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.
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.
A variety of models project that across the Upper Midwest, more winter precipitation will be delivered as rain, more snow will melt between snowfall events, and the snowpack will not be as deep or consistent. Lake-effect snowfall may increase in the short-term, but these events may convert to rain as temperatures increase.
Northern Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula have already warmed more than 1.5 degrees since the first half of the 20th century, which is one of the fastest rates of warming across the country. All global climate models project that temperatures will increase with continued increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. More warming is projected under a high climate scenario (RCP 8.5) and more moderate warming is projected under a moderate climate scenario (RCP 4.5).
Northern Michigan has already warmed more than 1.5 degrees since the first half of the 20th century, which is one of the fastest rates of warming across the country. All global climate models project that temperatures will increase with continued increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. More warming is projected under a high climate scenario (RCP 8.5) and more moderate warming is projected under a moderate climate scenario (RCP 4.5).
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.
A variety of models project that across the Upper Midwest, more winter precipitation will be delivered as rain, more snow will melt between snowfall events, and the snowpack will not be as deep or consistent. Lake-effect snowfall may increase in the short-term, but these events may convert to rain as temperatures increase.
Northern Minnesota has already warmed more than 1.5 degrees since the first half of the 20th century, which is one of the fastest rates of warming across the country. All global climate models project that temperatures will increase with continued increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. More warming is projected under a high climate scenario (RCP 8.5) and more moderate warming is projected under a moderate climate scenario (RCP 4.5).
