Observational and Synoptic Analyses of the Winter Precipitation Regime Change over Utah

Gillies, Robert R.; Wang, Shih-Yu; Booth, Marty R.

doi:10.1175/jcli-d-11-00084.1

Cited by 55 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Association of increased humidity and temperatures with atmospheric circulation patterns conducive to precipitation in the study of Gillies et al (2012) supports projections of…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…Studies from North America and Europe indicate hydroclimate changes associated with warmer temperatures and increasing precipitation intensity will have ongoing implications for water policy and society (Hoy et al 2014;Gillies et al 2012). Upward trends in extreme rainfall intensity in the Mediterranean are adversely affecting soil erosion with associated risks for flash flooding (Vallebona et al 2014), whilst changes in precipitation regimes can affect the timing and success of crop production (Stocker et al 2013;Pook et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trends in synoptic circulation and precipitation in the Snowy Mountains region, Australia, in the period 1958–2012

Theobald

McGowan

Speirs

2016

Atmospheric Research

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The hydroclimate of the Snowy Mountains, south-east Australia (SEA), is influenced by tropical and extra-tropical synoptic scale weather systems. Accordingly, it is sensitive to any changes in the mid-latitude westerly wind belt, the dominant driver of precipitation in winter, and the entrainment of moisture from tropical latitudes, particularly during the warmer months of the austral summer.The region has historically observed a cool-season (April -October) dominated precipitation regime. However, evidence is presented of a decline in precipitation during the autumn and spring transition months. Autumn precipitation is particularly important for crop sowing and agricultural production in the Murray-Darling Basin downstream of the Snowy Mountains, while spring precipitation influences snowmelt and water storage replenishment in the Snowy Mountains. Instead, we show a change in the annual precipitation distribution is evident, with an increase in precipitation during warmer months.Trend analyses for the period 1958 -2012 show a decrease in annual frequency of precipitation days capable of generating inflows to the catchments of the Snowy Mountains of -1.4 days per decade on average, whilst the precipitation they generate has increased by +5.7 mm per decade. These results align with climate change projections that precipitation events are becoming less frequent but more intense.

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“…Association of increased humidity and temperatures with atmospheric circulation patterns conducive to precipitation in the study of Gillies et al (2012) supports projections of…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in synoptic circulation and precipitation in the Snowy Mountains region, Australia, in the period 1958–2012

Theobald

McGowan

Speirs

2016

Atmospheric Research

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“…The system is already drought-prone and western water law pressures water managers to fully allocate and utilize Bear River water. This leaves less flexibility to cope with more severe droughts being predicted with climate change for the Intermountain West (Wagner 2009, Jin et al 2011, Gillies et al 2012. Current water policies in the Bear River Basin would appear to leave irrigators in the Upper and Central Divisions more vulnerable to drought than those in the Lower Division, because their access to water is legally restricted.…”

Section: Drought Vulnerabilities In the Bear River Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing Adaptive Capacity to Droughts: the Rationality of Locality

Welsh¹,

Endter‐Wada²,

Downard³

et al. 2013

E&S

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ABSTRACT. The Bear River is driven by a highly variable, snow-driven montane ecosystem and flows through a droughtprone arid region of the western United States. It traverses three states, is diverted to store water in an ecologically unique natural lake, Bear Lake, and empties into the Great Salt Lake at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (BRMBR). People in the Bear River Basin have come to anticipate droughts, building a legal, institutional, and engineered infrastructure to adapt to the watershed's hydrologic realities and historical legacies. Their ways of understanding linked vulnerabilities has led to what might appear as paradoxical outcomes: farmers with the most legally secure water rights are the most vulnerable to severe drought; managers at the federal Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge engage in wetland farming and make unlikely political alliances; and, increased agricultural irrigation efficiency in the Bear River Basin actually threatens the water supply of some wetlands. The rationality of locality is the key to understanding how people in the Bear River Basin have increased their adaptive capacity to droughts by recognizing their interdependencies. As the effects of climate change unfold, understanding social-ecological system linkages will be important for guiding future adaptations and enhancing resilience in ways that appropriately integrate localized ecosystem capacity and human needs.

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“…In order to correctly reference this scholarly work, feel free to copy and paste the following: Jiming Jin, Shih-Yu Wang and Robert R. Gillies (2011). An Improved Dynamical Downscaling for the Western United States, Climate Change -Research and Technology for Adaptation and Mitigation, Dr Juan Blanco (Ed.…”

Section: How To Referencementioning

confidence: 99%