Companion Case Studies: New England Regional Assessment

The purpose of the New England Regional Assessment of potential climate change impacts on the New England Region (the six New England states plus upstate New York) is to provide a local perspective on a global issue. It is part of the eighteen assessments done by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and addressed two major questions:

1. How will climate change affect the New England Region?

• Average Temperature: New England has warmed by 0.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895, although this trend differs across the region's states. New England is likely to continue to become warmer in the future.
• Precipitation: New England’s precipitation has increased by 4% since 1895. This trend also differs across the states. The region can expect continued increases in precipitation for the future.

2. How will people and their surroundings be affected by these climate changes?

• Air Quality: If the climate becomes warmer and wetter and air pollution from automobiles and power plants stays the same or increases, New England’s air quality will become worse.
• Human Health: Changes in medical care will be needed to respond to health effects from poorer air quality and because warmer seasons could increase the risk of contracting Lyme disease.
• Forests: Poorer air quality and the potential for acid rain could change the soil composition where trees grow, and warmer temperatures could lead to changes in insects that live in the forest. Combined with changes in precipitation and temperature, these might cause shifts in the species makeup of New England’s forests. However, the forest sector is likely to be flexible and adaptive.
• Water: Flooding and droughts could affect the amount of water available for consumption and its quality. Sea-level rise could affect human infrastructure as well as wetlands in coastal areas.

For more information, see the New England Regional Assessment