Sensitivity of northern Sierra Nevada streamflow to climate change

Journal Article · · Water Resources Bulletin; (United States)

OSTI ID:6926668

The sensitivity of streamflow to climate change was investigated in the American, Carson, and Truckee River Basins, California and Nevada. Nine gaging stations were used to represent streamflow in the basins. Annual models were developed by regressing 1961-1991 streamflow data on temperature and precipitation. Climate-change scenarios were used as inputs to the models to determine streamflow sensitivities. Climate-change scenarios were generated from historical time series by modifying mean temperatures by a range of +4[degrees]C to [minus]4[degrees]C and total precipitation by a range of +25 percent to [minus]25 percent. Results show that streamflow on the warmer, lower west side of the Sierra Nevada generally is more sensitive to temperature and precipitation changes than is streamflow on the colder, higher east side. A 2[degrees]C rise in temperature and a 25-percent decrease in precipitation results in streamflow decreases of 56 percent on the American River and 25 percent on the Carson River. A 2[degree]C decline in temperature and a 25-percent increase in precipitation results in streamflow increases of 102 percent on the American River and 22 percent on the Carson River. 17 refs., 6 figs., 5 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6926668
• Journal Information: Water Resources Bulletin; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Bulletin; (United States) Vol. 30:5; ISSN 0043-1370; ISSN WARBAQ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290301 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety-- Regional & Global Environmental Aspects-- (1992-)
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CLIMATIC CHANGE
FLOW MODELS
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
HYDROLOGY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
MONITORING
MOUNTAINS
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESOURCES
RIVERS
SIERRA NEVADA COLORADO
STATISTICAL MODELS
STATISTICS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE RANGE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
WATER RESOURCES