Precipitation (Mean: Dec - Mar) - 2020-2050 - RCP8.5 - Min

Publication Date

2016-12

Start Date

1980

End Date

2100

Science Framework Climate Working Group, 201612, Precipitation (Mean: Dec - Mar) - 2020-2050 - RCP8.5 - Min: .

Type: Online Link Type: catalogItemUrl

These changes in precipitation and temperature can influence water cycling and alter the temporal and depth patterns of soil water availability to plants. In particular, warmer temperatures and slightly wetter winters will promote greater moisture availability during winter and early spring, but soils are likely to dry out earlier in the year, creating longer and drier periods of limited moisture availability during the warm season. Geographic patterns identified in projections of climate change illustrate important variations among big sagebrush ecoregions and, thus, sage-grouse habitat types. In particular, the largest increases in spring soil water availability are projected to occur in the high-elevation, mountain big sagebrush and mountain brush areas in the eastern and central portion of the sagebrush biome (Palmquist et al., in review). By contrast, the most dramatic decreases in summer soil moisture are projected in the west-central part of the sagebrush biome. Furthermore, days with wet soil are projected to decrease throughout the range of big sagebrush ecosystems due to temperature related increases in evapotranspiration. These decreases will be especially large in the mid- to high-elevation areas in the northern portion of the biome.

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