Addressing Climate Change

Impacts- Water Resources

Warmer temperatures in the spring changes the timing of winter snowmelt which will affect the amount of water available in streams and rivers

Spring snowmelt is projected to occur three to four weeks earlier and summer streamflow is likely to decline

Winter snowpack in the cascades has decreased by 20% since 1950s

Warmer temperatures cause precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow this reduces

Soil moisture

Snow accumulation

and increases flood risks around rivers

Declined streamflow due to climate change will have a negative impact on hydropower supply in the US including economic losses especially since 40% of the nation's hydropower is generated in the northwest

Climate change will also Increase competition for water use including:

Hydropower

Agriculture irrigation

Industrial

Protected ecosystems

Impacts - Sea level riseEPA projects that an increase of 1 to 5 feet of global sea level rise by the end of the century.

Sea level rise will Increase risk to people, and coastal infrastructure such as:

Houses

Import/Export

Highways

Railways

Economic Disruption:

Approximately ⅔ of imported oil enters the U.S. through the Gulf of Mexico. If we do not implement adaptive measures, erosion and flooding could cost the U.S. between $2.7- $4.6 billion by 2030 for just one coastline alone.

Mitigation Actions Domestic Action

Energy Supply

Change our fuel from coal to gas

Utilize renewable heat/power-Hydropower-Solar power-Geothermal -Bioenergy

Less Wealthy Countries Action

Agriculture

Improve the grazing and crop growing process-Through managing storage of soil carbon

Restore cultivated soil

Improve fertilizer application of nitrogen-Reduced nitrous oxide emissions

(laughing gas)

Create energy crops-Use to replace fossil fuel usage

Adaptation Actions

Upgrading/Implementing stormwater pumps and sewer drains.

Increased rainfall

Sea level rise

Reduce surface runoff

Relocation

For domestic and foreign areas affected by climate change, relocation is always an option. Especially for countries that do not have the economic support to build infrastructures to shield them from the impacts of climate change. Relocating away from eroding shorelines and high flood areas could minimize their exposure risk.

References http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts/northwest.html#impactswater

http://dcraig.blogs.redding.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2015/08/slr-sea-level-rise1.jpg

http://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hydropowerRepresa-5-de-Noviember_oilwatch.png

https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/syr/en/spms4.html