A groundbreaking study reveals that the Colorado River Basin has experienced a significant loss of water due to climate change. Over the period from 2000 to 2021, more than 40 trillion liters (10 trillion gallons) of water have been lost, equivalent to the storage capacity of Lake Mead. The study, which models the impact of human activities on hydrology in the region, highlights the sensitivity of the basin to warming compared to other major basins in the western United States and emphasizes the urgent need to address climate change. Published in the journal Water Resources Research, the study provides valuable insights into the movement and management of Earth’s water.
The study suggests that without climate change, the drought in the basin would not have led to reduced reservoir levels and the first-ever federally declared water shortage in 2021. Benjamin Bass, the lead author of the study and a hydrological modeler at the University of California-Los Angeles, highlights the alarming impact of warming on the basin’s water availability, especially in the crucial snowpack regions. The findings underscore the immediate need to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change in order to preserve the precious water resources of the Colorado River Basin.
The Colorado River Basin, covering a vast area in seven states across the U.S. West, serves as a vital water source for approximately 40 million people, as well as supporting agriculture and natural ecosystems. The study highlights the severity of the ongoing regional drought, which has caused a significant reduction in river flow and reservoir capacity. Additionally, the research improves upon previous analyses by considering both climate processes and the impact of vegetation responses to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, thereby providing a comprehensive understanding of the changes in water resources in the region.
The study reveals that the temperature in the Colorado River Basin has increased by approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) due to anthropogenic climate change. This warming has resulted in a 10.3% reduction in runoff, highlighting the crucial role of including vegetation processes in water modeling. The loss of water during the historic drought from 2000 to 2021 is equivalent to the full capacity of Lake Mead, emphasizing the severity and scale of the water crisis.
The researchers also identified a concerning trend in the basin’s snowpack regions, which are losing water at a rate twice as fast as traditionally snowless regions. This shift indicates a transition to a more arid climate in the Rocky Mountain West, exacerbating concerns about future water scarcity. The study warns that historical agreements, such as the 1922 Colorado River Compact, need to be reevaluated in light of the changing climate and the decreasing trend in runoff.
More information: Benjamin Bass et al, Aridification of Colorado River Basin’s Snowpack Regions Has Driven Water Losses Despite Ameliorating Effects of Vegetation, Water Resources Research (2023). DOI: 10.1029/2022WR033454
Provided by American Geophysical Union
Citation: Study: The Colorado River Basin has lost water equal to Lake Mead due to climate change (2023, July 24) retrieved 24 July 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-07-colorado-river-basin-lost-equal.html
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