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    Newsela Climate Change in The U S

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    1) The Great Plains region of the U.S. spans several central states and experiences a wide range of climates and ecosystems. 2) Climate change is causing higher temperatures across the Plains, which leads to greater water losses and increased energy demands. Some areas will see more rain while others experience worse drought. 3) These changes threaten key industries like farming and livestock, as well as tribal communities and plant and animal species that depend on the region's environment. The stressed High Plains Aquifer is also at risk of declining water levels.

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    Newsela Climate Change in The U S

    Uploaded by

    api-284107666
    261 views4 pages
    1) The Great Plains region of the U.S. spans several central states and experiences a wide range of climates and ecosystems. 2) Climate change is causing higher temperatures across the Plains, which leads to greater water losses and increased energy demands. Some areas will see more rain while others experience worse drought. 3) These changes threaten key industries like farming and livestock, as well as tribal communities and plant and animal species that depend on the region's environment. The stressed High Plains Aquifer is also at risk of declining water levels.

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    1) The Great Plains region of the U.S. spans several central states and experiences a wide range of climates and ecosystems. 2) Climate change is causing higher temperatures across the Plains, which leads to greater water losses and increased energy demands. Some areas will see more rain while others experience worse drought. 3) These changes threaten key industries like farming and livestock, as well as tribal communities and plant and animal species that depend on the region's environment. The stressed High Plains Aquifer is also at risk of declining water levels.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    261 views4 pages

    Newsela Climate Change in The U S

    Uploaded by

    api-284107666
    1) The Great Plains region of the U.S. spans several central states and experiences a wide range of climates and ecosystems. 2) Climate change is causing higher temperatures across the Plains, which leads to greater water losses and increased energy demands. Some areas will see more rain while others experience worse drought. 3) These changes threaten key industries like farming and livestock, as well as tribal communities and plant and animal species that depend on the region's environment. The stressed High Plains Aquifer is also at risk of declining water levels.

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    4/27/2017 Newsela | Climate change in the U.S.

    Great Plains

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    SCIENCE & MATH (/articles/#/subject/science-and-math) (/articles/govt-EPA-climate-great-plains/id/28425/quiz/) 478 SHARE


    Bison graze on prairie grasslands within sight of vehicles driving through Custer State Park on June 10, 2012, in Custer, South Dakota. Photo by: Melanie Stetson Freeman/The
    Christian Science Monitor via Getty Images

    Climate change in the U.S. Great Plains


    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, adapted by Newsela sta

    Overview

    The Great Plains stretch from Canada to Mexico across the The Great Plains extend down the middle of the United States. The
    region covers the states of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South
    middle of the country. They are made up of flat plains. The Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Map: EPA.gov. [click to
    expand]
    Plains are made up many kinds of ecosystems. They include

    790L WRITE (/ARTICLES/GOVT-EPA-CLIMATE- QUIZ


    GREAT-PLAINS/ID/28425/WRITE/)

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    4/27/2017 Newsela | Climate change in the U.S. Great Plains

    forests, marshes and desert. The region has very different


    climates. Different areas have different temperatures and
    amounts of rain and snow.

    The region experiences a wide range of temperatures. In the


    mountains of Montana and Wyoming, average temperatures are
    less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In southern Texas, it is 70
    degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures are warming across the
    Great Plains. North Dakota's average temperature has increased faster than any other state in the lower 48
    states.The number of days with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit are expected to double in the northern
    Plains by 2050. The southern Plains may experience worse heat, with four times the number of days over 100
    degrees Fahrenheitthan it currently gets. Higher temperatures lead to greater evaporation and surface water losses,
    leading to less drinking water. Also, higher temperatures mean more energy and electricity is needed for air
    conditioning.

    Average rainfall in the Great Plains changes as you go from east to west. Eastern Texas and Oklahoma experience
    more than 50 inches a year. Parts of Montana, Wyoming and western Texas receive less than 15 inches a year.
    Future patterns will change across the region. In northern states, rain and snow will increase. In the central Great
    Plains, less rainfall is expected. This could lead to drier summers. Southern states will experience longer periods
    without rainfall.

    EffectsOnCommunities

    Climate change hits young, elderly, ill and poor people the hardest. The Great Plains has 70native tribes. They have
    fewer hospitals and less access to health care to protect them.

    Climate change is also affecting tribal way of life. Some culturally important plants and animals have disappeared.
    Spring has been coming earlier, which changes when they can have certain events.

    EffectsOnWater
    Water in this region comes mostly from the High Plains Aquifer system. An aquifer is a way for water to travel
    underground. The High Plains Aquifer runs beneath parts of eight states. It also provides drinking water for more
    than 80 percent of the people living above it. The region also uses it to produce energy through dams.

    More water leaves the aquifer than comes in. It goes out through irrigation. Irrigation is what farmers use to water
    plants without rain. The average water level has gone down by 14 feet since irrigation started around 1950. Water
    returns to the aquifer from rain and snow. In the northern Great Plains, rain can recharge the aquifer quickly.
    However, climate change might increase flooding, causing dirtier water and washing away soil. In the southern
    part, with less rain and snow, the aquifer's water level goes down even more. Climate change could worsen this
    situation by causing drier conditions and increasing the need for irrigation.

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    EffectsOnFarming GREAT-PLAINS/ID/28425/WRITE/)

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    4/27/2017 Newsela | Climate change in the U.S. Great Plains

    Agriculture uses most of the landin the Great Plains. It is important to business there. Climate change could make
    farming less predictable.

    In the northern Plains, crops benefit from increased rain and snow in winter and spring. However, if the fields
    become too wet, fewer crops can grow. Heavier rainfall would also harm crops and soil quality. Summer rainfall is
    not expected to go up. This makes drought more dangerous. Meanwhile, higher summer temperatures are likely to
    lower plant growth. In the central and southern Plains, the higher temperatures and decreased rainfall will increase
    irrigation demands. Crop growth could be cut in half.

    The Great Plains is already experiencing warmer winters. This winter will be even warmer. More bugs and weeds
    can come. Also, winter crops are in greater danger of damage.

    Livestock, like cows and chickens, is a big part of business in the Great Plains. Warmer temperatures harm animals.
    That means less meat, milk and eggs. Diseases may increase. It also costs more to keep the animals cool.

    Livestock need a lot of water. Some of the largest water use in the country occurs in the Great Plains. Texas uses the
    most water for livestock in the country. As livestock business continues, more water will be needed.

    EffectsOnPlantsAndAnimals

    Land is developed for humans to use. But thenanimals and plants have fewer places to live. Climate change is also
    increasing harmful insect outbreaks and changing when plants flower. Wildfires are increasing.

    Climate change is affecting animals hunted for food. This includes ducks, deer and fish. Many of these animals rely
    on shallow lakes. The lakes also help recharge the High Plains Aquifer. Agricultural practices have changed most of
    the large lakes that fill up for part of the year in the southern Great Plains.

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