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2 - Global Climate Change and the Rivers

from Part II - Challenge

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2021

By
Gerald R. North
Edited by
Jurgen Schmandt  and
Aysegül Kibaroglu
Edited in association with
Regina Buono  and
Sephra Thomas
Jurgen Schmandt
Affiliation:
Houston Advanced Research Center
Aysegül Kibaroglu
Affiliation:
MEF University, Istanbul
Regina Buono
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Austin
Sephra Thomas
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Austin
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Summary

Currently available climate models predict the planet will be warmer at the end of this century by about 3C plus/minus 1.50C, while certain regions (the polar regions and the interiors of larger landmasses) will warm slightly more and ocean surfaces will warm at a slower pace. Climate modeling also tells us that the midlatitude storm belts will recede gradually toward their respective poles, causing the Hadley Cells to widen and expanding the arid subtropical zones. Warming in the cloud-free subtropics will lead to more warming and hence more evaporation of soil water. This chapter presents a thorough and accessible discussion of climate modeling to estimate future conditions in the Earth-hydrological system. It analyzes patterns of rainfall, potential evapotranspiration, actual evaporation, and runoff, among other factors, as well as the feedback mechanisms in the climate system that will impact water availability and use in the SERIDAS basins.

Keywords

climate changeclimate modelsHadley Cellssea levelcirculation modelsprecipitationevaporation
Type
Chapter
Information
Sustainability of Engineered Rivers In Arid Lands
Challenge and Response
 , pp. 13 - 30
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

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