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Gregory McCabe (Former Employee)

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 85

Variability common to global sea surface temperatures and runoff in the conterminous United States

Singular value decomposition (SVD) is used to identify the variability common to global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and water-balance-modeled water-year (WY) runoff in the conterminous United States (CONUS) for the 1900–2012 period. Two modes were identified from the SVD analysis; the two modes explain 25% of the variability in WY runoff and 33% of the variability in WY SSTs. The first SVD mod
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, David M. Wolock

Understanding uncertainties in future Colorado River streamflow

The Colorado River is the primary water source for more than 30 million people in the United States and Mexico. Recent studies that project streamf low changes in the Colorado River all project annual declines, but the magnitude of the projected decreases range from less than 10% to 45% by the mid-twenty-first century. To understand these differences, we address the questions the management commun
Authors
Julie A. Vano, Bradley Udall, Daniel Cayan, Jonathan T Overpeck, Levi D. Brekke, Tapash Das, Holly C. Hartmann, Hugo G. Hidalgo, Martin P Hoerling, Gregory J. McCabe, Kiyomi Morino, Robert S. Webb, Kevin Werner, Dennis P. Lettenmaier

Phylogenetic conservatism in plant phenology

Phenological events – defined points in the life cycle of a plant or animal – have been regarded as highly plastic traits, reflecting flexible responses to various environmental cues. The ability of a species to track, via shifts in phenological events, the abiotic environment through time might dictate its vulnerability to future climate change. Understanding the predictors and drivers of phenologic
Authors
T. Jonathan Davies, Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, Nathan J. B. Kraft, Nicolas Salamin, Jenica M. Allen, Toby R. Ault, Julio L. Betancourt, Kjell Bolmgren, Elsa E. Cleland, Benjamin I. Cook, Theresa M. Crimmins, Susan J. Mazer, Gregory J. McCabe, Stephanie Pau, Jim Regetz, Mark D. Schwartz, Steven E. Travers
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Temporal and spatial variability of global water balance

An analysis of simulated global water-balance components (precipitation [P], actual evapotranspiration [AET], runoff [R], and potential evapotranspiration [PET]) for the past century indicates that P has been the primary driver of variability in R. Additionally, since about 2000, there have been increases in P, AET, R, and PET for most of the globe. The increases in R during 2000 through 2009 have
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, David M. Wolock

Variability common to first leaf dates and snowpack in the western conterminous United States

Singular value decomposition is used to identify the common variability in first leaf dates (FLDs) and 1 April snow water equivalent (SWE) for the western United States during the period 1900–2012. Results indicate two modes of joint variability that explain 57% of the variability in FLD and 69% of the variability in SWE. The first mode of joint variability is related to widespread late winter–spr
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, Julio L. Betancourt, Gregory T. Pederson, Mark D. Schwartz

Monitoring and understanding changes in heat waves, cold waves, floods, and droughts in the United States: State of knowledge

Weather and climate extremes have been varying and changing on many different time scales. In recent decades, heat waves have generally become more frequent across the United States, while cold waves have been decreasing. While this is in keeping with expectations in a warming climate, it turns out that decadal variations in the number of U.S. heat and cold waves do not correlate well with the obs
Authors
Thomas C. Peterson, Richard R. Heim, Robert M. Hirsch, Dale P. Kaiser, Harold Brooks, Noah S. Diffenbaugh, Randall M. Dole, Jason P. Giovannettone, Kristen Guirguis, Thomas R. Karl, Richard W. Katz, Kenneth E. Kunkel, Dennis P. Lettenmaier, Gregory J. McCabe, Christopher J. Paciorek, Karen R. Ryberg, BS Silva K Wolter, Siegfried Schubert, Viviane B. S. Silva, Brooke C. Stewart, Aldo V. Vecchia, Gabriele Villarini, Russell S. Vose, John Walsh, Michael Wehner, David Wolock, Klaus Wolter, Connie A. Woodhouse, Donald Wuebbles

Regional patterns and proximal causes of the recent snowpack decline in the Rocky Mountains, U.S.

We used a first-order, monthly snow model and observations to disentangle seasonal influences on 20th century,regional snowpack anomalies in the Rocky Mountains of western North America, where interannual variations in cool-season (November–March) temperatures are broadly synchronous, but precipitation is typically antiphased north to south and uncorrelated with temperature. Over the previous eigh
Authors
Gregory T. Pederson, Julio L. Betancourt, Gregory J. McCabe
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

A refined index of model performance: a rejoinder

Willmott et al. [Willmott CJ, Robeson SM, Matsuura K. 2012. A refined index of model performance. International Journal of Climatology, forthcoming. DOI:10.1002/joc.2419.] recently suggest a refined index of model performance (dr) that they purport to be superior to other methods. Their refined index ranges from − 1.0 to 1.0 to resemble a correlation coefficient, but it is merely a linear rescalin
Authors
David R. Legates, Gregory J. McCabe

Glacier variability in the conterminous United States during the twentieth century

Glaciers of the conterminous United States have been receding for the past century. Since 1900 the recession has varied from a 24 % loss in area (Mt. Rainier, Washington) to a 66 % loss in the Lewis Range of Montana. The rates of retreat are generally similar with a rapid loss in the early decades of the 20th century, slowing in the 1950s–1970s, and a resumption of rapid retreat starting in the 19
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, Andrew G. Fountain

Sensitivity of spring phenology to warming across temporal and spatial climate gradients in two independent databases

Disparate ecological datasets are often organized into databases post hoc and then analyzed and interpreted in ways that may diverge from the purposes of the original data collections. Few studies, however, have attempted to quantify how biases inherent in these data (for example, species richness, replication, climate) affect their suitability for addressing broad scientific questions, especially
Authors
Benjamin I. Cook, Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, T. Jonathan Davies, Toby R. Ault, Julio L. Betancourt, Jenica M. Allen, Kjell Bolmgren, Elsa E. Cleland, Theresa Crimmins, Nathan J. B. Kraft, Lesley T. Lancaster, Susan J. Mazer, Gregory J. McCabe, Brian J. McGill, Camille Parmesan, Stephanie Pau, James Regetz, Nicolas Salamin, Mark D. Schwartz, Steven E. Travers
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Strategic directions for U.S. Geological Survey water science, 2012-2022 - Observing, understanding, predicting, and delivering water science to the Nation

Executive Summary This report expands the Water Science Strategy that was begun in the USGS Science Strategy, “Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges—U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007–2017” (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007). The report looks at the relevant issues facing society and develops a strategy built around observing, understanding, predicting, and delivering water science for the next
Authors
Eric J. Evenson, Randall C. Orndorff, Charles D. Blome, John Karl Böhlke, Paul K. Hershberger, Victoria E. Langenheim, Gregory J. McCabe, Scott E. Morlock, Howard W. Reeves, James P. Verdin, Holly S. Weyers, Tamara M. Wood
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Western Fisheries Research Center, Marrowstone Marine Field Station (MMFS)

Warming experiments underpredict plant phenological responses to climate change

Warming experiments are increasingly relied on to estimate plant responses to global climate change. For experiments to provide meaningful predictions of future responses, they should reflect the empirical record of responses to temperature variability and recent warming, including advances in the timing of flowering and leafing. We compared phenology (the timing of recurring life history events)
Authors
Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, Benjamin I. Cook, Jenica M. Allen, Theresa Crimmins, Julio L. Betancourt, Steven E. Travers, Stephanie Pau, James Regetz, T. Jonathan Davies, Nathan J. B. Kraft, Toby R. Ault, Kjell Bolmgren, Susan J. Mazer, Gregory J. McCabe, Brian J. McGill, Camille Parmesan, Nicolas Salamin, Mark D. Schwartz, Elsa E. Cleland
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link
Image: Hills along the Missouri River Valley

Characterizing Historic Streamflow to Support Drought Planning in the Upper Missouri River Basin

The Missouri River system is the life-blood of the American Midwest, providing critical water resources that drive the region’s agriculture, industry, hydroelectric power generation, and ecosystems. The basin has a long history of development and diversion of water resources, meaning that streamflow records that reflect natural, unmanaged flows over the past century have been rare. As a result, re
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Characterizing Historic Streamflow to Support Drought Planning in the Upper Missouri River Basin

The Missouri River system is the life-blood of the American Midwest, providing critical water resources that drive the region’s agriculture, industry, hydroelectric power generation, and ecosystems. The basin has a long history of development and diversion of water resources, meaning that streamflow records that reflect natural, unmanaged flows over the past century have been rare. As a result, re
Learn More
link
Smoke billows from a fire tearing through a pine-tree forest.

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

In Alaska, recent research has identified particular areas of the state where both a lack of soil moisture and warming temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfire. While this is an important finding, this previous research did not take into account the important role that melting snow, ice, and frozen ground (permafrost) play in replenshing soil moisture in the spring and summer months. Th
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

In Alaska, recent research has identified particular areas of the state where both a lack of soil moisture and warming temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfire. While this is an important finding, this previous research did not take into account the important role that melting snow, ice, and frozen ground (permafrost) play in replenshing soil moisture in the spring and summer months. Th
Learn More
link
Looking down on Lees Ferry on the Colorado River.

Anticipating Future Impacts of Temperature on Streamflow in the Colorado River Basin

The Colorado River is a crucial water source for millions of people in the Southwest. Warming temperatures, clearly documented in climate records for the Colorado River basin, are having an impact on the amount of annual streamflow yielded from rain and snow. Recent work has revealed that warming temperatures have played an increasingly important role over the past decades, both exacerbating droug
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Anticipating Future Impacts of Temperature on Streamflow in the Colorado River Basin

The Colorado River is a crucial water source for millions of people in the Southwest. Warming temperatures, clearly documented in climate records for the Colorado River basin, are having an impact on the amount of annual streamflow yielded from rain and snow. Recent work has revealed that warming temperatures have played an increasingly important role over the past decades, both exacerbating droug
Learn More
link
3 glaciers coming down from the mountains

Understanding the Impacts of Glaciers on Streamflow in Alaska and Washington

Glaciers are a central component to the hydrology of many areas in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Glacier melt plays a crucial role in the movement of nutrients through a landscape and into the ocean, and the flow of water into streams that sustain many species. As air temperatures rise, increased rates of glacier melt may have significant impacts to the hydrology and ecology in these areas. T
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Understanding the Impacts of Glaciers on Streamflow in Alaska and Washington

Glaciers are a central component to the hydrology of many areas in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Glacier melt plays a crucial role in the movement of nutrients through a landscape and into the ocean, and the flow of water into streams that sustain many species. As air temperatures rise, increased rates of glacier melt may have significant impacts to the hydrology and ecology in these areas. T
Learn More
link
USGS science for a changing world logo

Evaluation of downscaled General Circulation Model (GCM) output for current conditions and associated error in simulated runoff for CONUS

This project will assess the accuracy of climate drivers (precipitation and temperature) from different sources for current and future conditions. The impact of these drivers on hydrologic response will be using the monthly water balance model (MWBM). The methodology for processing and analysis of these datasets will be automated for when new climate datasets become available on the USGS Geo Dat
By
Community for Data Integration (CDI)
link

Evaluation of downscaled General Circulation Model (GCM) output for current conditions and associated error in simulated runoff for CONUS

This project will assess the accuracy of climate drivers (precipitation and temperature) from different sources for current and future conditions. The impact of these drivers on hydrologic response will be using the monthly water balance model (MWBM). The methodology for processing and analysis of these datasets will be automated for when new climate datasets become available on the USGS Geo Dat
Learn More
link
Yellow/green grasslands with winding river; low mountains and storm in distance

Understanding Extreme Climate Events in the North Central U.S.

The climate of the North Central U.S. is driven by a combination of factors, including atmospheric circulation patterns, the region’s complex topography which extends from the High Rockies to the Great Plains, and variations in hydrology. Together, these factors determine the sustainability of the region’s ecosystems and the services that they provide communities. In order to understand the vuln
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Understanding Extreme Climate Events in the North Central U.S.

The climate of the North Central U.S. is driven by a combination of factors, including atmospheric circulation patterns, the region’s complex topography which extends from the High Rockies to the Great Plains, and variations in hydrology. Together, these factors determine the sustainability of the region’s ecosystems and the services that they provide communities. In order to understand the vuln
Learn More

Thornthwaite Monthly Water Balance Model

The Thornthwaite water balance (Thornthwaite, 1948; Mather, 1978; 1979) uses an accounting procedure to analyze the allocation of water among various components of the hydrologic system. Inputs to the model are monthly temperature and precipitation. Outputs include monthly potential and actual evapotranspiration, soil moisture storage, snow storage, surplus, and runoff.

By
Water Resources Mission Area

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 85

Variability common to global sea surface temperatures and runoff in the conterminous United States

Singular value decomposition (SVD) is used to identify the variability common to global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and water-balance-modeled water-year (WY) runoff in the conterminous United States (CONUS) for the 1900–2012 period. Two modes were identified from the SVD analysis; the two modes explain 25% of the variability in WY runoff and 33% of the variability in WY SSTs. The first SVD mod
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, David M. Wolock

Understanding uncertainties in future Colorado River streamflow

The Colorado River is the primary water source for more than 30 million people in the United States and Mexico. Recent studies that project streamf low changes in the Colorado River all project annual declines, but the magnitude of the projected decreases range from less than 10% to 45% by the mid-twenty-first century. To understand these differences, we address the questions the management commun
Authors
Julie A. Vano, Bradley Udall, Daniel Cayan, Jonathan T Overpeck, Levi D. Brekke, Tapash Das, Holly C. Hartmann, Hugo G. Hidalgo, Martin P Hoerling, Gregory J. McCabe, Kiyomi Morino, Robert S. Webb, Kevin Werner, Dennis P. Lettenmaier

Phylogenetic conservatism in plant phenology

Phenological events – defined points in the life cycle of a plant or animal – have been regarded as highly plastic traits, reflecting flexible responses to various environmental cues. The ability of a species to track, via shifts in phenological events, the abiotic environment through time might dictate its vulnerability to future climate change. Understanding the predictors and drivers of phenologic
Authors
T. Jonathan Davies, Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, Nathan J. B. Kraft, Nicolas Salamin, Jenica M. Allen, Toby R. Ault, Julio L. Betancourt, Kjell Bolmgren, Elsa E. Cleland, Benjamin I. Cook, Theresa M. Crimmins, Susan J. Mazer, Gregory J. McCabe, Stephanie Pau, Jim Regetz, Mark D. Schwartz, Steven E. Travers
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Temporal and spatial variability of global water balance

An analysis of simulated global water-balance components (precipitation [P], actual evapotranspiration [AET], runoff [R], and potential evapotranspiration [PET]) for the past century indicates that P has been the primary driver of variability in R. Additionally, since about 2000, there have been increases in P, AET, R, and PET for most of the globe. The increases in R during 2000 through 2009 have
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, David M. Wolock

Variability common to first leaf dates and snowpack in the western conterminous United States

Singular value decomposition is used to identify the common variability in first leaf dates (FLDs) and 1 April snow water equivalent (SWE) for the western United States during the period 1900–2012. Results indicate two modes of joint variability that explain 57% of the variability in FLD and 69% of the variability in SWE. The first mode of joint variability is related to widespread late winter–spr
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, Julio L. Betancourt, Gregory T. Pederson, Mark D. Schwartz

Monitoring and understanding changes in heat waves, cold waves, floods, and droughts in the United States: State of knowledge

Weather and climate extremes have been varying and changing on many different time scales. In recent decades, heat waves have generally become more frequent across the United States, while cold waves have been decreasing. While this is in keeping with expectations in a warming climate, it turns out that decadal variations in the number of U.S. heat and cold waves do not correlate well with the obs
Authors
Thomas C. Peterson, Richard R. Heim, Robert M. Hirsch, Dale P. Kaiser, Harold Brooks, Noah S. Diffenbaugh, Randall M. Dole, Jason P. Giovannettone, Kristen Guirguis, Thomas R. Karl, Richard W. Katz, Kenneth E. Kunkel, Dennis P. Lettenmaier, Gregory J. McCabe, Christopher J. Paciorek, Karen R. Ryberg, BS Silva K Wolter, Siegfried Schubert, Viviane B. S. Silva, Brooke C. Stewart, Aldo V. Vecchia, Gabriele Villarini, Russell S. Vose, John Walsh, Michael Wehner, David Wolock, Klaus Wolter, Connie A. Woodhouse, Donald Wuebbles

Regional patterns and proximal causes of the recent snowpack decline in the Rocky Mountains, U.S.

We used a first-order, monthly snow model and observations to disentangle seasonal influences on 20th century,regional snowpack anomalies in the Rocky Mountains of western North America, where interannual variations in cool-season (November–March) temperatures are broadly synchronous, but precipitation is typically antiphased north to south and uncorrelated with temperature. Over the previous eigh
Authors
Gregory T. Pederson, Julio L. Betancourt, Gregory J. McCabe
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

A refined index of model performance: a rejoinder

Willmott et al. [Willmott CJ, Robeson SM, Matsuura K. 2012. A refined index of model performance. International Journal of Climatology, forthcoming. DOI:10.1002/joc.2419.] recently suggest a refined index of model performance (dr) that they purport to be superior to other methods. Their refined index ranges from − 1.0 to 1.0 to resemble a correlation coefficient, but it is merely a linear rescalin
Authors
David R. Legates, Gregory J. McCabe

Glacier variability in the conterminous United States during the twentieth century

Glaciers of the conterminous United States have been receding for the past century. Since 1900 the recession has varied from a 24 % loss in area (Mt. Rainier, Washington) to a 66 % loss in the Lewis Range of Montana. The rates of retreat are generally similar with a rapid loss in the early decades of the 20th century, slowing in the 1950s–1970s, and a resumption of rapid retreat starting in the 19
Authors
Gregory J. McCabe, Andrew G. Fountain

Sensitivity of spring phenology to warming across temporal and spatial climate gradients in two independent databases

Disparate ecological datasets are often organized into databases post hoc and then analyzed and interpreted in ways that may diverge from the purposes of the original data collections. Few studies, however, have attempted to quantify how biases inherent in these data (for example, species richness, replication, climate) affect their suitability for addressing broad scientific questions, especially
Authors
Benjamin I. Cook, Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, T. Jonathan Davies, Toby R. Ault, Julio L. Betancourt, Jenica M. Allen, Kjell Bolmgren, Elsa E. Cleland, Theresa Crimmins, Nathan J. B. Kraft, Lesley T. Lancaster, Susan J. Mazer, Gregory J. McCabe, Brian J. McGill, Camille Parmesan, Stephanie Pau, James Regetz, Nicolas Salamin, Mark D. Schwartz, Steven E. Travers
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Strategic directions for U.S. Geological Survey water science, 2012-2022 - Observing, understanding, predicting, and delivering water science to the Nation

Executive Summary This report expands the Water Science Strategy that was begun in the USGS Science Strategy, “Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges—U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007–2017” (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007). The report looks at the relevant issues facing society and develops a strategy built around observing, understanding, predicting, and delivering water science for the next
Authors
Eric J. Evenson, Randall C. Orndorff, Charles D. Blome, John Karl Böhlke, Paul K. Hershberger, Victoria E. Langenheim, Gregory J. McCabe, Scott E. Morlock, Howard W. Reeves, James P. Verdin, Holly S. Weyers, Tamara M. Wood
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Western Fisheries Research Center, Marrowstone Marine Field Station (MMFS)

Warming experiments underpredict plant phenological responses to climate change

Warming experiments are increasingly relied on to estimate plant responses to global climate change. For experiments to provide meaningful predictions of future responses, they should reflect the empirical record of responses to temperature variability and recent warming, including advances in the timing of flowering and leafing. We compared phenology (the timing of recurring life history events)
Authors
Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, Benjamin I. Cook, Jenica M. Allen, Theresa Crimmins, Julio L. Betancourt, Steven E. Travers, Stephanie Pau, James Regetz, T. Jonathan Davies, Nathan J. B. Kraft, Toby R. Ault, Kjell Bolmgren, Susan J. Mazer, Gregory J. McCabe, Brian J. McGill, Camille Parmesan, Nicolas Salamin, Mark D. Schwartz, Elsa E. Cleland
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link
Image: Hills along the Missouri River Valley

Characterizing Historic Streamflow to Support Drought Planning in the Upper Missouri River Basin

The Missouri River system is the life-blood of the American Midwest, providing critical water resources that drive the region’s agriculture, industry, hydroelectric power generation, and ecosystems. The basin has a long history of development and diversion of water resources, meaning that streamflow records that reflect natural, unmanaged flows over the past century have been rare. As a result, re
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Characterizing Historic Streamflow to Support Drought Planning in the Upper Missouri River Basin

The Missouri River system is the life-blood of the American Midwest, providing critical water resources that drive the region’s agriculture, industry, hydroelectric power generation, and ecosystems. The basin has a long history of development and diversion of water resources, meaning that streamflow records that reflect natural, unmanaged flows over the past century have been rare. As a result, re
Learn More
link
Smoke billows from a fire tearing through a pine-tree forest.

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

In Alaska, recent research has identified particular areas of the state where both a lack of soil moisture and warming temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfire. While this is an important finding, this previous research did not take into account the important role that melting snow, ice, and frozen ground (permafrost) play in replenshing soil moisture in the spring and summer months. Th
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

In Alaska, recent research has identified particular areas of the state where both a lack of soil moisture and warming temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfire. While this is an important finding, this previous research did not take into account the important role that melting snow, ice, and frozen ground (permafrost) play in replenshing soil moisture in the spring and summer months. Th
Learn More
link
Looking down on Lees Ferry on the Colorado River.

Anticipating Future Impacts of Temperature on Streamflow in the Colorado River Basin

The Colorado River is a crucial water source for millions of people in the Southwest. Warming temperatures, clearly documented in climate records for the Colorado River basin, are having an impact on the amount of annual streamflow yielded from rain and snow. Recent work has revealed that warming temperatures have played an increasingly important role over the past decades, both exacerbating droug
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Anticipating Future Impacts of Temperature on Streamflow in the Colorado River Basin

The Colorado River is a crucial water source for millions of people in the Southwest. Warming temperatures, clearly documented in climate records for the Colorado River basin, are having an impact on the amount of annual streamflow yielded from rain and snow. Recent work has revealed that warming temperatures have played an increasingly important role over the past decades, both exacerbating droug
Learn More
link
3 glaciers coming down from the mountains

Understanding the Impacts of Glaciers on Streamflow in Alaska and Washington

Glaciers are a central component to the hydrology of many areas in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Glacier melt plays a crucial role in the movement of nutrients through a landscape and into the ocean, and the flow of water into streams that sustain many species. As air temperatures rise, increased rates of glacier melt may have significant impacts to the hydrology and ecology in these areas. T
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Understanding the Impacts of Glaciers on Streamflow in Alaska and Washington

Glaciers are a central component to the hydrology of many areas in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Glacier melt plays a crucial role in the movement of nutrients through a landscape and into the ocean, and the flow of water into streams that sustain many species. As air temperatures rise, increased rates of glacier melt may have significant impacts to the hydrology and ecology in these areas. T
Learn More
link
USGS science for a changing world logo

Evaluation of downscaled General Circulation Model (GCM) output for current conditions and associated error in simulated runoff for CONUS

This project will assess the accuracy of climate drivers (precipitation and temperature) from different sources for current and future conditions. The impact of these drivers on hydrologic response will be using the monthly water balance model (MWBM). The methodology for processing and analysis of these datasets will be automated for when new climate datasets become available on the USGS Geo Dat
By
Community for Data Integration (CDI)
link

Evaluation of downscaled General Circulation Model (GCM) output for current conditions and associated error in simulated runoff for CONUS

This project will assess the accuracy of climate drivers (precipitation and temperature) from different sources for current and future conditions. The impact of these drivers on hydrologic response will be using the monthly water balance model (MWBM). The methodology for processing and analysis of these datasets will be automated for when new climate datasets become available on the USGS Geo Dat
Learn More
link
Yellow/green grasslands with winding river; low mountains and storm in distance

Understanding Extreme Climate Events in the North Central U.S.

The climate of the North Central U.S. is driven by a combination of factors, including atmospheric circulation patterns, the region’s complex topography which extends from the High Rockies to the Great Plains, and variations in hydrology. Together, these factors determine the sustainability of the region’s ecosystems and the services that they provide communities. In order to understand the vuln
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Understanding Extreme Climate Events in the North Central U.S.

The climate of the North Central U.S. is driven by a combination of factors, including atmospheric circulation patterns, the region’s complex topography which extends from the High Rockies to the Great Plains, and variations in hydrology. Together, these factors determine the sustainability of the region’s ecosystems and the services that they provide communities. In order to understand the vuln
Learn More

Thornthwaite Monthly Water Balance Model

The Thornthwaite water balance (Thornthwaite, 1948; Mather, 1978; 1979) uses an accounting procedure to analyze the allocation of water among various components of the hydrologic system. Inputs to the model are monthly temperature and precipitation. Outputs include monthly potential and actual evapotranspiration, soil moisture storage, snow storage, surplus, and runoff.

By
Water Resources Mission Area
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