Impacts in the Central U.S.

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Impacts in the Central U.S.
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council

• Agricultural Impacts
• Difficult to pinpoint climate impacts climate
  change occurring along with improvements in
  farming techniques
• In general, plants may
• Grow faster (increasing yields unless it becomes
  too warm or crops mature too early)
• Be affected by carbon dioxide levels (increased
  growth for some plants, not for others)
• Good information about changes and adaptive
  practices is essential for farmers

2
Impacts in the Central U.S.
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council

• Migratory Waterways Drying Up?
• Playa lakes or Prairie potholes essential for
  migrating birds used for resting, feeding, and
  mating
• Climate change, combined with other pressures
  (irrigation demands, pollution, etc.), may dry up
  these important waterways

Image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.