Effects in Parks

Logan Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

National parks are ideal outdoor classrooms for learning about climate change. They are living laboratories where scientific study can help better understand its impacts.

In some parks, the melting of glaciers and thawing of permafrost are visible. Along the coast, many parks grapple with sea level rise. And in many Western parks, tree mortality and wildfire activity are on the rise. Science helps document the many ways climate change manifests across the National Park System.

Every year brings new publications that improve our understanding of parks in a warming world. But science does more than just document change. It can also provide important insights on potential solutions for the future.

Dig deeper:

Park-specific Climate Science

View articles, studies, and briefs organized by park about climate impacts to across the National Park System.

Recent Climate Trends

Explore how parks are warming disproportionately to the rest of the country, including 289 park-specific briefs on recent trends

Projected Effects on Birds

Climate change will affect the composition of bird species in national parks. View 274 park-specific briefs to learn more

Visitation and Climate Change

How might warming temperatures alter park visitation? 340 park-specific briefs are available

Eastern Forest Vulnerability

Climate change is projected to substantially impact eastern forests. 121 park-specific briefs are available to download

Advancing Spring Onset

Spring is arriving earlier in our national parks

Sea Level Change

Explore how changing sea levels will impact the cultural and natural resources of coastal national parks

Wildland Fire

Climate change has increased the length of fire seasons and doubled the land area burned by wildfire

More Climate Change Effects

Below you'll find a listing of articles on climate change effects sourced from national park websites from around the country.