Changing Parksin a Changing Climate

by Andrew J Gertge

me

changing parks

temperatureprecipitation patterns

sea levels

WHAT’S CHANGING?WHAT’S CHANGING?

Changes in surface temperature 1970-2004 IPCC 2007

Alaska- Coastal Erosion

Cape Krusenstern

Alaska- Glacier Retreat

Carroll Glacier, Glacier Bay NP&P

1906

2003

<13% in last 52 years

Alaska- Glacier Retreat

Alaska- Pests

Alaska – Wildfires

2007 Anaktuvuk Fire. BLM photo from ADN.com

Alaska – Wildfires

Alaska – Melting Permafrost

Alaska – Melting Permafrost

Methane bubbles trapped in ice

Alaska – Melting Permafrost

Alaska – Changing Habitat

Alaska – Changing Habitat

Alaska – Changing Habitat

Alaska – Changing Habitat

Alaska – Changing Habitat

Alaska – Resource / Recreation

“Climate change is potentially the most far-

reaching and consequential challenge

to our mission”-Jonathan B. Jarvis

Regional Director-Pacific West Region

national park mission

“to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such

means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future

generations.”-NPS Organic Act 1916

climate change science

1750

1827

1850

1896

1958

1978

1985

Anthropogenic

Contribution

1988

2007

video

park strategy

PARK STRATEGY PARK STRATEGY

2 Communicate Knowledge1 Inventories, monitoring and research

3 Environmentally Sustainable Operations4 Adapt to changes

Staying true to the current NPS mission may be impossible!may be impossible!

Goal 1: inventories, monitoring and research

Goal 2: Communicate Knowledge

Goal 3: Environmentally Sustainable Operations

Assisted migration? Or Extinction?Goal 4: Adapt to Changes

New gene pool?Goal 4: Adapt to Changes

Visitation limits?Goal 4: Adapt to Changes

Changing Parksin a Changing Climate

by Andrew J Gertge