Climate change and its implications for the Rocky Mountain region

Global climate has changed and is continuing to change, largely as a result of human activities such as burning of fossil fuels. The authors used climate models to project changes in climate and precipitation in the Rocky Mountains and Front Range region in Colorado through the 2050s. Temperatures are likely to rise in this century. How this increase will affect precipitation is uncertain, and climate models do not agree on whether total precipitation will rise or fall. However, a rise in temperatures will mean earlier runoff, more evaporation from reservoirs, and higher demand for water in the summer. To maintain current soil moisture and water levels, an increase in precipitation will likely be needed to offset higher temperatures. Water managers in the Rocky Mountain region are becoming more concerned about climate change and its effect on water supply and demand. The analysis presented here can assist water managers in their long-term planning efforts and help ensure that those efforts consider not only population and economic factors but also the implications of climate change.-MPM