The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) released a report “Colorado Climate Change: A Synthesis to Support Water Resource Management and Adaptation” in connection with the Governor’s Conference on Managing Drought and Climate Risk, October 8-10, 2008, in Denver. The report focuses on observed trends and projections of temperature, precipitation, snow and runoff.
The report gives water resource managers a synthesis of the best scientific knowledge of what is expected for Colorado’s climate over the next few decades to help them plan now for drought and adaptation to climate change.
This new scientific assessment of Colorado climate change was prepared by the Western Water Assessment (WWA), a University of Colorado-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration partnership, and included scientists from the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, the CU Cooperative Institute for Research into Environmental Sciences, and Colorado State University Colorado Climate Center.
Climate Change in Colorado Report at a Glance
Climate Change in Colorado Report Cover
Acknowledgements
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Contents
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Executive Summary
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Introduction
2
The Observed Record of Colorado Climate
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A Primer on Climate Models, Emissions Scenarios, and Downscaling
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Climate Attribution
Climate Projections
Implications of Changing Climate for Colorado's Water Resources
References
Resources
Glossary
Acronym List
Contributors
Climate Change in Colorado: A Synthesis to Support Water Resources Management and Adaptation - Full Report