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LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP

LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP. NOAA: Storms and Drought: Climate Change Impacts on the West Presented by Eric Boldt. November 14, 2011. DROUGHT. S T O R M S. AND. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON THE WEST. My story. You were thinking this?. Poll Question.

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LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP

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  1. LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP NOAA: Storms and Drought: Climate Change Impacts on the West Presented by Eric Boldt November 14, 2011

  2. DROUGHT S T O R M S AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON THE WEST

  3. My story

  4. You were thinking this?

  5. Poll Question The diverse climate and terrain in the Western U.S. results in annual rainfall of less than 5 inches in the deserts to more than 200 inches per year in the mountains. √True or X False?

  6. Diverse Climate & Terrain in the West

  7. Wettest in the mountains PRECIP DISTRIBUTION IN THE WEST Driest in the deserts

  8. Los Angeles County in Southern CA Mountains 6000-10000 ft Deserts 2000-3000 ft LA Coast-Valleys 0-1500 ft

  9. Winter Storms floods

  10. Western Storm Impacts Heavy Precipitation Strong Winds Small Tornadoes and waterspouts High Surf and rip currents Large Waves December 21, 2010

  11. Poll Question “Atmospheric Rivers” are known as… a. A little known rock band from the Midwest b. Rivers that flood when it rains c. Plumes of tropical moisture in the atmosphere d. Jet streams

  12. Atmospheric Rivers associated with heavy precipitation events Wetter Amount of water vapor in the atmosphere to generate precipitation

  13. December 17-22, 2010 Atmospheric River brings 15-25 inches of rain to southern CA in 5 days.

  14. ARkStorm is a USGS led project to model the impacts of a catastrophic flood event in California. The term “Atmospheric River” is used to explain the moist conveyor belt associated with Pacific storms. Also known as the “pineapple express.” http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1312/

  15. NASA/NOAA project to measure Atmospheric Rivers Aircraft drone NASA’s Global Hawk launched from Edward’s AFB in February 2011

  16. Flight path of NASA’s Global Hawk for a mission in February 2011 WISPAR – Winter Storms and Pacific Atmospheric Rivers project measured water vapor content from approaching storms during February 2011.

  17. Poll Question What severe weather phenomenon results in the most annual fatalities in the U.S.? a. Tornadoes b. Lightning c. Flash floods d. Hurricanes

  18. Heavy precipitation days have increased (measurable trend)

  19. Increase in precipitation intensity is consistent with the observed increases in atmospheric water vapor Increase in the amount of daily precipitation over North America that falls in heavy events

  20. Precipitation intensity is a key component of severe weather. Flash floods, debris flows, and snowfall intensity can be very destructive and life-threatening.

  21. Winter storm tracks are shifting northward and the strongest storms are likely to become stronger and more frequent, with greater wind speeds and more extreme wave heights. Source – www.globalchange.gov

  22. More powerful storms will increase threats to life…

  23. …and property

  24. Time For Questions ???

  25. Drought heat waves wildfires

  26. Poll Question How important is mountain snowpack for water supply in the Western U.S.? a. Not that important b. Somewhat important c. Important d. Very important

  27. Nearly 75%of the water supply in the Western U.S. comes from mountain snowpack65%in California – source Dept. Water Resources WOW!

  28. Departure from normal snow depth for February 27, 2011

  29. Drought seriously depletes water resources Lake Oroville, CA – Feb. 2008

  30. Winter Summer Winter

  31. January 2011 When the West would normally get precipitation it was abnormally dry.

  32. Annual Precipitation - % Change Drier Drier

  33. Heat waves impact health mainly due to..... [place clip art on a box below]

  34. Heat Waves • warm overnight temperatures • prolonged temperatures 15-20 degrees above normal • combination heat and humidity makes it feel hotter • poor air quality and smoke compounds health impacts

  35. Warm night temperatures will increase Increase in the percentage of very warm nights over North America

  36. ...On average excessive heat claims more lives each year than floods, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes combined... Source – NWS

  37. Temperature Change

  38. Wildfires

  39. Are fires becoming more frequent? Are they more severe?

  40. Poll Question What do you think? Are wildfires more severe than in the past? [place clip art on a box below]

  41. More acres burned per fire National Interagency Fire Center – wildland fire statistics

  42. More total acres burned annually Other factors are involved like disease, forest age, politics, causes, or is it climate change?

  43. Time For Questions ???

  44. Monsoon flash floods

  45. Most areas of Northwest Mexico and the Southwest U.S. receive over half their annual precipitation from the monsoon Source – NWS Tucson, AZ

  46. Winter Summer Winter

  47. Monsoon depends on winds and heat to transport moisture from the Gulf of California

  48. Monsoon moisture brings summer thunderstorms to much of the Rockies. Flash floods, and in some cases, wildfires, are caused by these storms.

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