Unknown Climate Change Impacts Remain For U.S. Midwest Growing Season

Scientists remain uncertain about the effect climate change may have on the summer growing season. (Credit: Andreas Krappweis)

Many climate change models incorporate surface air temperature and precipitation data, but inclusion of soil moisture is not typical, even though soil moisture is a key indicator of the water cycle.

In an attempt to correct this exclusion, researchers at Dartmouth College used climate change models including soil moisture to predict whether the U.S. Midwest will become wetter or drier in the summer growing season due to climate change. Their results appear to be inconclusive, according to a press release from Dartmouth College.

Although their models unanimously predicted rises in Midwest summer temperatures, results relating to drier or wetter summers varied depending on which global climate model was used to inform the regional climate model.

Top image: Scientists remain uncertain about the effect climate change may have on the summer growing season. (Credit: Andreas Krappweis)