Study says global warming will mean less water in rivers
The Denver Post – July 16, 2010
A National Academy of Sciences study released this morning quantifies potential impacts of climate change – linking water in rivers, crop yields and wildfire damage to specific temperature increases.
For example, for every 1.8 degrees of warming, Colorado can expect 5-10 percent less water in the Arkansas and Rio Grande rivers, the study found.
The study on likely future effects of climate change also anticipates 5-10 percent less total rain in Colorado and other southwestern states. And forest fires are considered likely to devour 3 times more land for each 1.8 degrees of warming.
The study represents the nation’s most recent effort to pull together a vast body of scientific data on climate change – and to look beyond how climate change may be happening to anticipate specific impacts depending on temperature change.