What are some environmental problems in Colorado?

Because of climate change, Colorado is predicted to get hotter and drier in the next few decades. We’ll see more days with record-breaking heat, longer droughts, more wildfires, and more evaporation from our scarce water supplies.

What causes climate change in Colorado?

Colorado’s climate is changing. Most of the state has warmed one or two degrees (F) in the last century. Our climate is changing because the earth is warming. People have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the air by 40 percent since the late 1700s.

How will global warming affect Colorado?

In short, the report indicates that the West will likely be looking at less snow, warmer summers, increased drought and increased wildfire smoke and ground pollution. That would obviously have big direct and indirect implications for Colorado as well.

Is Colorado getting hotter?

DENVER — When people talk about Colorado’s climate, there’s one line that’s shared a lot: the state has warmed up around 2 degrees Fahrenheit over the last several decades.

What is polluting Colorado’s air?

Ozone is the primary pollutant taking a toll on Colorado’s air, according to Flocke. Colorado has some of the worst ozone pollution of anywhere in the US. In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency reclassified the Denver area as a “serious” violator of federal air quality standards.

How clean is the air in Colorado?

46th out of 50 for urban air quality U.S. News & World Report ranked Colorado 46th out of 50 states in its 2019 Best States rankings for urban air quality.

How will climate change affect Boulder CO?

Boulder County and other Colorado communities are already experiencing the impacts of a warming climate in the form of reduced snowpack, earlier snowmelt, increased risk of high intensity wildfires, extreme weather events, and an increased number of “high heat” days.

How is Denver affected by climate change?

In Denver and Colorado Springs, the summer season has warmed by 2.6 degrees since 1970 — higher than the national average. Grand Junction’s average summer temperature is up by 1 degree, smaller but still notable. Higher average temperatures increase the number of extreme heat days.

Are summers hot in Denver?

Denver is typically a very hot place during the summer but the amount of 90- and 100-degree days this season is chart topping.

Does Colorado get rain?

In Colorado, precipitation occurs in various forms (rain, snow, hail, etc.) Statewide the average yearly precipitation is approximately 17 inches; however, there is a large range in the average annual precipitation across the state due various topographical features.

Why is Colorado’s air so bad?

Ozone pollution and wildfire smoke are largely responsible for obscuring the view of the Rocky Mountains, an increasingly common sight in Colorado, according to Flocke.

What are Colorado’s biggest sources of air pollution?

Q: What are the biggest causes of ozone and particulate pollution in Colorado? The biggest culprits right now are oil and gas production and refining, driving petroleum-fueled vehicles, emission from coal-fired power plants, industrial plants and wildfire smoke.