Synopsis of climate change

Angela Jardine; Jonathan W. Long

Treesearch

Synopsis of climate change

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Angela Jardine, Jonathan W. Long

Year:

2014

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-247. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 71-81. Chap. 1.4

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Download (PDF 337 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/46955.pdf

Abstract

Changes in climate can interact with other stressors to transform ecosystems and alter the services those ecosystems provide. This synopsis presents themes that run through the synthesis report regarding the impacts of a changing climate on the forests and waters of the synthesis area as well as long-term, broad-scale, science-based strategies to promote system resilience to those impacts. Scientific observations of climate variations in air temperatures and precipitation (type and quantity) and their interactions have been directly linked to changes in stream flows (amount and timing), fires (frequency and severity), and ecosystem structure and function over the past several decades. Future climate scenarios suggest a strong likelihood for increased exposure of socioecological systems in the synthesis area to wildfire, droughts, intense storms, and other natural disturbances.

Parent Publication

Science synthesis to support socioecological resilience in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range

Keywords

ecological restoration, socioecological systems, ecosystem resilience, forest planning, fire management, altered fire regimes, wildfire, climate change, anthropogenic disturbance, invasive species, water resources, species of conservation concern, California

Citation

Jardine, A.; Long, J.W. 2014. Synopsis of climate change. In: Long, J.W.; Quinn-Davidson, L.; Skinner, C.N., eds. Science synthesis to support socioecological resilience in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-247. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 71-81. Chap. 1.4.