Southwest
The states of Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas make up the Southwest region of the country, encompassing drier desert, sagebrush, grassland, and dune habitats as well as mountains, lakes, rivers and forests. This unique semiarid region is especially vulnerable to global warming, in a number of diverse and sometimes conflicting ways.
Temperatures are predicted to continue to rise over the next century, increasing pressure on the region’s already limited water supplies. If the current dry conditions continue, reduced water flows in desert streams and creeks are predicted, which could be devastating for the many species that rely on these riparian areas. Increased drought could similarly cause habitat shifts and increased desertification—however, increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could lead to more plant growth and an actual loss of deserts.
Like elsewhere in the country, global warming in the Southwest is leading to more frequent and more destructive wildfires and a longer summer fire season. Drier, hotter summers create conditions favorable to both insect infestations and fire. More rain may fall in the winter, however, which could contribute to increased flooding and soil erosion.
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Species in the region:
