A new study by the United States Geological Survey has unveiled that climate change will severely affect southwestern Wyoming.

It will make this place quite vulnerable to wildfires and affect plant and animal life in the region. The scientists have based their estimates on forecasts for warmer temperatures and a rise in winter precipitation falling as rainfall versus snow.

In order to assess the changing sagebrush landscape, the researchers have used earth observation data of worth three decades. The researchers have also used the data to know how badly these things will impact the nesting areas of sage grouse.

The forecast of 2006 to 2050 acts as the base for the study. This forecast projects changes in the sagebrush habitat. "Researchers found that projected precipitation patterns for 2050 resulted in decreasing amounts of sagebrush and other shrubs, grasses, and flowering plants (forbs), while increasing the amount of bare ground", unveils the release.

The changes will be beneficial for some like woody vegetation. The researchers were of the view that a change in global or regional climate patterns that has the ability to influence precipitation regime can put these ecosystems at risk.

It has been found that snow melt in the northwest region of the state is taking place earlier. It could have significant consequences as state agriculture depends on the melt water. And, the melting procedure is taking place earlier than it means that there is less time for snow to get deposited on the mountains.

If there will be less snow on mountains west of the Continental Divide then it means there is less water for the western states, which is facing monumental drought. The state legislature in Wyoming has taken a step to provide teaching of climate science in public schools.