Winter Climate Trends in ChampaignUrbana Written by Maggie Sampson Those accustomed to the ChampaignUrbana climate know that this past fall semester was a particularly warm one. While not having to wear a jacket until late October seems like a luxury, it may unfortunately become the new normal. Nearly all of the Midwest has a humid continental climate, meaning that temperatures vary greatly from summer to winter and there is substantial precipitation year-round. But, over the past few decades, the rate of warming in the Midwest has markedly accelerated. Between 1900 and 2010, the average Midwest air temperature increased by more than 1.5°F. However, between 1980 and 2010, temperatures increased three times as quickly as it did from 1900 to 2010. Meaning, not only has there been a noticeable increase in temperature, but also a notable increase in the rate of warming. With major agricultural lands, the Great Lakes, and some of the nation’s largest cities, the Midwestern geography is ripe for supporting and sustaining life. Some of our major industries like recreation, tourism, fishing, and commerce depend on the ecosystems and geography of the Great Lakes and expansive northern forests. The
Midwest, a region historically involved in factory/industry, already faces pollution and invasive species pressure that will, unfortunately, be intensified by climate change. For the Champaign-Urbana region, an area heavily involved in agriculture, the extreme weather events caused by climate change can lead to changes in pests and disease prevalence, increased competition from non-native species, ecosystem disturbances, atmospheric pollutants, and economic shocks such as crop failures/reduced yields. Considering that climate change tends to amplify existing climate-related risks, the projected effects of global warming may alter ecological and socioeconomic patterns in ways that are detrimental on the local and large scale. Increased heat stress, drought, flooding, and late spring freezes are just some of the ways that Midwestern climates are altered by climate change. This is especially concerning because at-risk communities in the Midwest are becoming more vulnerable to climate change impacts. Flooding, drought, and increases in urban heat islands all impact communities that do not have adequate resources to deal with the consequences of climate change.
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