Last updated: January 21, 2021
Place
Muir Woods and Climate Change
Climate change may threaten the magnificent redwood trees of Muir Woods. After 150 years of logging old-growth coast redwood trees, only 5% of the original 2 million acres remains. Muir Woods protects some of this old-growth forest, which is home to the endangered spotted owl and an incredible biodiversity.
Scientists don’t yet know how climate change will affect the timing or amount of fog, but fog patterns over the last decades show a decrease in the number of foggy days that could prove detrimental to the redwoods’ long-term survival. Redwoods require fog moisture to survive the dry, northern California summers. Any changes in fog could impede redwood reproduction and survival.
Scientists don’t yet know how climate change will affect the timing or amount of fog, but fog patterns over the last decades show a decrease in the number of foggy days that could prove detrimental to the redwoods’ long-term survival. Redwoods require fog moisture to survive the dry, northern California summers. Any changes in fog could impede redwood reproduction and survival.