Title
Adapting California's water system to warm vs. dry climates
Abbreviated Journal Title
Clim. Change
Keywords
WESTERN UNITED-STATES; CHANGE SCENARIOS; SNOWMELT RUNOFF; SUPPLY SYSTEM; MANAGEMENT; IMPACTS; TRENDS; PRECIPITATION; OPTIMIZATION; TEMPERATURE; Environmental Sciences; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Abstract
This paper explores the independent and combined effects of changes in temperature and runoff volume on California's water supply and potential water management adaptations. Least-cost water supply system adaptation is explored for two climate scenarios: 1) warmer-drier conditions, and 2) warmer conditions without change in total runoff, using the CALVIN economic-engineering optimization model of California's intertied water supply system for 2050 water demands. The warm-dry hydrology was developed from downscaled effects of the GFDL CM2.1 (A2 emissions scenario) global climate model for a 30-year period centered at 2085. The warm-only scenario was developed from the warm-dry hydrology, preserving its seasonal runoff shift while maintaining mean annual flows from the historical hydrology. This separates the runoff volume and temperature effects of climate change on water availability and management adaptations. A warmer climate alone reduces water deliveries and increases costs, but much less than a warmer-drier climate, if the water supply system is well managed. Climate changes result in major changes in reservoir operations, cyclic storage of groundwater, and hydropower operations.
Journal Title
Climatic Change
Volume
109
Publication Date
1-1-2011
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
133
Last Page
149
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0165-0009
Recommended Citation
"Adapting California's water system to warm vs. dry climates" (2011). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 1204.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/1204
Comments
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