Climate Change Information

Thomas Piechota, Ph.D., P.EDirector of Sustainability and Multidisciplinary Research

Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Is the Earth Getting Warmer?

The Earth’s Greenhouse Effect

Typical Greenhouse gases

•water vapor

•carbon dioxide (CO2)

•methane

•nitrous oxide

•ozone

•CFCs

Changes in Temperature andCO2 Concentrations

Karl and Trenberth, 2003

Climate Change: Natural or Manmade?

Petit et al., 1999

Vostok Ice Core

Colorado River Basin

Climate Change:Is it the Urban Heat Island?

Peterson, 2003

OR

Public Perception of Climate Change

Mason Dixon Polling and Research, Inc., 2008

How do you feel about the issue of climate change? Do you believe it is a scientifically established reality, or do you feel it is still unproven and subject to debate?

Reality 48%

Unproven 44

Not sure 5

On the issue of climate change in the West, do you feel that the benefits of taking action will be worth or will not be worth the economic costs?

Worth it 57%

Not worth it 26

Not sure 17

Public Perception of Climate Change

Mason Dixon Polling and Research, Inc., 2008

Do you feel that addressing climate change in the West will create new jobs through development of new energy and agricultural technologies or result in a loss of jobs by increasing regulations and costs on businesses.

Create Jobs 54%

Lose Jobs 24

Not sure 22

Not Just an Issue for Scientists

How is Climate Change Modeled?(General Circulation Models (GCMs) of the earth)

Projected Temperature Changes in the US

Projected Precipitation Changes in the US

Impacts of Climate Change

• Decreased summer runoff…increased winter runoff

• Increase in forest growth and timber production

• Losses in local biodiversity…some may adapt

• Food supply should remain secure

• More heat waves…milder winters

• Sea level rise…inundation of coastal communities

• More extreme (floods and droughts) events

Climate Change in the West and Las Vegas

• Less snowpack in the

Colorado River Basin

• Decreased power generation

• Higher salinity levels

• Lower reservoir levels

(impacts to recreation)

• LV more like Phoenix climate

Water Education Foundation, 1999

Lee Ferry

Changes in Western Snowpack

Lake Mead Water Surface ElevationLake Mead Water Surface Elevation

Temperature inUpper Colorado River Basin

Year

1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

An

nu

al

Me

an

Te

mp

era

ture

( F

)

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

WRCC / CEFANOAA Westmap

Precipitation inUpper Colorado River Basin

Water Year ( End Year )

1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Wa

ter

Ye

ar

Pre

cip

ita

tio

n (

in

ch

es

)

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

WRCC CEFANOAA Westmap

Projected Temperature (2000-2020) in Upper Colorado River Basin

Projected Precipitation (2000-2020) in Upper Colorado River Basin

Adapting to Climate Change

• Alteration of cropping and agriculture management practices

• Modifications to infrastructure

• Increased water conservation practices

• Flexibility of managing water across basins

• Integrated management of groundwater and surface water

• Market solutions

• Incorporate climate change into long-term planning/design

• Increase in water reuse