Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-8-2007

Publication Title

Journal of the American Water Resources Association

Volume

35

Issue

6

First Page

1429

Last Page

1441

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1999.tb04227.x

Abstract

A wide variety of regional assessments of the water-related impacts of climatic change have been done over the past two decades, using different methods, approaches, climate models, and assumptions. As part of the Water Sector research for the National Assessment of the Implications of Climatic Variability and Change for the United States, several major summaries have been prepared, looking at the differences and similarities in results among regional research projects. Two such summaries are presented here, for the Colorado River Basin and the Sacramento River Basin. Both of these watersheds are vitally important to the social, economic, and ecological character of their regions; both are large snowmelt-driven basins; both have extensive and complex water management systems in place; and both have had numerous, independent studies done on them. This review analyzes the models, methods, climate assumptions, and conclusions from these studies, and places them in the context of the new climate scenarios developed for the National Assessment. Some significant and consistent impacts have been identified for these basins, across a wide range of potential climate changes. Among the most important is the shift in the timing of runoff that results from changes in snowfall and snowmelt dynamics. This shift has been seen in every regional result across these two basins despite differences in models and climate change assumptions. The implications of these impacts for water management, planning, and policy are discussed.

Comments

"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Gleick, Peter H. and Elizabeth L. Chalecki. 1999. “The Impacts of Climatic Changes for Water Resources of the Colorado and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Basins.” Journal of the American Water Resources Association. Vol. 35, No. 6, December 1999, pp. 1429-1441. , which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1999.tb04227.xI]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited."

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