Urban

A warming climate is allowing some invasive plant species, insect pests, and pathogens to survive farther north than they had previously. One particular emerging threat to the region is the southern pine beetle, which attacks shortleaf and other pines. Oak decline, a disease complex brought about by droughtand other stressors, is expected to become a larger problem in the red oak group as droughts become longer and more widespread. Some drought- and fire-tolerant invasive plants, such as sericea lespedeza, may also benefit from projected climate changes.

At a global scale, the scientific consensus is that fire risk will increase by 10 to 30 percent due to higher summer temperatures and occasional increased periods of droughts. Projections for the central United States show low agreement among climate models on changes in fire probability in the near term, but the majority of models project an increase in wildfire probability by the end of the century . Fire seasons in the southeastern United States could nearly double in length and increase in severity.

Due to projected decreases in precipitation during summer or fall and increases in temperature throughout the year, some evidence suggests a slight decrease in surface soil moisture in the Central Hardwoods Region over the next century . In addition, total soil moisture is projected to increase during winter and spring and decrease in the late summer and autumn. Even if there are increases in precipitation in the summer, as a few models suggest, increases in evapotranspiration are projected to lead to lowersoil water availability .

Heavy precipitation events have already been increasing in number and severity in the area, and some models suggest an increase over the next century .

Evidence at both global and local scales indicates that growing seasons have been getting longer, and this trend is projected to become even more pronounced over the next century. As seasons shift so that spring arrives earlier and fall extends later into the year, phenology may shift for plant species that rely on temperature as a cue for the timing of leaf-out, reproductive maturation, and other developmental processes. Longer growing seasons could also result in greater growth and productivity of trees and other vegetation, but only if balanced by available water and nutrients.

The Central Hardwoods Region is already experiencing a decline in snowfall, depth, and cover. Decreased snowfall and increased snowmelt from higher temperatures are projected to decrease the amount of snow on the ground in the region, and may make some locations snow-free in some years. In recent years, this reduction in snow cover has led to an increase in soil frost from decreased snow insulation.

Hydrologic modeling based on a range of climate models and scenarios suggests an increase in soil moisture, runoff, and streamflow thoughout the next century. The magnitude or frequency of flooding could potentially increase in the winter and spring due to increases in total runoff and peak streamflow during those time periods.

The vast majority of model projections for the Central Hardwoods Region are in agreement that there will be an increase in precipitation in winter and spring.

All global climate models project that temperatures will increase with continued increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.

Impact models agree that many temperate species will experience increasing suitable habitat and biomass across the assessment area, and that longer growing seasons and warmer temperatures will lead to productivity increases for temperate forest types. The list of species projected to increase includes American basswood, black cherry, white oak, and a variety of minor southern species. Models also indicate that deciduous forest types have the potential for large productivity increases across northern Michigan.