Simulated Impacts of Three Decadal Climate Variability Phenomena on Water Yields in the Missouri River Basin

The Missouri River Basin (MRB) is the largest river basin in the United States (U.S.), and is one of the most important crop and livestock-producing regions in the world. In a previous study of associations between decadal climate variability (DCV) phenomena and hydro-meteorological (HM) variability...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Water Resources Association 2011-02, Vol.47 (1), p.126-135
Main Authors: Mehta, Vikram M., Rosenberg, Norman J., Mendoza, Katherin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Climate change
climate variability/change
drought
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
Impact analysis
irrigation
precipitation
River basins
rivers/streams
Simulation
Stream flow
streamflow
Temperature
Water resources
Water resources management
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Summary:The Missouri River Basin (MRB) is the largest river basin in the United States (U.S.), and is one of the most important crop and livestock-producing regions in the world. In a previous study of associations between decadal climate variability (DCV) phenomena and hydro-meteorological (HM) variability in the MRB, it was found that positive and negative phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the tropical Atlantic sea-surface temperature gradient variability (TAG), and the west Pacific warm pool (WPWP) temperature variability were significantly associated with decadal variability in precipitation and 2-meter air temperature in the MRB, with combinations of various phases of these DCV phenomena associated with drought, flood, or neutral HM conditions. Here, we report on a methodology developed and applied to assess whether the aforementioned DCVs directly affect the hydrology of the MRB. The Hydrologic Unit Model of the U.S. (HUMUS) was used to simulate water yields in response to realistic values of the PDO, TAG, and WPWP at 75 widely distributed, eight-digit hydrologic unit areas within the MRB. HUMUS driven by HM anomalies in both the positive and negative phases of the PDO and TAG resulted in major impacts on water yields, as much as ±20% of average water yield in some locations. Impacts of the WPWP were smaller. The combined and cumulative effects of these DCV phenomena on the MRB HM and water availability can be dramatic with important consequences for the MRB. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1093-474X
1752-1688
DOI:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00496.x