What climate change is doing to the parks

A sample of the shifts already underway due to a warming climate.

 

Climate change has already brought irreversible changes to the national parks. And more are imminent, without major reductions in pollution from cars, power plants and deforestation. Here’s a sampling. 

MELTING GLACIERS 
The elevation of Muir Glacier in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve has dropped in places by 2,100 feet since 1948. This is one of many glaciers in southeast Alaska that have shrunk astoundingly in recent decades, dramatically changing what visitors see and contributing to sea-level rise. Scientists estimate that over the latter half of the 20th century, melting ice masses in Alaska and neighboring Canada have increased global sea level even more than the Greenland ice sheet has. Muir Glacier offers a great example of how the rich data from national parks has contributed to the global understanding of climate change. It’s among 168,000 glaciers used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to determine that human-created climate change is melting glaciers globally.

Yosemite toad
Paul Maier/cc via Wikipedia

SHIFTING BIOMES 
Since 1880, lodgepole and other pine trees have moved uphill into what once were subalpine meadows in Yosemite National Park. The thirsty trees have helped dry up a wetland ecosystem important for small mammals like marmots as well as high-elevation frogs and salamanders. Yosemite now is working on a restoration project to restore the meadows’ hydrological functioning. “You want them to remain wetlands,” says Linda Mazzu, Yosemite’s resource manager. “When trees invade, it’s like a biome shift.” A biome is the community of plants and animals in a particular region, and this was one of 23 biome shifts worldwide documented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Other biome shifts are underway — boreal conifer forests moving into tundra and alpine biomes in the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm Natural Heritage Area and in Noatak National Preserve.

VORACIOUS BEETLES 
Climate change is causing extensive bark beetle outbreaks across the West, because winters have been too mild to kill the insects and trees are stressed by drought. Rocky Mountain National Park has been hit especially hard, with 90 percent of the park’s forested areas affected. Hundreds of thousands of lodgepole, ponderosa, Engelmann spruce and other evergreens have died. Park staff remove standing dead trees at campsites and other heavily visited areas so they don’t fall on people or property. They also spray insecticide on thousands of tree trunks in non-wilderness areas. But 95 percent of the park is designated wilderness, and the beetles, which are native, have free rein there. The park has planted a small number of trees, but leaves most areas for natural regeneration.

Saguaro National Park in 1935, top, and 2010.
National Park Service

LOOMING DIE-OFFS OF DESERT PLANTS 
The exquisite desert plants of Arizona’s Saguaro National Park are adapted for dry conditions, but climate change may make their Sonoran Desert home too hot even for them. Scientists project major die-offs of saguaro, palo verde, ocotillo and creosote bush. And even if the planet’s people manage to modestly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, scientists project that 90 percent of Joshua Tree National Park could become too dry for Joshua trees by 2100.

SHRINKING WILDLIFE HABITAT 
In Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic national parks, scientists predict that climate change will dramatically shrink habitats for high-elevation mammals. As temperatures warm and snowpack decreases, hoary marmot, wolverine, mountain goat, American pika, American marten, snowshoe hare and Canada lynx will probably lose most of their current turf. Small patches of mountaintop habitat in national parks will become increasingly important for the conservation of these species, because other suitable homes for them are likely to be gone.

Yellowstone geyser
National Park Service

SNOW AND SNOWMOBILES 
Across the West, snowpacks have plummeted because of human-caused climate change. That trend is likely to continue, disrupting Yellowstone’s $60 million winter tourism industry, among other things, according to a paper published this month in PLOS One by Michael Tercek and Anne Rodman, the park’s acting branch chief for physical science. By the end of this century, they predict that, during 70 percent of the winter season, there won’t be enough snow for snowmobiles and snow coaches to drive into Yellowstone from its West entrance. The agency might eventually have to plow its roads for cars, they say, if it wants to maintain high levels of year-round tourism.

This part of a special report on the state of the national parks.

Return to:

Meet the man helping the Park Service prepare for a hotter future
High Country News Classifieds
  • COMMUNICATIONS AND PROJECT COORDINATOR CONTRACTOR
    POSITION SUMMARY: The Communications and Project Coordinator will support the Executive Director (ED) in campaign and administrative related tasks. The Coordinator is responsible for research...
  • HOMESICK: WHY HOUSING IS UNAFFORDABLE AND HOW WE CAN CHANGE IT
    A timely, damning, and ultimately hopeful investigation of housing in the United States. Essential reading in the West.
  • OREGON AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENT (ALE) PROGRAM COORDINATOR
    Status: Full time Reports to: Conservation Program Manager Salary Range: $60,000-65,000 Duration: Position is funded for 12 months, with the expectation of annual renewal Benefits:...
  • VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSERVATION
    The Vice President of Conservation will arrive at a time of remarkable growth and opportunity within the organization. Guided by the bold and ambitious goals...
  • WINTER WILDLANDS ALLIANCE IS HIRING!
    Help us inspire and empower people to protect America's wild snowscapes! We are a small, mighty and growing team dedicated to our work and looking...
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR- ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF WEST MARIN
    The EAC's Executive Director provides overall leadership for the operation of the organization. The Executive Director is responsible for implementing programs and policies set by...
  • UTE LEGENDS
    These carefully researched stories reflect a deep and abiding understanding of Ute culture and history. These authintic, colorful legends also illustrate the Ute's close connections...
  • FUNDRAISING ASSOCIATE - HIGH COUNTRY NEWS
    High Country News seeks an organized and collaborative Fundraising Associate to drive donor discovery and the cultivation and acquisition of mid-level and recurring gifts. This...
  • MONTANA CONSERVATION ASSOCIATE
    GYC is hiring! Please see our careers page for more details greateryellowstone.org/careers
  • WYOMING AND NORTHERN UTAH DIRECTOR
    Western Watersheds Project seeks a Director to continue and expand WWP's campaign to protect and restore public lands and wildlife in Wyoming and northern Utah,...
  • 12 ACRES IN EAGLE, COLORADO!
    Tranquility & land are becoming more and more rare. This land is a haven for peace, where nature beckons & flourishes. Enjoy the mountain views...
  • SURGICAL SHARPENING SERVICE
    is a Denver-based mail order surgical instrument sharpening service established in 2009. Specialties include surgical scissors, dental elevators, trocar sets, and gynecological biopsy forceps.
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) seeks a strategic and visionary Executive Director: View all job details here- https://bit.ly/CCRHED
  • MONTANA BLUES
    Thrilling new crime novel by ex-HCN editor Ray Ring : A rural White horsewoman and an urban Black man battle White supremacists in a tough...
  • CANYONLANDS FIELD INSTITUTE
    Field seminars for adults in natural and human history of the northern Colorado Plateau, with lodge and base camp options. Small groups, guest experts.
  • COMING TO TUCSON?
    Popular vacation house, everything furnished. Two bedroom, one bath, large enclosed yards. Dog-friendly. Contact Lee at [email protected] or 520-791-9246.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS
    We characterize contaminated sites, identify buried drums, tanks, debris and also locate groundwater.
  • WESTERN NATIVE SEED
    Native plant seeds for the Western US. Trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and regional mixes. Call or email for free price list. 719-942-3935. [email protected] or visit...