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Van Tuyl Lecture: Keith Musselman, University of Colorado

October 27, 2022 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Keith Musselman, University of Colorado

Berthoud 241/ Zoom, 4PM, Thursday, October 27, 2022

Mountains of Change: Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources and Informing Potential Adaptation Strategies

Abstract: Snow is the primary source of water and streamflow in western North America and supports the water supply for more than one billion people globally. In mountainous regions, accumulated snow extends the downstream delivery of meltwater through the spring and summer when human and ecosystem demands are greatest. It is well established that climate change is expected to shift melt earlier and reduce snow water resources with broad impacts on ecosystem productivity, winter flood risk, groundwater recharge, agriculture and food security, and wildfire hazard. In this talk, I present empirical and model-based evidence of ongoing and projected change in snow water resources in western North America. These changes are disproportionately affecting northern Indigenous communities. I introduce a new project working to increase collective understanding of the impacts of climate change on rivers, fish, and Indigenous communities in Alaska and western Canada. Collaboration with Tribal and First Nation communities, community-based science networks, and an Advisory Council guide the science by facilitating monitoring and informing modeling decisions as part of this project.  As cold regions warm and their rivers change, the impacts on people, fisheries, and winter travel routes are unknown. Synthesizing numerous ongoing projects, I will discuss methods by which improved understanding of the possible future changes in mountain hydrology, societal impacts, and potential adaptation strategies are being assessed through close partnership among communities, decision-makers, and scientists from diverse fields of study.

This lecture is scheduled in a hybrid format. If you would like to join the meeting please:

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://mines.zoom.us/j/96941320804?pwd=a2Z1U0o3M2ZCNGZlWXV3dzhwN3JIQT09
Password: 126670

The Van Tuyl lectures are scheduled at 4-5pm in BE 241/ Zoom (hybrid format), and after the lecture there will be a get-together from 5-6pm in BE 243 with pizza and sodas.

Details

Date:
October 27, 2022
Time:
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Category:
Event Tags:
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Venue

Berthoud Hall
1516 Illinois St.
Golden, CO 80401 United States
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