Assessing the effects of climate changes on snowpack and streamflow

TitleAssessing the effects of climate changes on snowpack and streamflow
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1989
AuthorsCooley, K. R.
Conference Name57th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 57th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1989
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationFort Collins, Colorado
KeywordsClimate change, Runoff, Snowmelt
Abstract

Projected increases in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide could significantly change the earth's climate. Estimates of expected changes in temperature and precipitaion have been made by a number of researchers using theoretical models, empirical relationships, and actual long-term climatic data. The estimated changes range from warming the global surface temperatures by more than 4 degrees celsius, to cooling the surface temperature somewhat, and increasing or decreasing precipitation by about 10% in certain areas or regions of the world. In this sudy, the National Weather Service River Forecast System Model (NWSRFS) was used to estimate the effects of temperature and precipitation changes, of the magnitude suggested, on snowpack and streamflow for the Lower Willow creek Watershed, Montana, which is a predominately snowmelt-fed system.

URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1989Cooley.pdf