Climate Change and Water

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Climate Change and Water

• BAESI
• Water in a Changing Climate
• July 2009

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Climate Change Hydrologic Change
http//www.fs.fed.us/emphasis/products/water-clima
te-brochure.pdf
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Climate Change and Water

• Future effect of climate change on global water
  resources depends on both
• Climatic factors AND
• Non-climatic factors
• Population growth
• Changes in economy
• Development of new tech
• Changes in watershed characteristics
• Watershed management

http//www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/water/ind
ex.html
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Impacts of Climate Change

• Changes in Water Availability
• Quantity
• Quality
• Timing
• Distribution

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Climate Change and Water in California
http//www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/062807f
actsheet.pdf
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Climate Change Impacts to Californias Water
Resources

• By 2050 loss of at least 25 percent of the
  Sierra snowpack
• More variable weather patterns
• More flooding and longer, more severe droughts
• Rising water temperatures and changes in runoff
  patterns
• may adversely impact salmon and other species.
• Sea level rise will threaten many coastal
  communities as well as the sustainability of the
  Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
• Salt water intrusion

http//www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/062807
factsheet.pdf
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http//www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/062807f
actsheet.pdf
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Potential reduction in hydropower

• Increased population and greater demand for
  energy
• Decreased snow melt flowing through decreased
  potential for hydropower production
• However, future precipitation projections are
  uncertain.

Shasta dam (USGS)
http//www.climatechoices.org/ca/site/ca/site/our-
changing-climate.html
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Sea Level Rise
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Global Water Resources
http//maps.grida.no/library/files/increased-globa
l-water-stress_003.jpg
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Is this sustainable?

• Limited fresh water resources
• Uneven distribution of
• water resources
• Water pollution
• Climate change
• Growing population

http//www.unwater.org/img/usepercentage.jpg
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What is sustainability?