Multidecadal streamflow regimes in the interior western United States: Implications for the vulnerability of water resources

摘要: [1] In the interior western United States, increased demand for water coupled with uncertain nature of anthropogenic and natural hydroclimatic variations add challenges to task assessing adequacy existing regional resources systems. Current availability relatively short instrumental streamflow records further limits diagnosis multidecadal longer time variations. Here we develop a long-term perspective using 285-year long tree-ring reconstruction at Middle Boulder Creek, Colorado. Analysis reconstructed provides useful insights vulnerability: (a) wider range hydrologic on scales, not seen in record, (b) wet/dry regimes show disparate fluctuations across various flow thresholds, (c) temporal changes probabilities have varied “flavors” corresponding wet dry their spatial extent. Based these results, discuss implications climate-related vulnerability resources.