Climate Change Information
Thomas Piechota, Ph.D., P.EDirector of Sustainability and Multidisciplinary Research
Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Is the Earth Getting Warmer?
The Earth’s Greenhouse Effect
Typical Greenhouse gases
•water vapor
•carbon dioxide (CO2)
•methane
•nitrous oxide
•ozone
•CFCs
Changes in Temperature andCO2 Concentrations
Karl and Trenberth, 2003
Climate Change: Natural or Manmade?
Petit et al., 1999
Vostok Ice Core
Colorado River Basin
Climate Change:Is it the Urban Heat Island?
Peterson, 2003
OR
Public Perception of Climate Change
Mason Dixon Polling and Research, Inc., 2008
How do you feel about the issue of climate change? Do you believe it is a scientifically established reality, or do you feel it is still unproven and subject to debate?
Reality 48%
Unproven 44
Not sure 5
On the issue of climate change in the West, do you feel that the benefits of taking action will be worth or will not be worth the economic costs?
Worth it 57%
Not worth it 26
Not sure 17
Public Perception of Climate Change
Mason Dixon Polling and Research, Inc., 2008
Do you feel that addressing climate change in the West will create new jobs through development of new energy and agricultural technologies or result in a loss of jobs by increasing regulations and costs on businesses.
Create Jobs 54%
Lose Jobs 24
Not sure 22
Not Just an Issue for Scientists
How is Climate Change Modeled?(General Circulation Models (GCMs) of the earth)
Projected Temperature Changes in the US
Projected Precipitation Changes in the US
Impacts of Climate Change
• Decreased summer runoff…increased winter runoff
• Increase in forest growth and timber production
• Losses in local biodiversity…some may adapt
• Food supply should remain secure
• More heat waves…milder winters
• Sea level rise…inundation of coastal communities
• More extreme (floods and droughts) events
Climate Change in the West and Las Vegas
• Less snowpack in the
Colorado River Basin
• Decreased power generation
• Higher salinity levels
• Lower reservoir levels
(impacts to recreation)
• LV more like Phoenix climate
Water Education Foundation, 1999
Lee Ferry
Changes in Western Snowpack
Lake Mead Water Surface ElevationLake Mead Water Surface Elevation
Temperature inUpper Colorado River Basin
Year
1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
An
nu
al
Me
an
Te
mp
era
ture
( F
)
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
WRCC / CEFANOAA Westmap
Precipitation inUpper Colorado River Basin
Water Year ( End Year )
1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Wa
ter
Ye
ar
Pre
cip
ita
tio
n (
in
ch
es
)
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
WRCC CEFANOAA Westmap
Projected Temperature (2000-2020) in Upper Colorado River Basin
Projected Precipitation (2000-2020) in Upper Colorado River Basin
Adapting to Climate Change
• Alteration of cropping and agriculture management practices
• Modifications to infrastructure
• Increased water conservation practices
• Flexibility of managing water across basins
• Integrated management of groundwater and surface water
• Market solutions
• Incorporate climate change into long-term planning/design
• Increase in water reuse
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