Across the National Park System, hundreds of climate stations in remote and frontcountry locations collect information in all kinds of terrain and diverse elevations. Used together with climate models, tools, and expertise, this information can help park managers to better understand the changes impacting park resources.
Scientists who study Earth's climate are looking at more than just weather statistics over time. Rather, climate science is a complex field spanning multiple disciplines like atmospheric science, physical geography, oceanography, and biogeochemistry. Climate scientists look at the sum of evidence across Earth to explain how and why the climate is changing and what broad-scale impacts are occurring. Often, this information is then modeled to inform projections for the future. Still have questions? See more explanation about climate science and understanding climate change.
Because many national parks are located in the arid western U.S., climate change-related drought is a concern. The concept of water balance is a very helpful way to understand the potential future climate and the likely responses by species and ecosystems. Check out more tools to understand climate data.
Climate Trends Examples
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How Climate Change Impacts Muir WoodsThe impacts related to climate change are evident throughout the redwood forests of California. Learn more about the impacts in Muir Woods.
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Climate Trends on the Colorado PlateauAs the northern Colorado Plateau heads into a hotter, drier future, there will be ecological winners and losers.
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Alaska's Warming ClimateTemperatures in high-latitude regions of the world are rising faster than the global average. This rapid rise is impacting parks.
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Climate Resilience in Northwest ForestsPacific Northwest forests are vital as climate refugia; see how they are handling the stress of climate change.
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Climate Change Clues from MonitoringIn the Pacific islands, warming climate increases the frequency and intensity of tropical storms and droughts.
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Climate Change in the Sonoran DesertThe Sonoran Desert is home to a unique assemblage of flora and fauna that has responded to previous climatic changes.
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Climate Change and High Elevation Parks
Learn how scientists are studying the effects of climate change on national parks and what some parks are doing to lower their carbon footprint.
- Duration:
- 8 minutes, 58 seconds
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Monitoring Climate Change in the Smokies
The Smokies are known for their amazing biodiversity, lush forests and unique high elevation ecosystem. Watch this video to find out how a changing climate may impact the resources that make the Smokies so special.
- Duration:
- 5 minutes, 20 seconds
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A Changing Landscape: Glacier's Warming Climate
Climate change is changing landscapes and creating impacts throughout the world. Glacier National Park is no exception. Around 1850, an estimated 80 glaciers existed within the present boundaries of the park. Based on aerial imagery from 2015 there are about 26 named glaciers remaining. This film explores current research on the park's melting glaciers and how the park's ecosystem is responding to climate change.
- Duration:
- 5 minutes, 25 seconds
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Seasonal Changes in Alaska's National Parks
National Park Service ecologist David Swanson explains the Arctic Network Inventory & Monitoring team's use of remote cameras to study seasonal changes across Alaska's northernmost national parks. Each camera is part of climate monitoring station that records weather conditions at locations across Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, and Noatak National Preserve. In doing so, we can identify long and short-term trends, provide reliable climate data to other researchers, and participate in larger scale climate monitoring and modeling efforts beyond park boundaries.
- Duration:
- 4 minutes, 17 seconds
Climate Model Examples
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How Dry will Parks Get?In our research on water abundance, movement, and shortfalls in national parks, we found that drought stress has acute effects on resources.
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Snowpack Changes Impact SalmonClimate change is altering the nature and role of the snowpack, which will impact hydrological and ecological systems, including salmon.
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Forecasting Vegetation ConditionIdentifying different climate and water balance windows to explain vegetation greenness provides park managers with useful predictions.
See more examples
Showing results 1-10 of 58
- Arches National Park
How Dry Will Parks Get? Water Deficit Tells Us
- Locations: Arches National Park
Dryness has an outsized impact on nature in parks, but temperature and precipitation are poor indicators.
- Yellowstone National Park
When the River Breaks
- Locations: Yellowstone National Park
In the aftermath of the devastating 2022 Yellowstone floods, we examined historical river flows. Could our insights help predict future events?
- Locations: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park
- Offices: Regions 6, 7, and 8, Resource Stewardship & Science Directorate - Regions 6, 7, 8
Decades of climate-driven drought, and a consistent imbalance between supply and demand for Colorado River water have led to low reservoir levels in the Colorado River Basin. Low water levels have implications to rivers located both upstream and downstream of the reservoirs, including the introduction of invasive fish. We modeled the probability that smallmouth bass would establish and what we could do to mitigate that threat. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
- Locations: Capitol Reef National Park
- Offices: Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network
Innovative tools are being developed to nowcast and forecast the severity of drought impacts on wildfire hazard, and other conditions. Automated alerts and forecasts of resource condition provide lead time to implement creative solutions to minimize drought impacts in national parks. The information used to build forecasts is also useful for understanding and planning for potential climate change impacts in the future. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
- Locations: Bryce Canyon National Park
- Offices: Inventory and Monitoring Division, Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network
Have you wondered what will happen to vegetation in arid climates if they become more arid in the future? Northern Colorado Plateau Network scientists explored the relationships between climate and vegetation at Bryce Canyon National Park. Results include discovery of changes that have already occurred and identification of vegetation types that are most sensitive to continued climate change, providing managers with insights into future scenarios that can aid decision making.
- Locations: Katmai National Park & Preserve, Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
- Offices: Southwest Alaska Inventory & Monitoring Network
Read the summary and get the link to an article that describes a new approach to model lake ice phenology: Kirchner, P. B. and M. P. Hannam. 2024. Volume-mediated lake-ice phenology in Southwest Alaska revealed through remote sensing and survival analysis. Water 16(16): 2309.
Historical and Future Climate Patterns at Rocky Mountain National Park: Some Biological Implications
- Locations: Rocky Mountain National Park
- Offices: Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, Rocky Mountain Inventory & Monitoring Network
Climate change has the potential to profoundly alter national parks, affecting plants, animals, and cultural resources. During this time of unusually rapid change, proactive management—planning ahead—has a better chance of success than reacting to crises after they arise. This article compares historical climate patterns at Rocky Mountain National Park with future projected conditions to help park managers proactively plan for climate change.
- Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
Climate Change in Timucuan Preserve
- Locations: Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
What does climate change mean for Timucuan Preserve? Learn about the specific changes, challenges, and opportunities for action in the park.
- Locations: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Isle Royale National Park, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
- Offices: Midwest Archeological Center, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate
The Midwest United States, with its windy, rolling plains, doesn't often come to mind when we think about the effects of climate change on our world - but it should.
- Locations: Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Denali National Park & Preserve, Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, more »
- Offices: Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate
The rugged beauty of Alaska has been the homelands of Alaska Native people for thousands of generations. Today the relentless march of climate change threatens a range of cultural resources from archeological sites to historic cemeteries. Now the National Park Service is in a race to document heritage across the parklands in Alaska.
Last updated: February 29, 2024