Introduction:

Climate change has been a major point of discussion for the past several decades. Controversy surrounds the topic regarding the
cause and the path humans can pursue in order to combat this global problem. All around the world, temperatures continue to rise,
species of plants and animals are becoming endangered, and precipitation patterns are significantly less. While these issues may
seem unrelated to you, they are directly playing out in our own backyards through the landscapes of National Parks. Below are
National Parks from different regions of the US that portray the most important climate change issues affecting the park.

Climate Change in Yosemite National Park

Lat/long: 37.8499 N, 119.5677 W
1) Forest fire:
* Drought has displayed the potential for amplified wildfires in the warming, drying west. More extreme events are expected both
directly (droughts and heat waves) and indirectly (fires) driven by a warming climate. The warming climates increase the areas that
will be burned by fires, which in turn affects air quality. Following destruction will lead to changes in vegetation, and issues of
regeneration time. New fire management practices will have to be implemented in preparation for changing landscape and fire size.

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/06/climate-change-making-wildfires-worse
2) Glacier loss: Retreat of Lyell and Maclure Glaciers
* These two glaciers are important to local ecosystems because they provide a year round supply of cold water to the Lyell Fork of
the Tuolumne River. Since 1883 both glaciers have been steadily retreating but melting has accelerated rapidly in the past decade,
especially during the drought that began in 2012. By definition glaciers move, yet Lyell glacier is too thin to move and may no longer
properly be termed a glacier. Predictions estimate that Lyell Glacier could disappear as early as 2020. The Maclure Glacier is
expected to remain longer but will ultimately follow if drought conditions continue.

https://coyotegulch.wordpress.com/2015/10/05/climate-change-in-california-passes-a-tipping-point-huff-post-green/
http://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/glaciers.htm
3) Increased endangered species
* With the increased severe wildfires we are seeing loss of Great gray owl habitats. An estimate of 20% of the birds nesting ground
was lost during the Rim fire. Along with the birds main prey the meadow vole was unable to escape the fire as it raged through that
portion of the park. With predictions of more frequent hotter fires it means that the Great gray owls might not be able to return to
these areas.
* The habitat of the Sky Pilot is amongst the highest elevations of the Sierra, where the temperatures remain cool. By the end of the
century as the temperatures rise, the sky pilot will most likely be extinct in the wild and the alpine landscape will be changed forever.
* The American Pika similar to the Sky Pilot lives in the High Sierra. With thick fur to protect them from the cold, as temperatures
continue to rise, they will not be able to survive in their natural habitat because it will no longer provide a suitable habitat.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/8/6/yosemite-wildlifethreatenedbyshrinkingsnowpacksdroughtwildfires.html
http://vault.sierraclub.org/education/leconte/climate.asp
Climate Change in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Lat/ Long: 19.3833 N, 155.2000 W

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1. Spread of Invasive Species and Disease-
1. Climate affects almost everything on Earth. The distribution of plants and animals within Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park is closely related to temperature and precipitation. The Pacific Island Network, or PACN, monitors
and tracks precipitation, weather, and species patterns within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Warmer weather
conditions allow bird carrying disease mosquitoes to invade higher elevations where Hawaiian birds reside. This
forces the birds to migrate higher or even face extinction. Avian malaria is almost 100% fatal.
Birds are extremely important for the ecosystems of Volcanoes National Parks. Not only does this park contain
rare birds not found throughout other parts of the world, but they act as consumers, pollinators, and seed
dispersers throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Warmer weather conditions would not only be harmful for the rare
indigenous bird communities as previously mentioned, but could be dangerous to the fauna species within the
park as well. Additionally, the colonisation of alien plant species along with the ongoing eruptions of the Kilauea
Volcano has caused the fire frequency within the area to increase by 60%.
2) Endangered Plants-
1. The burning of gases by humans such as coal and oil has dramatically changed the Earths carbon cycle. This
has led to an alteration of the Earths weather pattern in multiple ways. It is determined there will be 20% less
rain through the Hawaii Islands according to the International Panel of Climate Change. When a species is
dependent on a certain amount of rainfall for thousands of years, sudden drastic changes in precipitation make
it hard for the indigenous and unique plants within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to survive. So what does
it mean for these rare plants within the park?
The spreading of these rare plants to new places will increase the chances of survival despite the changing of climate.
Workers at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have given over three dozen plant species such as Geranium
arboreum and Nothocestrum longifolium a fighting chance to remain on the planet. For this project very rare
plant species, some even endangered with less than 10 individuals in the park, were chosen. Seeds were
collected from the plants, grown in a greenhouses, and University scientists determined the best locations on
Earth for these plants to survive. These plants were given several years to grow to determine if these new
locations were suitable for the rare plants.

2. Decrease in Rainwater
a. Over the past century, the average temperature on the Pacific Islands has risen .5 degrees F. Temperatures
within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are increasing at this rate every decade. This changing in temperatures
impacts the way clouds form and how moisture reaches the soil. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to
some of the rarest plants in the world. Decrease in precipitation could be disastrous for the ecosystems within
the park.
One of the first species within the park that could be affected by a lack of moisture could be Hawaiian damselfly.
Damselfly larva live in water droplets that collect at the base of native lily plants. Because this species requires
very specific aquatic niches this could be one of the first species to go in the case of decreasing moisture
percentages.

PIctures:
Links:
http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Sources:
http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=farenheit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUmCgv79-U4
http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/pacn/parks/havo.cfm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science-jan-june04-climate_4-21/
Climate Change in Denali National Park
Lat/Long: 63.3333 N, 150.5000 W
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Biome Shift: Most of Alaska is considered the tundra (a vast, treeless, arctic region) but is slowly making a shift to taiga (a
swampy coniferous forest) due to climate change. The tundra has been blooming slightly earlier and snow is melting a
month earlier than usual due to drier summers and heavier winter snowfalls. These seasonal changes may result in the
widespread loss of habitat diversity and changes in faunal distribution which may affect: caribou, moose, bears, wolves,
and Dall sheep.
This shift is important because of the effects on the forests within Denali National Park. The tree line is moving further North and
will continue to do so under the warming climate conditions. Studies also indicate that this biome shift will promote the growth of
birch, which will further alter the ecology of the tundra by covering moss with larger amounts of leaf litter. With the increase of
warmer summer months, both forest fires and the increasing amount of bugs could lead to the destruction of the forest, which will in
turn destroy the tundra that makes Denali so beautiful.
Glacial Melting: Glaciers cover nearly seventeen percent of Denali National Park and Preserve. These glaciers are highly
sensitive to changes in both temperature and precipitation and evidence shows that they are retreating, thinning, and (or)
stagnating due to climate change. These changes have been calculated by changes in the measurement of: accumulation
zones, aerial photography and satellite images, volume change, and mass balance change. Future projections conclude
that the warming of one degree Celsius will reduce glacier lengths by fifteen percent.
This is important because glaciers are key components of the hydrologic system in the national park. Stream dynamics and
sedimentation characteristics are changing as glacial volumes and discharge change. We can see this change when comparing
historic photos and current ones, with field measurements, and with interpretation of remote sensed imagery. With the rates of
change being so significant, it is safe to say that the Denali National Park of the future will be much different than the Denali that we
know and love today.
Permafrost: Permafrost is a thick subsurface layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year. In Denali this
permafrost is thawing throughout the park due to the rising temperatures. This melting permafrost has become a source of
carbon dioxide and the methane output has also increased due to the of the snow-free period throughout the arctic. The
carbon output is equivalent to about eight percent of human emissions per year and the methane output is likely due to
the lengthening of the snow-free period throughout the arctic per year.
This is important because how the melting tundra as well as the output emissions impact the constantly changing National Park.
The emissions cause temperatures to rise even more, which in turn causes the glaciers to melt and the biome to change (as
discussed in previous slides). Other negative effects include mass forest damage, the sinking of roads and buildings, as well as the
eroding of tundra riverbanks. Grazing animals are also affected due to the timing of when forage plants are available for them to
consume.

Pictures:

Links:
http://www.nps.gov/dena/learn/nature/climate-change.htm

Sources:
http://www.nps.gov/articles/aps-v6-i1-c2.htm
http://www.macalester.edu/academics/environmentalstudies/students/projects/natlparksdenali.pdf
http://climatechange.umaine.edu/denali_national_park
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/climate-denali-alaska-55806.html

Everglades National Park Climate Change

Lat/long: 25.3167 N, 80.9333 W
3 Pins:
Sea level rise: The low elevation and subtropical climate of the Everglades provides an unique environment for several
distinct ecosystems and rare and endangered plants and animals. The rising sea-level is causing the salinization of
groundwater and soils which is changing these species environments. The rising sea-level is due to climate change
because of the melting of the ice caps in the arctic due to the rising global temperature.
This is important because since 1846 the sea levels around Florida have risen a total of twelve inches and are estimated to rise
another five foot rise over the next century which increases both coastline erosion as well as the mixing of the freshwater and
saltwater ecosystems. Another negative effect on the environment of sea level rise is that it causes animals to migrate inland into
habitats and ecosystems that might not be able to support these species - bringing a whole new problem into this already
problematic area.

Temperatures increasing: As many other ecosystems, the Everglades plants and animals have specifically adapted to the
timing of the wet and dry seasons and the specific temperatures that come with these seasons. These rising temperatures
affect many different species including: aquatic species that are sensitive to water temperature change, the incubation
period of some reptiles that may limit reproductive capacity in the future, and plants will also suffer due to both the rise of
atmospheric and soil temperature.
This is important because of the species that are already endangered may become extinct and species that are not endangered
yet could become endangered due to the change in the environment that affects their precious ecosystem. Already the Everglades
are home to over sixty endangered and threatened species (both plants and animals), and the rising temperatures that climate
change is bringing could make this predicament that the Everglades is facing into an even bigger nightmare than it already is.

Other Effects: Freshwater pine forests are shrinking and being replaced by plants that live in saltwater. This change is
directly due to the rise in sea-level, which is occurring all over this coastal environment. Cultural resources are also being
affected by climate change: both water erosion and wind damage have caused the collapse of banks and the increased
salinity (which can harm cultural artifacts).
This is important because freshwater pine forests and cultural resources are two small examples of the tremendous
effects that climate change has in this region. In 2000, Congress passed a multibillion dollar project to increase the
amount of freshwater storage, improve water quality, and re-establish the natural water flow through the greater
Everglades ecosystem called the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
Pictures:

Links:
http://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/climatechange.htm
http://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/ccadaptation.htm
http://www.macalester.edu/academics/environmentalstudies/students/projects/natlparkseverglades.pdf
https://www.flickr.com/photos/113551834@N05/25608931683/in/dateposted-public/