A Nested-Model Approach to Investigate Climate Change

by Lauren E. Hay, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, United States,
George H. Leavesley, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Policy and Management: Solving the Problems

Abstract:

Determination of the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation in mountainous regions is critical for assessing the effects of climate variability on water resources in these regions. Potential effects of climate change on water resources in the Gunnison River basin of southwestern Colorado currently are being studied using a nested-model approach to disaggregate large-scale general circulation model output to account for smaller-scale processes. This paper presents a disaggregation technique in which scenarios of possible climate change will be developed by nesting a global general circulation model, a mesoscale climate model, a local orographic precipitation model, and a watershed model.

Subject Headings: Water resources | Climate change | Water circulation | Precipitation | Rivers and streams | Basins | Watersheds | Colorado | United States

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