human impact

Font Size: A | A | A

Human-Induced Changes in the Hydrology of the Western United States


Source: Science
Volume: 319-1080
Year: 2008

Abstract

Observations have shown that the hydrological cycle of the western United States changed significantly over the last half of the 20th century. We present a regional, multivariable climatechange detection and attribution study, using a high-resolution hydrologic model forced by globalclimate models, focusing on the changes that have already affected this primarily arid regionwith a large and growing population. The results show that up to 60% of the climate-related trendsof river flow, winter air temperature, and snow pack between 1950 and 1999 are human-induced.These results are robust to perturbation of study variates and methods. They portend, in conjunction with previous work, a coming crisis in water supply for the western United States.


Author(s)

Tim P. Barnett et. al.


Contact



Notes