0 Filters

facebookJoin us on Facebook

Resources

Quick Links

CLIMATE CHANGE Files

Download

2014-07-28 Overview: Climate Change Impacts on Water

Arizona's climate is becoming warmer and drier. Observed local trends combined with observed and projected global warming trends indicate that winter snow accumulations will continue to decrease in northern Arizona. Consequences include not only decreased ground-water recharge but also substantially increased water consumption for farms, trees, lawns, and gardens. View Document.

Download

Arizona's Changing Climate

Arizona's climate is changing. It's becoming warmer and drier. Prescott average daily temperatures have increased by seven degrees since 1910. Observed increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere caused by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, imply global, and northern Arizona, temperatures will continue to increase through the first half of our new century due to the Green- house Effect and its associated global warming. By Dale Meyer, CWAG Science Committee. View Document.

Download

Climate Change in Yavapai County

In April, 2008, the Citizens Water Advocacy Group (CWAG) co-hosted a presentation by Michael A. Crimmins, Associate Professor at University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and an Agricultural Extension Specialist. He talked about past and projected global climate change, how it is shown to be human-induced, and focused on the present and future effects of climate change on Arizona and Yavapai County. This is a summary written by Howard Mechanic. View Document.

Download

Managing Changing Landscapes in the Southwestern United States

Natural landscapes in the Southwestern United States are changing. In recent decades, rising temperatures and drought have led to drier conditions, contributed to large-scale ecological impacts, and affected many plant and animal species across the region. The current and future trajectory of climate change underscores the need for managers and conservation professionals to understand the impacts of these patterns on natural resources. In this regional assessment of the Southwest Climate Change Initiative, we evaluate changes in annual average temperatures from 1951–2006 across major habitats and large watersheds and compare these changes to the number of species of conservation concern that are found within these places. Report by The Nature Conservancy. View Document.

Download

The Last Drop: Climate Change and the Southwest Water Crisis

At present, without climate change, the Southwest is relying on the unsustainable withdrawal of groundwater reserves to meet today's demand; those reserves will be drained over the next century as population and incomes grow. With climate change, the Southwest water crisis will grow far worse. Continuing the current trend in global greenhouse-gas emissions will make the cost of the next century's projected water shortage at least 25 percent higher. Adaptation (conservation and efficiency) measures, however, have the potential to greatly lower water use throughout the region. As climate change exacerbates water woes, some adaptation will be essential to stave off unplanned water shortages and restrictions. Bringing the Southwest's water use down to sustainable levels will necessitate either very strong residential adaptation measures, or a combination of strong agricultural adaptation measures (including the elimination of some low-value crops) and moderate residential measures. View Document.