Jeremy S. Littell gives a lecture on climate science in the Pacific Northwest in Communications Facility 110 on April 11. Littell, a Huxley alumnus, is a scientist at the Climate Impact Group at the University of Washington. photo taken by Matt Boyer THE WESTERN FRONT

On April 11 in the Communications Facility, Littell presented “The Interface of Climate Science, Management and Policy in the Pacific Northwest," explaining the effect of climate changes on the Pacific Northwest and how people can adapt to climate change.

Climate Impacts Group observes climate changes in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and British Columbia and how the changes affect natural resources such as water, salmon, forests and coasts. 

The group helps organizations that use these natural resources  manage and prepare for changes caused by shifts in climate.  

“With the exception of a very few scientists outside the mainstream, there is overwhelming consensus that climate change is happening,” Huxley College Professor Andy Bunn said.  “The science is moving to asking what the changes will be and how we can adapt to changes.”

Littell, a Huxley alumnus, began his presentation explaining current and future climate change on the Pacific Northwest.

Climate changes are occurring because the earth’s temperature is rising because greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere, he said.  

Greenhouse gases are released from human and natural sources, including the burning of fossil fuel, deforestation, agricultural practices, energy extraction, landfills, wetlands, oceans, soils and decomposition of organic matter, Littell said.

The Climate Impact Group has numerous research stations located across each state, where scientists have been recording rising temperatures in the Pacific Northwest since 1920.

The average annual temperature in the Pacific Northwest has risen 0.8 degrees Celsius and it has been estimated that temperatures could rise 1 to 6 degrees Celsius by 2100.  

Almost every station has shown that temperatures are warmer, and there are fewer extreme cold conditions, Littell said.

Mt. Baker and Lake Whatcom, could experience environmental changes as the climate warms, Littell said.

The warmer temperatures are likely to increase rainfall, decrease the size of Mt. Baker glaciers and affect Lake Whatcom’s  temperature to the point of lowering water quality.  

Although Littell said there is no direct correlation between warmer temperatures and precipitation amounts, warmer temperatures will mean the Pacific Northwest will have more rain in the winter than snow.  

As rain increases, snowmelt increases and winter streamflows are expected to be higher. With less winter snowpack, there will be less water in spring and summer streams.    

Quicker snow melting rates and new streamflow patterns will lead to an increase of flooding, a change in salmon habitat, an increase in forest fires air pollution and decreased water availability for agriculture, Littell said.   

“Our region has a lot to offer for people who live here, ” Littell said. “We have a unique region with diversity in natural resources — salmon, forests, agriculture, coasts; it would be aweful if these were changed.”  

The impact group helps resource agencies such as water managers and forest services in King and Snohomish Counties to recognize and adapt to climate change.

“A big part of [climate] adaptation is understanding impacts,” Littell said.

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