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CLIMATIC VARIATION AND SURFACE WATER RESOURCES IN THE GREAT BASIN REGION 1
Author(s) -
Flaschka Irmgard,
Stockton C. W.,
Boggess W. R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1987.tb00783.x
Subject(s) - surface runoff , environmental science , precipitation , climate change , water balance , structural basin , hydrology (agriculture) , drainage basin , surface water , water resources , economic shortage , geography , geology , meteorology , environmental engineering , ecology , paleontology , oceanography , geotechnical engineering , cartography , biology , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics)
There is mounting evidence that increasing amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide may lead to significant changes in global climate during the next century. The possible effects of such climatic changes on surface runoff in the Great Basin Region of the western United States has been investigated by applying water balance models to four watersheds in Nevada and Utah. The most probable change, a 2°C increase in average annual temperature coupled with a 10 percent decrease in precipitation, would reduce runoff from 17 to 28 percent of the present mean, with drier basins showing the greatest change. Decreasing precipitation by 25 percent causes runoff reductions of 33 to 51 percent. Equivalent changes to a cooler and wetter climate show corresponding increases in runoff of approximately the same magnitude, but such a shift is not considered likely. Based on projected water requirements for the year 2000, a change to a warmer and drier climate would cause severe water shortages in many parts of the Great Basin.