Campus Units

Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Agronomy, Economics, Aerospace Engineering, Ames Laboratory, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Version

Published Version

Publication Date

2006

Journal or Book Title

Coastal Hydrology and Processes

First Page

135

Last Page

142

Abstract

Output from an ensemble of seven global climate models for contemporary and future scenario climates was used to drive the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to examine components of the hydrologic budget for the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB). Results showed only modest increases in precipitation (+6%) and streamflow (+3%) but substantial reduction in snowfall (-37%) for the UMRB for the end of the 21st century. The low-resolution of global models contribute to the biases in some but not all hydrologic components, most notably evapotranspiration, potential evapotranspiration, and baseflow. Ensemble results indicate an increase in baseflow (+12%) and decrease of runoff (-20%) for the future scenario. Such changes would likely decrease sediment loading of streams, but influences on the fate of fugitive nitrates is indeterminate from this preliminary study. Evaluation of water quality in a future scenario climate carried out with one model (GFDL) suggested that major reductions in snowmelt and surface runoff in a future climate will lead to reductions in all contaminants simulated (sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus).

Comments

This is a chapter from Takle, Eugene S., Chris Anderson, Manoj Jha, and Philip W. Gassman. "Upper Mississippi River Basin modeling system part 4: climate change impacts on flow and water quality." Coastal Hydrology and Processes. Water Resources Publications, Highland Ranch (2006): 135-142. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner

Water Resources Publications, LLC

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Download

Share

COinS