Microsoft Word - northeast.doc

Since 1970, the Northeast has seen an average temperature increase of 2°F, leading to longer growing seasons and reduced snowpack. Future high-emissions scenarios project further warming, significant reductions in winter snow seasons, and increased frequency of extreme heat and flooding. These changes threaten the dairy and fruit industries, particularly cranberries, and risk substantial damage to coastal infrastructure in cities like New York and Boston. Additionally, the region's $7.6 billion winter recreation industry and specific fisheries, such as cod and lobster, face disruption due to warming waters and reduced snow cover.

• The Northeast has experienced a 2°F increase in annual average temperature since 1970, with winter temperatures rising twice as much. Future projections suggest further increases of 1.5 to 3.5°F in summer and 2.5 to 4°F in winter over the coming decades.
• Under high-emissions scenarios by the end of the century, the winter snow season is expected to be reduced by half in northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, and dwindle to only one or two weeks in southern areas of the region.
• Climate warming threatens the viability of fruit and dairy production. Cranberry production in Massachusetts and New Jersey may become unsustainable by mid-century due to lack of winter chilling. In parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, milk production could decline by 20 percent or more.
• Coastal flooding and sea-level rise pose severe risks to major cities. A 2-foot global sea-level rise would result in a 2.3-foot relative rise in New York City. Under high-emissions scenarios, a 100-year coastal flood in New York City could occur once per decade by late this century.
• The regional winter recreation economy, valued at $7.6 billion annually, is at risk. Alpine skiing and other snow sports account for $4.6 billion, while snowmobiling accounts for $3 billion; the latter is projected to have a marginal or non-existent season by mid-century in most of the region.
• Marine species are shifting distributions; lobster fisheries are moving northward, while the cod fishery on Georges Bank is likely to diminish as bottom temperatures above 47°F lead to declines in growth and survival.
• Terrestrial ecosystems are responding rapidly to warming. In New England mountains, the transition zone for tree species has shifted approximately 350 feet uphill in a few decades, with cold-loving species declining from 43 to 18 percent.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.). Microsoft Word - northeast.doc. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/us-global-climate-change-report-northeast.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Microsoft Word - northeast.doc. n.d. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/us-global-climate-change-report-northeast.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Microsoft Word - northeast.doc |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/us-global-climate-change-report-northeast.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientistsndmicrosoft, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Microsoft Word - northeast.doc}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/us-global-climate-change-report-northeast.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }