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 Climate
Impacts in the Southeast
Overview
The Southeast spans diverse landscapes from the Appalachian
Mountains to expansive coastal plains. Most states in this
region are along either the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic
Ocean, resulting in 29,000 miles of coastline. Over 80
million people live in the Southeast, many of whom reside in
cities, including Jacksonville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami,
and New Orleans. Eleven of the twenty fastest growing
metropolitan areas in the nation are found here. |
 Climate
change is causing increases in temperature across the
Southeast. Since 1970, average annual temperatures in the
region have increased by about 2°F, with the greatest
warming occurring during the summer. Temperatures are
projected to increase by 4°F to 8°F by the end of the
century. There are also more predicted days over 95°F and
fewer predicted freezing events. Across the Southeast,
temperatures will vary somewhat over space and time. Inland
areas are projected to warm more than coasts. Natural
cycles, including the El Niño Southern Oscillation, tropical
weather systems, and differences in atmospheric pressure
across key regions of the Earth, are anticipated to drive
short-term temperature fluctuations.
Picture - The number
of days reaching temperatures over 95°F in the Southeast is
projected to increase during this century. This graph
compares historic patterns from 1971-2000 to future
estimates for 2041-2070 under a scenario with high
greenhouse gas emissions. Adapted from: USGCRP (2014)
Heavy downpours have also increased in the Southeast. There
has also been a substantial increase in the intensity,
frequency, duration, and strength of Atlantic hurricane
activity since the 1980s, and further increases are
projected. However, in addition to some very wet periods,
the region has also experienced periods of extreme drying.
Projecting future precipitation for the Southeast is
challenging because the region lies in the transition
between an increasingly wet northern region and a drying
southwest. Areas in southwestern portion of the Southeast
region may experience drier conditions, while the
northeastern areas may experience wetter conditions, with
natural variability having a strong influence on patterns
across the entire region. |
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 Impacts
on Sea Level and Coastal Resources
Coastal populations and ecosystems in the Southeast are
threatened by sea level rise, more intense hurricanes, and
storm surge. Rising sea levels are driven by both increased
warming of oceans and ground subsidence (sinking). Many
locations in the Southeast are extremely vulnerable to the
impacts of sea level rise, including New Orleans and Miami.
Projections indicate that sea level will rise more rapidly
throughout the rest of this century and is expected to
exacerbate existing threats in this region.
Picture - This map
illustrates the levels of risk sea level rise poses along
Southeast coastlines, taking into consideration the
susceptibility to change and adaptation measures. The
Coastal Vulnerability Index used here is based on tidal
range, wave height, coastal slope, shoreline change,
landform and processes, and historical rate of relative sea
level rise. Source: USGCRP (2014) |
 The
Southeast experiences hurricanes from both the Gulf of
Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane winds and storm
surges have caused extreme damage. In 2005, Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita caused more than 1,800 deaths, eroded more
than 200 square miles of coastal land in Louisiana, and
destroyed personal property and public infrastructure.
Hurricane Katrina alone caused an estimated $134 billion in
damages. Average losses caused by recent hurricane winds,
land subsidence, and sea level rise are estimated to be $14
billion per year. These costs are expected to rise in the
future.
Picture - Sea level
rise in South Florida is creating new challenges for coastal
water management. This area has an elevation close to sea
level, and residents are already experiencing seawater
flooding in streets (lower photo). Freshwater supplies may
also be threatened as seawater moves closer to existing well
fields (left map: pink areas are well field protection areas
and the red line is the current interface between saltwater
and freshwater). Aging flood control facilities (right map:
yellow circles) originally built at the ends of drainage
canals to keep saltwater out and provide flood protection
are also being threatened by sea level rise.
(Maps from The South Florida Water Management District.14
Photo credit: Luis Espinoza, Miami-Dade County Department of
Regulatory and Economic Resources). (USGCRP 2014)
Sea level rise will erode shorelines, inundate wetlands, and
impair the operations of coastal infrastructure. Low-lying
coastal areas are at higher risk from frequent floods and
storm surge. Low-lying inland areas could see increased
flooding from rain because stormwater drainage systems are
at risk of seawater inundation and slow draining. The
Southeast has numerous cities, roads, rail systems, ports,
airports, water supplies, and oil and gas facilities located
near sea level. Damage to this infrastructure will have
large economic impacts.
For more information on climate change impacts on coasts,
please visit the Coastal Impacts page. |
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 Impacts
on Water Resources
In general, the Southeast has had water resources capable of
supporting local populations, ecosystems, agriculture, and
energy production. However, parts of the region have
experienced droughts, and anticipated population growth and
changing land-use are likely to add further strain to the
water supply. Clean water availability is expected to
decline in the future, resulting in new water resource
management challenges. Freshwater availability can be
impacted by many climate-related factors.
Picture - Water for
agriculture, energy production, and use in homes and
buildings is expected to decline across most of the
Southeast away from the coasts (comparing decadal trends
between 2010 and 2060, relative to 2010). The western part
of the Southeast region is expected to see the largest water
reductions in water availability. The hatched areas indicate
where the predicted decrease in water availability
associated with the range of climate scenarios is most
certain. Modified from USGCRP (2014)
Higher temperatures increase evaporation and water loss from
plants, potentially leading to reduced freshwater
availability.
Sea level rise will accelerate the rate of saltwater
intrusion into coastal drinking water supplies. This could
lead to increased drilling of new wells in inland areas.
Rising temperatures may increase demand for agricultural
irrigation water.
For more information on climate change impacts on water,
please visit the Water Resources Impacts page. |
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 Impacts
on Human Health
Projected climate change will stress human health in the
Southeast. Higher temperatures and more frequent heat waves
will increase heat stress, respiratory illnesses, and
heat-related deaths. High temperatures also contribute to
poor air quality, including the formation of ground-level
ozone, which poses a risk to people with asthma and other
respiratory illnesses. Ground-level ozone is projected to
increase in the 19 largest urban areas of the Southeast,
likely increasing hospital admissions due to respiratory
illnesses, emergency room visits for asthma, and missed
school days by children.
Picture - Ground-level
ozone is expected to increase across most of the Southeast
as temperatures rise. Ground-level ozone, an air pollutant,
is a component of smog that is harmful to human health and
may increase the likelihood of death. This map shows
projected changes in average yearly ground level ozone
concentration in 2050 as compared to 2001 in a scenario
where greenhouse gas emissions are gradually reduced
beginning around mid-century. (Figure source: adapted from
Tagaris et al. 200940).
Source: USGCRP (2014)
Warmer waters have been linked to the spread of some
bacteria. For example, food poisoning from eating shellfish
infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria is
increasing, with new infections being reported over longer
time periods during the year. As temperatures increase, the
frequency of other climate-sensitive disease outbreaks are
also expected to increase. Harmful algal blooms and other
disease-causing organisms may affect inland and coastal
waters, where these types of events have not previously
occurred. More algal blooms could increase rates of
ciguatera fish poisoning, an illness caused by eating fish
carrying toxins produced by the algae.
An increase in wildfires driven by drought conditions can
affect human health through poor air quality and direct
injury. Increased flooding and hurricane intensity could
also present extreme public health and emergency management
challenges.
For more information on climate change impacts on human
health, please visit the Human Health Impacts page. |
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Impacts on Ecosystems and
Agriculture
Warmer air and water temperatures, hurricanes, increased
storm surges, and sea level rise are expected to alter the
Southeast's local ecosystems and agricultural productivity.
Warmer temperatures could increase the number and intensity
of wildfires, as well as outbreaks of damaging forest pests,
including the hemlock woolly adelgid. Declining freshwater
availability, saltwater intrusion, land loss, drought, and
increasing temperatures are expected to stress agricultural
crops and decrease yields. Some croplands may be lost
entirely to inundation this century while production of
crops that need chilling periods, such as many fruits, may
need to shift northward with warming temperatures. High
temperatures also cause heat stress for dairy cows and
livestock and reduce production yields, potentially leading
to relocation of these industries, or shifts to more
heat-tolerant breeds.
Sea level rise will increase the salinity of estuaries,
coastal wetlands, tidal rivers, and swamps. Rapid sea level
rise could also eliminate some barrier islands that
currently protect inland habitats, while reduction of
wetlands increases the potential for loss of important
fishery habitat. Ocean warming could affect seafood harvest
in the Southeast by changing the species in the region,
altering migration patterns and timing of fish presence, or
affecting fish growth rates.
To learn more about climate change impacts on ecosystems,
visit the Ecosystems Impacts page. |
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EPA Page |
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EPA page for this topic. To see if the Trump
administration has changed the EPA page, simply click the
link and compare the information with this page. If you
notice changes were made to the EPA page, please post a
comment. Thanks. |
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Key Points
Coastal communities in the Southeast are already
experiencing warmer temperatures and the impacts of sea
level rise, including seawater flooding.
Higher temperatures and greater demand for water will strain
water resources in the Southeast.
Incidences of extreme weather, increased temperatures, and
flooding will likely impact human health, infrastructure,
and agriculture.
Sea level rise is expected to contribute to increased
hurricane activity and storm surge, and will increase the
salinity of estuaries, coastal wetlands, tidal rivers, and
swamps. |
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Additional Climate Change Information |
Climate Change and Carbon Dioxide
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change
and carbon dioxide.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice. |
Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of carbon dioxide
and climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice. |
Environmental Group Warns Earth's Health at Risk
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
A report by the World Wildlife Fund looked at thousands of animal populations
and found they have dropped significantly in 40 years. |
Sea Levels Rising at Fastest Rate in 3,000 years
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
A group of scientists say sea levels are rising at record rates. Another group
found that January temperatures in the Arctic reached a record high. |
Capturing CO2 Gas Is Not Easy
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
Most scientists agree that carbon-dioxide gas is partly to blame for climate
change: rising global temperatures. But capturing the CO2 gas released by power
stations is costly and difficult. |
Growth, Climate Change Threaten African Plants and
Animals
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of climate change.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Great English listening and reading practice.
Researchers believe Africa may lose as much as 30 percent of its animal and
plant species by the end of this century. |
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