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    Forecasting Climate and Water Resources in the Context of Natural Variability and Climate Change

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    Author
    Switanek, Matthew
    Issue Date
    2013
    Keywords
    Hydrology
    Advisor
    Troch, Peter
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Publisher
    The University of Arizona.
    Rights
    Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
    Abstract
    The water resources of the Southwestern United States are under significant stress. The historical record of the Colorado River indicates that the commitment allocations (7.5 million acre-feet to both the Upper and Lower Colorado basin states, and 1.5 maf for Mexico) have overestimated the average available streamflow. Compounding the supply problem, the Bureau of Reclamation has projected an average decrease of 9% in the Colorado River streamflow between the years 2011-2060. Improving forecasts of climate and streamflow, at nearly all time scales, is imperative to most effectively manage these strained water resources. Given the challenges confronting the Southwest, three research studies are presented that could be used to assist water managers. The first study targets the lack of skill seen in seasonal forecasts of precipitation across the US issued by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC). An objective and concise methodology is shown to improve overall seasonal forecast skill as an alternative to forecasts made by the CPC. This methodology uses a combined linear and nearest neighbor model to make forecasts, with the NINO3.4 index as the only predictor. The second study shows skillful forecasts of decadal Colorado streamflow using the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) indices as predictors. However, even though the instrumental record showed statistically significant skillful forecasts, the reconstructed records of AMO, PDO and streamflow appear to challenge these results. Lastly, the third study investigates the effects of climate change in the 21st century on the Salt, Verde and Rio Grande river basins. Two dynamically downscaled General Circulation Models (GCMs) are first bias-corrected. Then, the output of these models is used as the climatic forcings for the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrologic model. Results suggest that future streamflows are projected to decrease by 22% and 37%, for the respective GCMs, averaged across the basins.
    Type
    text
    Electronic Dissertation
    Degree Name
    Ph.D.
    Degree Level
    doctoral
    Degree Program
    Graduate College
    Hydrology
    Degree Grantor
    University of Arizona
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