Have you ever wondered what the future might look like in Montana?
Given that average temperatures in Montana have warmed up by 2-3 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, since the early 1900's, we're definitely curious about the ways in which continued warming might affect lands, water resources, and wildlife species in our state in the next several decades.
With that in mind, you can explore the ways in which continued warming in the Crown of the Continent will affect average high and low temperatures, the number of days with snow on the ground, growing season, and a number of other variables by the 2020s, 2040s, and 2080s - just click on the above map.
The possible futures that you see displayed across the above map were developed by Professor Steve Running and his graduate students at the University of Montana in 2010.
Professor Running, who contributed to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2007, has published more than 260 scientific articles and two books during a career in which he has focused on creating ways to better understand the impacts of continued climate change.
So take a look, and let us know what you think!
All maps and models from the Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group at the University of Montana.
