Title: Southwest | National Climate Assessment
Headings: Southwest
Southwest
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Southwest
Convening Lead Authors
Lead Authors
Introduction
Observed and Projected Climate Change
Vulnerabilities of Native Nations and Border Cities
Key Message 1: Reduced Snowpack and Streamflows
Reduced Snowpack and Streamflows
The Southwest’s Renewable Potential to Produce Energy with Less Water
Key Message 2: Threats to Agriculture
Threats to Agriculture
Key Message 3: Increased Wildfire
Increased Wildfire
Key Message 4: Sea Level Rise and Coastal Damage
Sea Level Rise and Coastal Damage
Key Message 5: Heat Threats to Health
Heat Threats to Health

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Observed and Projected Climate Change
The Southwest is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. The region has heated up markedly in recent decades, and the period since 1950 has been hotter than any comparably long period in at least 600 years (Ch. 2: Our Changing Climate, Key Message 3 ). 2
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The decade 2001-2010 was the warmest in the 110-year instrumental record, with temperatures almost 2°F higher than historic averages, with fewer cold air outbreaks and more heat waves. 5
Compared to relatively uniform regional temperature increases, precipitation trends vary considerably across the region, with portions experiencing decreases and others experiencing increases (Ch. 2: Our Changing Climate, Key Message 5). 5
There is mounting evidence that the combination of human-caused temperature increases and recent drought has influenced widespread tree mortality,
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increased fire occurrence and area burned,
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and forest insect outbreaks (Ch. 7: