Season Creep
As climate change advances, spring is arriving much sooner, while winters are becoming shorter and milder. Changes in the timing of the seasons has been documented around the world — through studies on plant and animal development and life cycles, temperature and snow cover — and informally dubbed “season creep.” Season creep is an example of how small changes can have a big impact. Climate change disrupts the critically important timing of events, such as snow melt and spring bloom, upon which ecosystems and agricultural industries depend.
Read MoreApr 8, 2020 | Charlotte Observer
Yes, you had allergies in February. Much of SC experienced earliest spring on record
Apr 2, 2020 | Washington Post
When spring came early: Washington just completed its fifth-warmest March on record
Mar 30, 2020 | USA TODAY
Winter sets records across US as sixth warmest
Nov 26, 2019 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The impact of rising CO2 and acclimation on the response of US forests to global warming
Oct 8, 2019 | Ecological Applications
Northern forest winters have lost cold, snowy conditions that are important for ecosystems and human communities
Apr 30, 2018 | AMS Journal of Climate
Human Contribution to the Lengthening of the Growing Season during 1950–99
Earth Systems Signals
Global warming is causing widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.
Heat Signals
The Earth is getting hotter due to human activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
Drought Signals
Climate change is making droughts more likely to occur, and more severe when they do.
Wildfires Signals
Climate change is increasing the size, frequency, intensity and seasonality of wildfires.
Hurricanes Signals
Warmer temperatures increase the rate of water evaporation, which feeds moisture and energy into storms.
Floods Signals
Worsening floods due to climate change are putting a growing number of communities at risk.