Warming may create substantial water supply shortages in the Colorado River basin

摘要: [1] The high demand for water, the recent multiyear drought (1999–2007), and projections of global warming have raised questions about long-term sustainability water supply in southwestern United States. In this study, potential effects specific levels atmospheric on water-year streamflow Colorado River basin are evaluated using a water-balance model, results analyzed within context multi-century tree-ring reconstruction (1490–1998) basin. The indicate that if future occurs is not accompanied by increased precipitation, then likely to experience periods shortages more severe than those inferred from historical reconstruction. Furthermore, modeling suggest would increase likelihood failure meet allocation requirements Compact.