Is Earth near its ‘tipping points’ from global warming? The "big climate signal and impacts" will be in the West says UM’s Steve Running

Concerning the USA, the report will reference numerous scientific studies on the effects of spring arriving weeks earlier, says University of Montana ecologist Steve Running, an author of the chapter on North America. The "big climate signal and impacts" will be in the West, he says. Earlier melting of mountain snow, on which much of the region depends for water, would mean more severe dry spells and droughts that would trigger worse wildfire seasons. Lower stream flows also would threaten fish and wildlife.

By Dan Vergano and Patrick O’Driscoll, USA TODAY

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2007-04-03-tipping-points_N.htm