Initial Publication Date: March 8, 2021

2018 NCA Resources for Southeast Region

Contributors

Regional Chapter Editor:

Lee Frankel-Goldwater, PhD Candidate, University of Colorado, Boulder

Chapter Reviewers, 2018:

Bonnie Murray - NASA's Innovation in Climate Education, Michelle Covi - Old Dominion University / VSGC, Eric Pyle, James Madison University, Yoca Arditi-Rocha, The CLEO Institute, Dana Haine, UNC Institute for the Environment Center for Public Engagement with Science*, Bishop Dansby, Virginia Citizens Climate Lobby*, Mona Behl, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant*, Roberta Burnes, Kentucky, Department for Environmental Protection, Roberta.Burnes@ky.gov, Marilé Colón Robles - Education Specialist - NASA Langley Research Center/ SSAI *

NCA Education Resources for the Southeast Region

The National Climate Assessment (NCA) summarizes the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. This report collects, integrates, and assesses observations and research from around the country, helping us to see what is actually happening and understand what changes in Earth's climate system it means for our lives, our livelihoods, and our future. It is important that these findings and response options be shared broadly to inform people and communities across our nation. Climate change presents a major challenge for society. This report advances our understanding of that challenge and the need for the American people to prepare for and respond to its far-reaching implications.

It contains information that will help educators and students gain a deeper understanding of climate science through the Our Changing Climate section of the 2018 NCA report and 2017 supporting Climate Science Special Report (CSSR). Engineering is addressed throughout, both from the standpoint of climate change impacts and solutions, however, the Mitigation and Adaptation sections contain the most relevant information. Finally, the Frequently Asked Questions section has useful information as it relates to an Introduction to Climate Change, Climate Science, Temperature and Climate Projections, Climate, Weather, and Extreme Events, Societal Effects, and Ecological Effects.

Chapter Background

"The Southeast includes vast expanses of coastal and inland low-lying areas, the southern (and highest) portion of the Appalachian Mountains, numerous high-growth metropolitan areas, and large rural expanses. Embedded in these land- and seascapes is a rich cultural history developed over generations by the many communities that call this region home. However, these beaches and bayous, fields and forests, and cities and small towns are all at risk from a changing climate. These risks vary in type and magnitude from place to place, and while some climate change impacts, such as sea level rise and extreme downpours, are being acutely felt now, others, like increasing exposure to dangerously high temperatures—often accompanied by high humidity—and new local diseases, are expected to become more significant in the coming decades.

While all regional residents and communities in the Southeast are potentially at risk for some impacts, some communities or populations are at greater risk due to their geography, availability of resources or economic conditions, locations, services available, and economic situations. In fact, a recent economic study using a higher scenario suggests that the southern and midwestern populations are likely to suffer the largest losses from projected climate changes in the United States. According to the article, "[b]ecause losses are largest in regions that are already poorer on average, climate change tends to increase preexisting inequality in the United States." Understanding the demographic and socioeconomic composition of racial and ethnic groups in the region is important, because these characteristics are associated with health risk factors, disease prevalence, and access to care, which in turn may influence the degree of impact from climate-related threats." (Complete background and related figures available at NCA, 2018, Southeast Chapter)

Using this Guide:

The NCA Education Resources for the Southeast Region features 1) guiding questions, 2) key figures, 3) related chapters from the report, 4) lesson plans, 5) videos for all of the NCA key messages for the region, and 6) related U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit Case Studies. Teachers can have students explore the toolkit case studies to see how people are building resilience for their businesses and in their communities in the region. This page contains information that will help educators and students gain a deeper understanding of climate science and the implications for the region.

Chapter Table of Contents with Section Links:

Key Message 1: Urban Infrastructure and Health Risks

Key Message 2: Increasing Flood Risks in Coastal and Low-lying Regions

Key Message 3: Natural Ecosystems Will Be Transformed

Key Message 4: Economic and Health Risks For Rural Communities

Key Message 1: Urban Infrastructure and Health Risks

Many southeastern cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change compared to cities in other regions, with expected impacts to infrastructure and human health. The vibrancy and viability of these metropolitan areas, including the people and critical regional resources located in them, are increasingly at risk due to heat, flooding, and vector-borne disease brought about by a changing climate. Many of these urban areas are rapidly growing and offer opportunities to adopt effective adaptation efforts to prevent future negative impacts of climate change.

Sub-categories under this key message:

  • Rapid Population Shifts and Climate Impacts on Urban Areas
  • Increasing Heat
  • Vector-Borne Disease
  • Air Quality and Human Health
  • Infrastructure

Key Message 2: Increasing Flood Risks in Coastal and Low-lying Regions

The Southeast's coastal plain and inland low-lying regions support a rapidly growing population, a tourism economy, critical industries, and important cultural resources that are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The combined effects of changing extreme rainfall events and sea level rise are already increasing flood frequencies, which impacts property values and infrastructure viability, particularly in coastal cities. Without significant adaptation measures, these regions are projected to experience daily high tide flooding by the end of the century.

Sub-categories under this key message:

  • Sea Level Rise Is Contributing to Increased Coastal Flooding in the Southeast
  • Extreme Rainfall Events Are Contributing to Increased Inland and Coastal Flooding
  • The 2017 Hurricane Season

Key Message 3: Natural Ecosystems Will Be Transformed

The Southeast's diverse natural systems, which provide many benefits to society, will be transformed by climate change. Changing winter temperature extremes, wildfire patterns, sea levels, hurricanes, floods, droughts, and warming ocean temperatures are expected to redistribute species and greatly modify ecosystems. As a result, the ecological resources that people depend on for livelihood, protection, and well-being are increasingly at risk, and future generations can expect to experience and interact with natural systems that are much different than those that we see today.

Sub-categories under this key message:

  • Warming Winter Temperature Extremes
  • Changing Patterns of Fire
  • Rising Sea Levels and Hurricanes
  • Drought and Extreme Rainfall
  • Warming Ocean Temperatures

Key Message 4: Economic and Health Risks For Rural Communities

Rural communities are integral to the Southeast's cultural heritage and to the strong agricultural and forest products industries across the region. More frequent extreme heat episodes and changing seasonal climates are projected to increase exposure-linked health impacts and economic vulnerabilities in the agricultural, timber, and manufacturing sectors. By the end of the century, over one-half billion labor hours could be lost from extreme heat-related impacts. Such changes would negatively impact the region's labor-intensive agricultural industry and compound existing social stresses in rural areas related to limited local community capabilities and associated with rural demography, occupations, earnings, literacy, and poverty incidence. Reduction of existing stresses can increase resilience.

Sub-categories under this key message:

  • Diverse Rural Regions
  • Risks to Agriculture and Forestry
  • Heat, Health, and Livelihoods
  • Compounding Stresses and Constraints to Adaptation

Disclaimer: The National Climate Assessment regional resources for educators is written, edited, and moderated by each regional team of contributors. Posts reflect the views of the regional team themselves and not necessarily Climate.gov, NOAA and USGCRP.