By Anna Bertrand
Climate change often feels like more of a global problem
than a local one. However, for those of us in the Pacific Northwest, Climate
Change has the potential to affect our beautiful natural environment as
temperatures continue to rise.
How fortunate are we to have gorgeous coastlines within
driving distance? Most states do not have this area to appreciate. Global
warming’s affect on the increase in sea levels as well winter precipitation,
and the possibility of southeasterly winter storms will likely cause a drastic
alteration in our coastlines as flooding, landslides, and erosion become more
common with these events.
Salmon are also another cherished aspect of the Pacific
Northwest. Their sensitivity to
their environment and the resulting amount of success with breeding means that
they will be particularly susceptible to climate change. Warm periods have specifically been
shown to have a negative affect on salmon numbers. Greater rain fall rather
than snow fall, as well as higher winter stream flows will cause damage to
spawning nests and incubating eggs as the current scours streambeds.
Climate change also has the ability to affect our beautiful
forests. Although biologists are not positive what scenario will take place,
the most likely possibility is that rising carbon dioxide levels will increase
forest growth initially, but rising temperatures will eventually overwhelm
these growing efforts. Warmer temperatures will also affect the ecosystems in
that many species may have to migrate in order to maintain their optimal
environment, causing shifts in the very fragile ecosystems that typically do
not take well to change.
From the scenery to living organisms, climate change has the
ability to affect our visible world. Even though climate change may seem global
and inevitable, we can prolong the beauty of our environment by taking little
steps to reduce our own contribution to climate change!
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