Modeling Weather and Climate

Climate Change and Implications

Climate has changed and will continue to change

• Climate has changed during the past century
• Global mean temperature has increased 0.5-1°F
• Global sea level has risen 4-10 inches
• Global precipitation has increased 1%
• Climate is expected to continue to change in the future
• Projected temperature increase of 3.6°F by 2100 (1.8-6.3°F)
• Projected sea level rise of 20 inches by 2100 (6-38 inches)
• Likely increase in precipitation intensity

Climate Change Impacts

• Human health, natural ecological systems, and socioeconomic systems are all sensitive to both the magnitude and the rate of climate change
• Many physical and ecological systems will be simultaneously affected
• The ability of natural ecological systems to migrate appears to be much slower than the predicted rate of climate change
• Climate change can add to existing environmental stresses

Health Impacts	Water Resources Impacts	Forest Impacts
Coastal Areas	Species and Natural Areas	Agriculture Impacts