Climate Change Impacts on Montana Waters

Abstract

Scientific consensus suggests that climate change is real and that we will soon need to address the ecological changes that will result. While normal weather changes give most of us a sense of uncertainty regarding how climate change might impact on Montana, the long-term picture for Montana can be developed well utilizing climate models and associated analysis of climate change impacts. This talk will describe our current knowledge and predications for Montana's future climate with a focus on fishery concerns. The general science behind climate change simulations will precede a description of how temperature and precipitation are likely to be different in the future. The goal of this talk is to provide a background of potential climate change that may impact on regional fisheries.