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Climate Change and Your National Forest: Assessing the potential effects of climate change on the El Yunque National Forest
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Jennings, Lisa Nicole Treasure, Emrys Mcnulty, Steven G. |
| Copyright Year | 2013 |
| Abstract | Forestlands across the world are experiencing increased threats from fire, insect and plant invasions, disease, extreme weather, and drought. Scientists project increases in temperature and changes in rainfall patterns that can make these threats occur more often, with more intensity, and/or for longer durations. Although many of the effects of future changes are negative, natural resource management can help mitigate these impacts. Management strategies informed by the best current science enable natural resource professionals within the Forest Service to better protect the land and resources and conserve the region's forestlands into the future. Climate Trends – Average temperatures in El Yunque have increased over the past 30 years, and scientists predict warming will continue at an accelerated pace, however, climate models vary in the degree of warming. Projected decreases in precipitation in the Caribbean suggest drier wet seasons, and even drier dry seasons. Increasing sea surface temperatures may lift the base altitude of cloud formation and alter atmospheric circulation patterns. Any change in the cloud base height will further decrease precipitation in El Yunque. Extreme Weather – In the Caribbean, the occurrence of very warm days and nights is accelerating, while very cool days and nights are becoming less common, increasing the likelihood of extreme heat waves. The frequency of extreme precipitation events is expected to increase, leading to potential increases in inland flooding and landslides. Hurricane events are likely to become less frequent but more severe, with increased wind speeds, rainfall intensity, and storm surge height. As annual rainfall decreases over time in the Caribbean region, longer periods of drought are expected in the future. In Puerto Rico, where nearly all wildfires are associated with human activity, the interactions between climate warming and drying and increased human development have the potential to increase the effects of fire. Biological Diversity – Plants and animals at risk will respond to environmental changes by adapting, moving, or declining. Species with high genetic variation will be better able to survive in new conditions. Higher temperatures will cause many species to shift ranges up in elevation. However, in some cases, the rate of warming combined with land use changes will restrict the ability of plants and animals to move into suitable habitat. Highland species with restricted habitats and are more likely to be negatively impacted by climate change than are lower elevation species. In montane cloud forests in El Yunque, narrow thermal ranges may … |
| Starting Page | 1 |
| Ending Page | 4 |
| Page Count | 4 |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/ja/2013/ja_2013_jennings_002.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/ja/2013/ja_2013_jennings_002.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/2013/ja_2013_jennings_002.pdf |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.forestthreats.org/products/publications/TACCIMO_EYNF_Public_070213.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
