Scientists expect the earth's average temperature to continue to rise over your lifetime. Global temperature affects climatic conditions like El Nino. El Nino is caused when the water in the tropical Pacific Ocean becomes warmer. El Nino has been linked with increased precipitation in the southern US and dryer conditions in the Australia. La Nina happens when the tropical Pacific water is cooler.
The strength of El Nino and LA Nina effects droughts and floods around the world. Scientists are just starting to examine these relationships and other impacts of rising global temperatures.
Today's models can't accurately predict if your state will become drier or wetter. Scientists expect that the change in precipitation will have a greater impact on vegetation than the change in temperature.
Design an activity to look at the affect of precipitation on the trees in your state. Create a Stella model to examine the impact on trees in your state if the climate becomes wetter or dryer. Use the EPA state impacts site to help set the parameters in your model.