Regional Effects of Climate Change

Climate Change Impacts in North America

The following potential consequences of climate change are of special concern to people living in Canada and the United States:

Coastal Erosion:  Many of America's major cities are located directly on the ocean.  These locations could face major land loss if sea level rise predictions are correct.  The problem is particularly acute in Florida, where the flat coast means even a one foot vertical rise in sea level could mean the loss of tens of feet of beach land.  Wetlands in areas such as the Chesapeake Bay are also vulnerable to sea level rise. 

Ecosystems:  Like other parts of the world, North America would see many ecosystem patterns shift northward under climate change scenarios.  Maples currently dominant in New England, for example, would be replaced by species such as oak more tolerant of hot summer weather.  The Southeastern United States may become a savanna.  The boreal and tundra ecosystems in northern Canada and Alaska would shrink, as the Arctic Ocean prevents them from migrating northward. 

Agriculture:  Most regions of the continent would see shifts in the amount and type of foodstuffs the area can produce.  In some places, like the north central United States and south central Canada, warmer temperatures would lengthen the growing season and could produce higher yields.  In other places, such as the south central United States, an increased number of extreme heat waves and droughts could hinder output. 

Human Health:  Deadly heat waves in the United States are expected to become more frequent under global warming, while the number of deaths from extreme cold declines.  Additionally, the spread of vector-borne diseases may accelerate as the habitats of carriers shift.  For example, outbreaks of encephalitis currently limited to the United States could spread to Canada, and diseases such as dengue fever that are currently a problem in Mexico could spread to the southern United States. 

Wildfires Ravaging Western United States Could be Harbingers of the Future

 

Climate effect changes in other regions:
Latin America
Europe
Middle East
Sub Saharan Africa
Asia
Oceania
Polar Regions