Wisconsin Climate Change Articles

Wisconsin’s climate is changing. A wealth of temperature and precipitation data provide evidence that on average our state has become warmer and wetter over the past 60 years. Scientists project that the decades ahead will bring changes in climate much more profound than those already observed. In some cases those changes could occur more rapidly than plant or animal species can adapt.

These articles help to define the climate changes and the projected impact on our State. Please check back often as new content is added.

How Climate Change Is Stressing Bees

The plight of the bumble bee has been well documented. In recent years, researchers have reported worrying population declines across North America. Climate change menaces these fuzzy insects.

How Climate Change Affects Butterflies

Climate change is among the biggest challenges affecting pollinators, not because the Earth has not gone through drastic climate changes before, but because the changes happening now are compounding other, severe problems faced by the environment.

Birds Laying Eggs Earlier Than Normal

The Journal of Animal Ecology shows that the average egg-laying dates have moved up by nearly a month for 72 species of birds in the upper Midwest.

How Climate Change Affects Wisconsin Winters

Data from the past 30 years has found that the intensification of corn production has increased average summer rainfalls by about 35 percent and decreased average summer temperatures by as much as one degree Celsius.

Climate Change Impacts On Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, climate change will lead to more severe weather, increased droughts, increased floods, damage to ecosystems like forests and stress on farm crops and livestock, raising the cost of food in Wisconsin.

Climate Change Impacts On The Great Lakes

Climate change is causing significant and far-reaching impacts on the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes region. In recent years, our planet has experienced some of the warmest temperatures ever recorded, record-breaking weather extremes, powerful storms, and increasing tragic flooding.

Lake Michigan Warming: Climate Threats

You don’t expect to see 75- or even 80-degree water in the Great Lakes in early July or, in most years, anytime. But an exceptionally hot weather pattern has pushed water temperatures in most of the lakes to the highest levels on record so early in the summer. Over lakes Erie and Ontario, the water is the warmest it has been since records began being kept, and could warm more in the coming weeks.

Climate Change Impacts On Bees and Food Production

A new set of threats to bees are emerging as a result of climate change. These threats can result in foodinsecurity and as three out of four crops across the globe, which produce fruits or seeds for humans.

Growing Corn Is Changing The Climate