Climate variability and water supply of the Colorado River Basin
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2002
Abstract
This study investigates the implications of climate variability and long range forecasting to the water resources of the western United States. More specifically, the usefulness of this information to water agencies in the Colorado River Basin is studied. Streamflow data from select stations are evaluated for a relationship with the climate indices: (1) the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI); (2) the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO); and (3) the North Pacific (NP). Results indicate that the Lower Colorado River Basin has a significant correlation with the SOI and PDO. The SOI and PDO can serve as indicators of the upcoming water year (Oct – Sept) streamflow conditions for the Lower Colorado River Basin. The results are not as encouraging for the Upper Colorado River Basin where the strength of the relationship is weak. Further studies should investigate the potential of utilizing climate indices for long-range streamflow forecasting prior to the beginning of the water year.
Keywords
Climate; Colorado River Basin; El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); Forecasting; Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO); Streamflow; Water availability; Water resources
Disciplines
Climate | Environmental Sciences | Fresh Water Studies
Permissions
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Repository Citation
Piechota, T. C.
(2002).
Climate variability and water supply of the Colorado River Basin.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/fac_articles/38
Comments
Proceedings of the 2002 Conference on Water Resources Planning and Management, Symposium on Managing Extremes: Floods and Droughts, May 19 - 22, 2002, Roanoke, Virginia, American Society of Civil Engineers, Washington D.C.
Presented at: 2002 Conference on Water Resources Planning and Management, Symposium on Managing Extremes: Floods and Droughts, May 19 - 22, 2002, Roanoke, Virginia.