climate change in the u.s. southwest€¦ · southwest, but excessive wildfires destroy homes,...
TRANSCRIPT
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Climate change in the U.S. Southwest
Joshua Tree National Park is located in Southern California. In California, over 3,000 native plant species are expected to
face reductions in hospitable geographic range. Image: pixabay/public domain.
Overview
The Southwest is the hottest and driest region in the nation. It extends from the Pacific Ocean
east to the Rocky Mountains and south to the Mexican border. It is home to about 56 million
people, about 90 percent of whom live in cities, including Albuquerque, Phoenix, Las Vegas,
Salt Lake City, Denver, San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco. The
population of the Southwest is expected to increase by nearly 70 percent by mid-century.
By U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.31.17
Word Count 1,076
Level 1210L
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1
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The Southwest encompasses a wide range of elevations, spanning valleys that are below sea
level to mountain ranges that contain some of the highest peaks in the United States. It spans
from deserts like the Mojave to the snowy Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The Central Valley in California is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the
country.
Climate change is affecting the Southwest. Temperatures have increased by almost 2 degrees
Fahrenheit in the last century, with the 2001-2010 decade being the warmest since records
began 110 years ago. Average annual temperatures are projected to rise an additional 3.5
degrees to 9.5 degrees by the end of this century, with the greatest temperature increases
expected in the summer and fall. Drought conditions are already common in the Southwest
and drought periods are expected to become more frequent and more intense. Drought will
affect important water sources, including the Colorado River Basin. Combined with expected
population growth, climate change will make existing stresses worse.
Increased Competition For Water
A reliable water supply is crucial for sustaining people, agriculture, energy production and
ecosystems. The Southwest relies on the snow from mountains to melt slowly throughout the
spring and summer, when water demands are highest. This slowly melting snow is called
snowpack. Snowpack also helps keep the ground moist, which delays the onset of the fire
season and influences the prevalence and severity of wildfires. Over the last 50 years, there
has been less snow late in the winter and the snowpack has melted earlier.
In April 2015, the snowpack in California held only 5 percent of the water it typically holds at
that time of year, with some areas having no snowpack at all. This was the smallest April
snowpack in the last 65 years, and projections indicate continued declines in the future. In
addition to less snow accumulation, warmer temperatures are expected to speed snow
melting. Rain falling on snow could also result in more rapid runoff and flooding conditions in
spring.
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Rapid population growth will increase the competition for water, but increased temperatures
will mean more evaporation. This will leave reservoirs and rivers with less water.
Native Tribes Lose Reliable Drinking Water
The Southwest is home to 182 federally recognized tribes and communities. Native Americans
already face many challenges that will be made worse by climate change. These communities
face some of the highest poverty rates in the nation and often lack adequate food,
infrastructure, transportation and access to health and community services. Some
communities, including the Navajo Nation, are already experiencing the impacts of severe
droughts. Some shallow wells have run dry and have reduced drinking water supplies. There
have been reported losses of agricultural crops and livestock, as well as important medicinal
and cultural plants and animals. As climate change impacts worsen, Native American
populations will likely be limited in their ability to respond to increasing hardships, making
them especially vulnerable.
Health Problems Aggravated By Heat, Pollution
In the Southwest, more than 90 percent of the population live in cities. This is the highest
percentage of any U.S. region. Pavement and buildings retain heat, making cities warmer than
surrounding areas and driving residents’ vulnerability to heat-related illnesses. Heat stress is
the leading cause of weather-related death in the Southwest, with a greater number of deaths
expected as heat waves increase in number, length and intensity. Elderly populations and low
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income households that may not have access to air conditioning are especially at risk from
heat stress. High temperatures also contribute to poor air quality, posing a risk to people with
asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Health problems are expected to be further aggravated by disruptions to urban electricity and
water supplies. Greater energy use for cooling during heatwaves is likely to place additional
strain on the electric grid and could result in power outages.
Wildfires And Loss Of Plant Habitat
Projected increases in drought, wildfire, invasive species and pests will likely threaten native
forests and other ecosystems in the Southwest. Warmer, drier conditions have contributed to
an increase in the size of wildfires in recent decades. Fire is a natural occurrence in the
Southwest, but excessive wildfires destroy homes, transform ecosystems, threaten public
health and damage the economy. The 2003 Grand Prix fire in southern California alone
caused $1.2 billion in damages.
Approximately 40 percent of the region is estimated to be at risk of losing abundant plant
species. In California, over 3,000 native plant species are expected to face reductions in
hospitable geographic range. Iconic species, such as the Saguaro cactus in the Sonoran
Desert, are also threatened.
Crops Struggle Amid Water Reductions
California produces more than half the nation’s high-value specialty crops, including many
types of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Future production of these crops is likely to be affected by
both reduced water availability and rising temperatures. This will result in local economic
challenges and increasing food prices across the nation.
The majority of the Southwest utilizes irrigated croplands. As the population grows, more
freshwater may be diverted from irrigation use to urban areas. Warmer temperatures are likely
to cause crops to ripen and mature early, reducing some crop yields.
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Livestock production in the Southwest is also expected to be affected by changes in water
availability and temperatures. Pasture lands are not irrigated, potentially reducing grazing
lands to drought. Meanwhile, warming temperatures impose additional stresses on livestock.
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Quiz
1 According to the article, problems arising from infrastructure make dealing with climate change
more difficult.
Which sentence from the article BEST supports the idea outlined above?
(A) Temperatures have increased by almost 2 degrees in the last century, with the
2001-2010 decade being the warmest since records began 110 years ago.
(B) In April 2015, the snowpack in California held only 5 percent of the water it
typically holds at that time of year, with some areas having no snowpack at all.
(C) Pavement and buildings retain heat, making cities warmer than surrounding
areas and driving residents’ vulnerability to heat-related illnesses.
(D) Projected increases in drought, wildfire, invasive species and pests will likely
threaten native forests and other ecosystems in the Southwest.
2 Which of the following ideas is BEST supported by the section "Health Problems Aggravated By
Heat, Pollution"?
(A) Most people in the Southwest will be affected by rising temperatures in the
region's cities.
(B) Power outages will have a greater impact on Southwest cities than wildfires and
food shortages will.
(C) Elderly and low income populations are the only ones at risk for heat stress in
Southwest cities.
(D) High temperatures contribute to poor air quality in Southwest cities more than
air pollution does.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 6
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3 Read the sentence from the section "Native Tribes Lose Reliable Drinking Water."
There have been reported losses of agricultural crops and livestock,as well as important medicinal and cultural plants and animals.
How does the sentence contribute to the idea that Native Americans may be affected by climate
change in unique ways?
(A) It demonstrates that Native Americans are too impoverished to pay for
medicine.
(B) It illustrates how climate change might threaten Native Americans' culture as
well as their safety.
(C) It shows that Native Americans will have to change what they use in cultural
and medicinal practices.
(D) It explains to readers that Native Americans are more concerned about their
culture than their safety.
4 Read the paragraph from the section "Wildfires And Loss Of Plant Habitat."
Approximately 40 percent of the region is estimated to be at risk oflosing abundant plant species. In California, over 3,000 native plantspecies are expected to face reductions in hospitable geographicrange. Iconic species, such as the Saguaro cactus in the SonoranDesert, are also threatened.
What does this paragraph accomplish?
(A) It shows that California is at the greatest risk for climate change damage and
gives the readers a statistic to further illustrate that point.
(B) It helps readers understand that climate change, and specifically fires, will have
a greater impact on native plant species in the Southwest than it will on
humans.
(C) It introduces readers to the Saguaro cactus and evokes a sense of frustration in
the reader that more is not being done to protect this iconic plant.
(D) It gives an idea of the damage climate change will cause by detailing the
number of species impacted and naming one that readers might recognize.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 7
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Answer Key
1 According to the article, problems arising from infrastructure make dealing with climate change
more difficult.
Which sentence from the article BEST supports the idea outlined above?
(A) Temperatures have increased by almost 2 degrees in the last century, with the
2001-2010 decade being the warmest since records began 110 years ago.
(B) In April 2015, the snowpack in California held only 5 percent of the water it
typically holds at that time of year, with some areas having no snowpack at all.
(C) Pavement and buildings retain heat, making cities warmer than
surrounding areas and driving residents’ vulnerability to heat-related
illnesses.
(D) Projected increases in drought, wildfire, invasive species and pests will likely
threaten native forests and other ecosystems in the Southwest.
2 Which of the following ideas is BEST supported by the section "Health Problems Aggravated By
Heat, Pollution"?
(A) Most people in the Southwest will be affected by rising temperatures in
the region's cities.
(B) Power outages will have a greater impact on Southwest cities than wildfires and
food shortages will.
(C) Elderly and low income populations are the only ones at risk for heat stress in
Southwest cities.
(D) High temperatures contribute to poor air quality in Southwest cities more than
air pollution does.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 8
![Page 9: Climate change in the U.S. Southwest€¦ · Southwest, but excessive wildfires destroy homes, transform ecosystems, threaten public health and damage the economy. ... Iconic species,](https://reader033.vdocument.in/reader033/viewer/2022052023/6038cb6f375740174d5a8167/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
3 Read the sentence from the section "Native Tribes Lose Reliable Drinking Water."
There have been reported losses of agricultural crops and livestock,as well as important medicinal and cultural plants and animals.
How does the sentence contribute to the idea that Native Americans may be affected by climate
change in unique ways?
(A) It demonstrates that Native Americans are too impoverished to pay for
medicine.
(B) It illustrates how climate change might threaten Native Americans'
culture as well as their safety.
(C) It shows that Native Americans will have to change what they use in cultural
and medicinal practices.
(D) It explains to readers that Native Americans are more concerned about their
culture than their safety.
4 Read the paragraph from the section "Wildfires And Loss Of Plant Habitat."
Approximately 40 percent of the region is estimated to be at risk oflosing abundant plant species. In California, over 3,000 native plantspecies are expected to face reductions in hospitable geographicrange. Iconic species, such as the Saguaro cactus in the SonoranDesert, are also threatened.
What does this paragraph accomplish?
(A) It shows that California is at the greatest risk for climate change damage and
gives the readers a statistic to further illustrate that point.
(B) It helps readers understand that climate change, and specifically fires, will have
a greater impact on native plant species in the Southwest than it will on
humans.
(C) It introduces readers to the Saguaro cactus and evokes a sense of frustration in
the reader that more is not being done to protect this iconic plant.
(D) It gives an idea of the damage climate change will cause by detailing
the number of species impacted and naming one that readers might
recognize.
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 9