---
- attributes: ~
caption: "Sixty-one percent of major Southeast cities are exhibiting some aspects of worsening heat waves, which is a higher percentage than any other region of the country.{{< tbib '12' '4b55e347-52cb-4301-9eea-ad3858c6fc1d' >}} Hot days and warm nights together impact human comfort and health and result in the need for increased cooling efforts. Agriculture is also impacted by a lack of nighttime cooling. Variability and change in (top) the annual number of hot days and (bottom) warm nights are shown. The bar charts show averages over the region by decade for 1900–2016, while the maps show the trends for 1950–2016 for individual weather stations. Average summer temperatures during the most recent 10 years have been the warmest on record, with very large increases in nighttime temperatures and more modest increases in daytime temperatures, as indicated by contrasting changes in hot days and warm nights. (top left) The annual number of hot days (maximum temperature above 95°F) has been lower since 1960 than the average during the first half of the 20th century; (top right) trends in hot days since 1950 are generally downward except along the south Atlantic coast and in Florida due to high numbers during the 1950s but have been slightly upward since 1960, following a gradual increase in average daytime maximum temperatures during that time. (bottom left) Conversely, the number of warm nights (minimum temperature above 75°F) has doubled on average compared to the first half of the 20th century and (bottom right) locally has increased at most stations. Sources: NOAA NCEI and CICS-NC."
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-08-25T20:02:11
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/se_change-in-hot-days-warm-nights.yaml
identifier: se_change-in-hot-days-warm-nights
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 1
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-12-03T19:09:54
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Historical Changes in Hot Days and Warm Nights
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/se_change-in-hot-days-warm-nights
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "The City of Charleston Sea Level Rise Strategy calls for a 50-year outlook, based on existing federal sea level change projections in 2015 (colored curves), and calls for using a range of 1.5–2.5 feet of sea level rise (dashed box). A 1.5-foot increase will be used for short-term, less vulnerable investments, such as a parking lot. A 2.5-foot increase will be used for critical, longer-term investments, such as emergency routes and public buildings. This 1-foot range was chosen to approximate the average of these projections in 2065. Source: City of Charleston 2015.{{< tbib '45' 'fb8a8ec4-cc8b-4b20-8230-5bbaf2ce992f' >}}"
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-06-09T18:38:06
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/chs_casestudy-panel--c.yaml
identifier: chs_casestudy-panel--c
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 10
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:34
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: 'Projected Sea Level Rise for Charleston, SC'
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/chs_casestudy-panel--c
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "Chantel Comardelle, Isle de Jean Charles Tribe’s Executive Secretary, leads a discussion at a community meeting for the Tribe's resettlement planning process in Pointe-aux-Chenes, Louisiana, on January 18, 2016. The meeting was supported by the Lowlander Center. Photo credit: The Lowlander Center Team."
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2018-04-03T20:17:18
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/isle-de-jean-charles-planning-meeting.yaml
identifier: isle-de-jean-charles-planning-meeting
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 11
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:36
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Isle de Jean Charles Planning Meeting
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/isle-de-jean-charles-planning-meeting
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "The map shows rainfall totals from the October 2015 South Carolina flood event. Red colors in the map indicate areas that received excessive rainfall totals that broke all-time records. Some of these totals exceeded the 500-year and 1,000-year return period amounts (rainfall amounts that would be expected to have only a 0.2% or 0.1% chance of occurring in a given year). Extreme precipitation events will likely increase in frequency in the Southeast. Source: CISA 2015.{{< tbib '98' 'f22f455b-1750-4917-8e88-fc09dc5fa6fb' >}}"
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-06-09T18:17:14
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/flood-case-study-panel-a.yaml
identifier: flood-case-study-panel-a
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 12
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:37
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: October 2015 Extreme Rainfall Event
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/flood-case-study-panel-a
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "Many roads became impassable in the inland areas of South Carolina as a result of the October 2015 extreme rainfall event. This photo shows a neighborhood in North Charleston after the event with knee-deep flooding. Photo credit: Ryan Johnson (CC BY-SA 2.0)."
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2018-04-03T20:12:50
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/oct2015_flood_charleston.yaml
identifier: oct2015_flood_charleston
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 13
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:40
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: October 2015 Charleston Flood
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/oct2015_flood_charleston
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "Two factors supported Hurricane Irma’s strength as it reached the Southeast region: the very warm waters it passed over, depicted in this figure, and the light winds Irma encountered in the upper atmosphere.{{< tbib '101' 'aebd6716-caa9-43db-b91a-c057df29ac3b' >}} High-intensity hurricanes such as Irma are expected to become more common in the future due to climate change.{{< tbib '103' '52ce1b63-1b04-4728-9f1b-daee39af665e' >}} Source: NASA 2017.{{< tbib '102' '2229a46c-bf7b-4f2f-a21b-10b6a40b6979' >}}"
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2018-03-30T17:52:32
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/hurricane-irma-sst.yaml
identifier: hurricane-irma-sst
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 14
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:41
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Warm Waters Contribute to the Formation of Hurricane Irma
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/hurricane-irma-sst
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "Increasing winter temperatures are expected to result in a northward shift of the zones conducive to growing various types of plants, known as plant hardiness zones. These maps show the mean projected changes in the plant hardiness zones, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), by the late 21st century (2070–2099) under a higher scenario (RCP8.5). The USDA plant hardiness zones are based on the average lowest minimum temperature for the year, divided into increments of 5°F. Based on these projected changes, freeze-sensitive plants, like oranges, papayas, and mangoes, would be able to survive in new areas.{{< tbib '142' '0a8508df-df59-4080-89a2-52bfeaca47e0' >}} Note that large changes are projected across the region, but especially in Kentucky, Tennessee, and northern Arkansas. Sources: NOAA NCEI and CICS-NC."
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-06-13T15:31:44
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/projected_plant_hardiness_zones.yaml
identifier: projected_plant_hardiness_zones
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 15
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-12-03T19:11:18
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Projected Changes in Plant Hardiness Zones
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/projected_plant_hardiness_zones
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "Where tropical and temperate ecosystems meet, warmer winter temperatures can lead to large ecological changes such as mangrove forest replacement of salt marshes along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Mangrove forests are sensitive to freezing temperatures and are expected to expand northward at the expense of salt marshes. The figure shows the relationship between temperature and the percentage area dominated by mangrove forests. Mangrove expansion would entail a grassland-to-forest conversion, which would affect fish and wildlife habitat and many societal benefits. Source: adapted from Osland et al. 2013.{{< tbib '135' '31446ba7-4409-483b-b467-ae773a9ba950' >}} ©2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd."
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-06-09T18:34:35
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/mangrove_marsh_threshold_figure_6_9_2017.yaml
identifier: mangrove_marsh_threshold_figure_6_9_2017
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 16
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:45
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Salt Marsh Conversion to Mangrove Forest
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/mangrove_marsh_threshold_figure_6_9_2017
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: 'In Louisiana and parts of northern Florida, future coastal wetlands are expected to look and function more like the mangrove-dominated systems currently present in South Florida and the Caribbean. Like salt marshes (left), mangrove forests (right) provide coastal protection against wind and waves (Ch. 20: U.S. Caribbean, KM 2). Photo credit: Michael Osland.'
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2018-04-19T22:47:38
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/wetland-to-mangrove.yaml
identifier: wetland-to-mangrove
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 17
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:47
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Transitioning Coastal Ecosystems
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/wetland-to-mangrove
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: 'Burmese pythons are apex predators (not preyed upon by other animals) that are sensitive to cold temperatures and are expected to be favored by warming winters. This photo is from Everglades National Park, where unintentionally introduced pythons have expanded and reduced native mammal populations. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey.'
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2018-04-03T20:14:30
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/invasive-python.yaml
identifier: invasive-python
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 18
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:50
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Warm Winters Favor Invasive Species
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/invasive-python
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "(top) A helicopter drops water on a 1,500-hectare wildfire on Hurlburt Field (Eglin Air Force Base) in Florida in June of 2012. (bottom) The increased use of prescribed fire at Ft. Benning, Georgia, led to a decrease in wildfire occurrence from 1982 to 2012. Photo credit: Kevin Hiers, Tall Timbers. Figure source: adapted from Addington et al. 2015.{{< tbib '4' 'bb7efb4d-1cf9-4ce8-84e7-768910318053' >}} Reprinted by permission of CSIRO Australia, ©CSIRO."
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-06-12T18:59:56
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/case_study_dod_fire_addington_graphic2.yaml
identifier: case_study_dod_fire_addington_graphic2
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 19
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:53
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Wildfire and Prescribed Fire
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/case_study_dod_fire_addington_graphic2
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: 'The figure shows the variability and change in the length of the freeze-free season. (left) The bar chart shows differences in the length of the freeze-free season by decade (1900–2016) as compared to the long-term average for the Southeast. (right) The map shows trends over 1950–2016 for individual weather stations. The length of the freeze-free season has increased at most stations, particularly since the 1980s. Sources: NOAA NCEI and CICS-NC.'
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-08-25T19:57:10
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/se_change-in-frost-free.yaml
identifier: se_change-in-frost-free
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 2
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-12-03T19:10:12
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Historical Change in Freeze-Free Season Length
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/se_change-in-frost-free
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: 'This up-close image of a ramp (Allium tricoccum), harvested from the wild, shows leaves and the bulb/corm of the plant. Photo credit: Gary Kaufman, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station.'
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2018-04-03T20:13:57
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/ramps.yaml
identifier: ramps
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 20
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:56
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Mountain Ramps
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/ramps
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "This map shows the estimated percent change in hours worked in 2090 under a higher scenario (RCP8.5). Projections indicate an annual average of 570 million labor hours lost per year in the Southeast by 2090 (with models ranging from 340 million to 820 million labor hours).{{< tbib '35' '0b30f1ab-e4c4-4837-aa8b-0e19faccdb94' >}} Estimates represent a change in hours worked as compared to a 2003–2007 average baseline for high-risk industries only. These industries are defined as agriculture, forestry, and fishing; hunting, mining, and construction; manufacturing, transportation, and utilities. Source: adapted from EPA 2017.{{< tbib '35' '0b30f1ab-e4c4-4837-aa8b-0e19faccdb94' >}}"
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-09-21T17:39:32
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/change_in_hours.yaml
identifier: change_in_hours
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 21
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:07:58
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Projected Changes in Hours Worked
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/change_in_hours
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: 'The map shows projected changes in cooling degree days by the mid-21st century (2036–2065) under the higher scenario (RCP8.5) based on model simulations. Rural counties experiencing persistent poverty are concentrated in the Southeast, where the need for additional cooling is expected to increase at higher rates than other areas of the country by mid-century. Sources: NOAA NCEI, CICS-NC, and ERT, Inc.'
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-06-16T16:19:50
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/southeast_poverty_cdd_stateboundaries2.yaml
identifier: southeast_poverty_cdd_stateboundaries2
lat_max: 52.875N
lat_min: 25.125N
lon_max: 124.625W
lon_min: 67.000W
ordinal: 22
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-12-03T19:11:54
time_end: 2011-01-01T00:00:00
time_start: 1980-01-01T00:00:00
title: Projected Changes in Cooling Degree Days
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/southeast_poverty_cdd_stateboundaries2
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: 'The figure shows variability and change in (left) the annual number of days with precipitation greater than 3 inches (1900–2016) averaged over the Southeast by decade and (right) individual station trends (1950–2016). The number of days with heavy precipitation has increased at most stations, particularly since the 1980s. Sources: NOAA NCEI and CICS-NC.'
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-10-07T13:48:36
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/change-in-heavy-precipitation.yaml
identifier: change-in-heavy-precipitation
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 3
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-12-03T19:10:34
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Historical Change in Heavy Precipitation
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/change-in-heavy-precipitation
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: 'The map shows the historical number of warm nights (days with minimum temperatures above 75°F) per year in the Southeast, based on model simulations averaged over the period 1976–2005. Sources: NOAA NCEI and CICS-NC.'
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-09-29T16:12:46
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/se_tmin-above-75-historical_v3.yaml
identifier: se_tmin-above-75-historical_v3
lat_max: 39.62
lat_min: 24.50
lon_max: -77.22
lon_min: -94.70
ordinal: 4
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-12-03T19:10:47
time_end: 2005-12-31T00:00:00
time_start: 1976-01-01T00:00:00
title: Historical Number of Warm Nights
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/se_tmin-above-75-historical_v3
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: 'The maps show the projected number of warm nights (days with minimum temperatures above 75°F) per year in the Southeast for the mid-21st century (left; 2036–2065) and the late 21st century (right; 2070–2099) under a higher scenario (RCP8.5; top row) and a lower scenario (RCP4.5; bottom row). These warm nights currently occur only a few times per year across most of the region (Figure 19.4) but are expected to become common events across much of the Southeast under a higher scenario. Increases in the number of warm nights adversely affect agriculture and reduce the ability of some people to recover from high daytime temperatures. With more heat waves expected, there will likely be a higher risk for more heat-related illness and deaths. Sources: NOAA NCEI and CICS-NC.'
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-04-18T19:10:47
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/se_tmin-above-75_v1.yaml
identifier: se_tmin-above-75_v1
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 5
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-12-03T19:11:01
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Projected Number of Warm Nights
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/se_tmin-above-75_v1
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "The map shows current suitability for the Aedes aegypti mosquito in July in 50 different cities. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can spread several important diseases, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika fever. The Southeast is the region of the country with the greatest potential mosquito activity. Warming temperatures have the potential to expand mosquito habitat and disease risk. Source: adapted from Monaghan et al. 2016.{{< tbib '30' '9cef8d69-7596-480a-81b6-abd09ff1c1e3' >}}"
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-05-26T18:59:29
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/vector-abundance.yaml
identifier: vector-abundance
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 6
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:08:09
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Potential Abundance of Disease-Carrying Mosquito
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/vector-abundance
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information
- attributes: ~
caption: "The figure shows the annual number of days experiencing high tide floods based on observations for 1960–2016 for Fort Pulaski, near Savannah, Georgia (black), and projected increases in the number of annual flood events based on four future scenarios: a continuation of the current relative sea level trend (gray) and the Intermediate-Low (dark blue), Intermediate (light blue), and Extreme (red) sea level rise scenarios. See Sweet et al. (2017){{< tbib '51' '3bae2310-7572-47e2-99a4-9e4276764934' >}} and Appendix 3: Data & Scenarios for additional information on projection and trend data. Source: adapted from Sweet and Park 2014.{{< tbib '63' '91aeffdb-e82f-4645-abe9-f6ea6909e979' >}}"
chapter_identifier: southeast
create_dt: 2017-04-04T16:00:24
href: https://data.globalchange.gov/report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/slr_nuisance-flooding_v1.yaml
identifier: slr_nuisance-flooding_v1
lat_max: ~
lat_min: ~
lon_max: ~
lon_min: ~
ordinal: 7
report_identifier: nca4
source_citation: ~
submission_dt: 2018-11-30T19:08:11
time_end: ~
time_start: ~
title: Annual Number of High Tide Flooding Days
uri: /report/nca4/chapter/southeast/figure/slr_nuisance-flooding_v1
url: ~
usage_limits: Figure may be copyright protected and permission may be required. Contact original figure source for information