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Footprints of climate change in US national park visitation.

TitleFootprints of climate change in US national park visitation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsBuckley LB, Foushee MS
JournalInternational journal of biometeorology
Volume56
Issue6
Pagination1173-7
Date Published2012 Nov
ISSN1432-1254
KeywordsClimate Change, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, Humans, Recreation, Universities, United States
Abstract

<p>Climate change has driven many organisms to shift their seasonal timing. Are humans also shifting their weather-related behaviors such as outdoor recreation? Here we show that peak attendance in US national parks experiencing climate change has shifted 4&nbsp;days earlier since 1979. Of the nine parks experiencing significant increases in mean spring temperatures, seven also exhibit shifts in the timing of peak attendance. Of the 18 parks without significant temperature changes, only 3 exhibit attendance shifts. Our analysis suggests that humans are among the organisms shifting behavior in response to climate change.</p>

DOI10.1007/s00484-011-0508-4
Alternate JournalInt J Biometeorol