees in Fahrenheit and fewer days below 65 degrees in Fahrenheit
-precipitation is greatest in the eastern part of the Midwest
-heavy downpours are common, but climate change is expected to intensify storms
-annual precipitation has risen by 20% in some
-heavy downpours are likely to occur primarily in winter and spring months while summers become drier
Great Plains-Overview
-warmer temperatures are being felt across the Great Plains
-North Dakota's average temperature has increased faster than any other state in the United States
-the number of days over 100 degrees in Fahrenheit is going to double in the Northern Plains by 2050
-the Southern Plains are to experience more extreme heat with four times the number of days over 100 degrees in Fahrenheit than is currently experienced in the areas
-these changes are more likely to occur in the summer
Midwest Water Sources
Precipitation has expected to become more intense
Leading to increased flood damage, strained drainage systems, and reduced drinking water availability
Heavier downpours may increase property damage, travel delays, and disruption in services
Droughts are expected during the hot summers and evaporation rates could reduce water levels in lakes and wetlands, as well as important commercial waterways.
Water Level declines in the great lakes may force reduction in the weight of cargo shipments and diminish the usability of coastal infrastructure, such as docks and piers.
Midwest Agriculture and Ecosystems
The Midwest agricultural lands makes up two-thirds of the region's land area and produce 65% of the nation's corn and soybeans.
The increase of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere can stimulate crop construction, and warmer temperatures lengthen the growing season.
Yields of both crops could also be affected by an increase in disease-causing pathogens and delayed planting resulting from greater spring precipitation.
If the temperature gets warmer it will stress the livestock and there will be a decline of meat, milk, and egg production
More diseases may increase due to the increase of of temperature because the warmer climate is more suitable for most disease
The Midwest agricultural lands makes up two-thirds of the region's land area and produce 65% of the nation's corn and soybeans.
The increase of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere can stimulate crop construction, and warmer temperatures lengthen the growing season.
Yields of both crops could also be affected by an increase in disease-causing pathogens and delayed planting resulting from greater spring precipitation.
Midwest Human Health
The human health is a variety of ways and also exacerbate existing health challenges.
Heat stress is certainly to increase in the future as the result of continued rises in temperatures and humidity in this region.
The warmer temperatures could change in precipitation could increase the risk of exposure to diseases carried by insects and rodents.
Between 1900 and 2010, the average air temperature increased by more than 1.5°F.
In The Midwest is home to more than 61 million people.