Hydrologic effects of climate change in the Delaware River Basin, by Gregory J. McCabe, Jr. and Mark A. Ayers
- Univ. of Idaho, Moscow (United States)
Water resource scientists, planners, and managers need to know what hydrology changes to expect due to CO{sub 2}-induced climate warming. McCabe and Ayer's study is a useful first-cut approximation of how climate change might affect seasonal soil moisture and runoff in the Delaware River basin. However, I question that the findings of this study are in agreement with those obtained in other climate-change studies. The change in runoff agree in direction, but the magnitudes differ according to region. Ayers estimated that unless precipitation increases, climate warming will cause a decrease in runoff. Will the effect of increased atmospheric CO{sub 2} on reduced transpiration rates be a major factor influencing runoff That depends on seasonal distribution of precipitation and distribution and quantity of transpiring vegetation. The effect of CO{sub 2}-induced climate warming on watershed hydrology will be complex. Runoff changes may result from several competing factors including: warmer temperatures, changes in quantity and seasonal distribution of precipitation, changes in cloudiness, windiness, and humidity, changes in soil wetness, increased length of the growing season, increased transpiration leaf area, increased leaf temperatures, species changes in vegetation communities, increased plant water used efficiency, decreased stomatal conductance and decreased stomate density due to increased CO{sub 2}.
- OSTI ID:
- 5935761
- Journal Information:
- Water Resources Bulletin; (United States), Vol. 26:5; ISSN 0043-1370
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Impacts of climate warming on the frozen ground and eco-hydrology in the Yellow River source region, China
A model for predicting continental-scale vegetation distribution and water balance
Related Subjects
CARBON DIOXIDE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
CLIMATES
VARIATIONS
DELAWARE RIVER
HYDROLOGY
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CLOUDS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
RUNOFF
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
TRANSPIRATION
WIND
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540310 - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)