Document Details

Fourth National Climate Assessment Chapter 3: Water

Roger Pulwarty, Gregory McCabe, Allyza Lustig, Kristin Lewis, Upmanu Lall, Thomas Johnson, Minxue He, Peter Colohan, Casey Brown, Sankar Arumugam, Amir AghaKouchak | November 23rd, 2018


Significant changes in water quantity and quality are evident across the country. These changes, which are expected to persist, present an ongoing risk to coupled human and natural systems and related ecosystem services. Variable precipitation and rising temperature are intensifying droughts, increasing heavy downpours, and reducing snowpack.

Reduced snow-to-rain ratios are leading to significant differences between the timing of water supply and demand. Groundwater depletion is exacerbating drought risk. Surface water quality is declining as water temperature increases and more frequent high-intensity rainfall events mobilize pollutants such as sediments and nutrients.

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Keywords

climate change, flood management, pollutants, sediment, snowpack, water supply forecasting