“What is the current understanding of the changing streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) and the drivers of this change?” This question was the focus of a 2-day workshop hosted by the Physical Sciences Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Earth System Research Laboratory, which brought together experts in global and regional climate modeling, hydrologic modeling and theory, and observational analysis. The timing of this workshop is opportune. Water year 2018 saw inflow into Lake Powell, a key indicator of the hydrology of the basin, ranking among the lowest in the historical record. This year comes on the heels of 18 years of cumulative low flows that have stressed an already overallocated system. Upcoming negotiations on water allocations during periods of shortage provide a further impetus. Therefore, it is critical to determine how much anthropogenic warming has already depleted flows, that is, the extent to which the recent low flows are “the new normal.” To view the full article visit Earth and Space Science News.
