Climate change in Yellowstone, said USGS, causes food plants to leaf out earlier in the year, potentially affecting migratory animals in search of forage plants ripe for eating.
Rocky Mountain Climate
USGS: Some Rocky Mountain regions warming 1.8 times the global average; species adapting, becoming vulnerable
Colorado extreme rain, snow events rise 25% from 1948: ECRPC
Based on an analysis of state data from the National Climatic Data Center, the ECRPC report found that heavy rain and snowstorms now occur in Colorado every 9.6 months on average, instead of once every 12 months on average.
Fire suppression, human activity among factors for West’s large forest fires, study finds
Research derived from ponderosa pine forests in the Southwest indicates that while low-severity surface fires are common historically, today’s large-scale forest fires are enabled by fire-suppression efforts and other human activities.
Warming climate alters alpine, subalpine zones at Colorado mountain research site
Measurements at Niwot Ridge research station west of Boulder indicate changes to Colorado mountain zones are underway.
