We are now using reading the Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume II.

The Assessment provide a quick snapshot of the impacts, risks, and adaptation the Unites States is facing. The assessment is very to the point.

However we are only focused on the Northeast and Midwest Regions for this week. 

Ch:18 Northeast Summary

Key Message 1: Changing Seasons Affect Rural Ecosystems, Environments, and Economies

• The seasonality of the Northeast is central to the region’s sense of place and is an important driver of rural economies. Less distinct seasons with milder winter and earlier spring conditions are already altering ecosystems and environments in ways that adversely impact tourism, farming, and forestry. The region’s rural industries and livelihoods are at risk from further changes to forests, wildlife, snowpack, and streamflow.
• Changes to the temperature during the winter to spring transition has changed the timing of the growing season. 
• Shorter winters make it harder for logging companies to function. 
• Precipitation is trending towards an increase. This will delay planting and reduce the number of days when the fields are workable.

Key Message 2: Changing Coastal and Ocean Habitats, Ecosystems Services, and Livelihoods

• The Northeast’s coast and ocean support commerce, tourism, and recreation that are important to the region’s economy and way of life. Warmer ocean temperatures, sea level rise, and ocean acidification threaten these services. The adaptive capacity of marine ecosystems and coastal communities will influence ecological and socioeconomic outcomes as climate risks increase.  
• The ocean is warming has affected the marine organisms and ecosystems.
• Ocean acidification is increasing and is enhanced by the land based run off. 
• Sea level rise can displace people and affect the costal ecosystem.

Key Message 3: Maintaining Urban Areas and Communities and Their Interconnectedness

• The Northeast’s urban centers and their interconnections are regional and national hubs for cultural and economic activity. Major negative impacts on critical infrastructure, urban economies, and nationally significant historic sites are already occurring and will become more common with a changing climate.
• Urban Heat Island effect will impact the urban areas
• Health risk will increase because of heat related stress and poor air quality
• Varying communities will be affected by climate change and we must act soon. 

Key Message 4: Threats to Human Health

• Changing climate threatens the health and well-being of people in the Northeast through more extreme weather, warmer temperatures, degradation of air and water quality, and sea level rise. These environmental changes are expected to lead to health related impacts and costs, including additional deaths, emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and a lower quality of life. Health impacts are expected to vary by location, age, current health, and other characteristics of individuals and communities.
• Older adults, children, and pregnant women are vulnerable to extreme heat.
• Air pollution, aeroallergens, and wildfires are expected to increase and affect many
• One area that is being explored with threats are how they that impact our mental health and well being. 

Key Message 5: Adaptation to Climate Change Is Underway

• Communities in the Northeast are proactively planning and implementing actions to reduce risks posed by climate change. Using decision support tools to develop and apply adaptation strategies informs both the value of adopting solutions and the remaining challenges. Experience since the last assessment provides a foundation to advance future adaptation efforts.
• Communities have noticed the risks and started to take action.
• We must be proactive in our fight against climate change.
• We need to establish plans to mitigate, adapt, and become more resilient. 

Ch.21: Midwest Summary

Key Message 1: Agriculture

• The Midwest is a major producer of a wide range of food and animal feed for national consumption and international trade. Increases in warm-season absolute humidity and precipitation have eroded soils, created favorable conditions for pests and pathogens, and degraded the quality of stored grain. Projected changes in precipitation, coupled with rising extreme temperatures before mid-century, will reduce Midwest agricultural productivity to levels of the 1980s without major technological advances.
• Corn and soybeans are major commodity crops in the Midwest.
• Temperatures are projected to increase and will have a major impact
• Ways we can adapt is to use soil-erosion suppression methods. 

Key Message 2: Forestry

• Midwest forests provide numerous economic and ecological benefits, yet threats from a changing climate are interacting with existing stressors such as invasive species and pests to increase tree mortality and reduce forest productivity. Without adaptive actions, these interactions will result in the loss of economically and culturally important tree species such as paper birch and black ash and are expected to lead to the conversion of some forests to other forest types or even to non-forested ecosystems by the end of the century. Land managers are beginning to manage risk in forests by increasing diversity and selecting for tree species adapted to a range of projected conditions.
• Forest are important for the economy and environment, but they are vulnerable to climate change.
• Forest are in decline and lowering in diversity because of logging, fire suppression, and agricultural expansion.
• However there are many management plans and frameworks that are being developed and in action.

Key Message 3: Biodiversity and Ecosystems

• The ecosystems of the Midwest support a diverse array of native species and provide people with essential services such as water purification, flood control, resource provision, crop pollination, and recreational opportunities. Species and ecosystems, including the important freshwater resources of the Great Lakes, are typically most at risk when climate stressors, like temperature increases, interact with land-use change, habitat loss, pollution, nutrient inputs, and nonnative invasive species. Restoration of natural systems, increases in the use of green infrastructure, and targeted conservation efforts, especially of wetland systems, can help protect people and nature from climate change impacts.
• Climate change will outpace plants' ability to shift habitat range
• Coldwater fish will also be at risk because of the increased temperatures would increase the warm ice free period.
• Human land use has greatly influenced the structure and function of natural systems of the Midwest.

Key Message 4: Human Health

• Climate change is expected to worsen existing health conditions and introduce new health threats by increasing the frequency and intensity of poor air quality days, extreme high temperature events, and heavy rainfalls; extending pollen seasons; and modifying the distribution of disease-carrying pests and insects. By mid-century, the region is projected to experience substantial, yet avoidable, loss of life, worsened health conditions, and economic impacts estimated in the billions of dollars as a result of these changes. Improved basic health services and increased public health measures—including surveillance and monitoring—can prevent or reduce these impacts.
• Air quality is degrading in the Midwest because of increases in ground level ozone and particulate matter. 
• Increases in temperature during the day and night time are expected. Precipitation will also increase and create more floods
• Habitat conditions change and allow for disease carrying insects to live in the Midwest.

Key Message 5: Transportation and Infrastructure

• Storm water management systems, transportation networks, and other critical infrastructure are already experiencing impacts from changing precipitation patterns and elevated flood risks. Green infrastructure is reducing some of the negative impacts by using plants and open space to absorb storm water. The annual cost of adapting urban storm water systems to more frequent and severe storms is projected to exceed $500 million for the Midwest by the end of the century.
• Precipitation increase will put addition stress to storm water management systems and affect roadway safety
• Flooding rivers will also impact the land of many people
• Green infrastructure can help mitigate some of the impacts of climate change.

Key Message 6: Community Vulnerability and Adaptation

• At-risk communities in the Midwest are becoming more vulnerable to climate change impacts such as flooding, drought, and increases in urban heat islands. Tribal nations are especially vulnerable because of their reliance on threatened natural resources for their cultural, subsistence, and economic needs. Integrating climate adaptation into planning processes offers an opportunity to better manage climate risks now. Developing knowledge for decision-making in cooperation with vulnerable communities and tribal nations will help to build adaptive capacity and increase resilience.
• There are many communities at risk.  (cities, rural, coastal communities, and tribes)
• "To mitigate or better respond to these impacts, we need to focus on assessing vulnerabilities but also include effective planning and implementation of adaptation options" (903)
• We need to come up with a plan and collaborate with each other to make a difference.