Cutting Edge Lectures in Science: How Might Global Warming Affect the Variable Hydroclimate of Western Canada?
A presentation by Dr. David Sauchyn (University of Regina).
Canada鈥檚 western interior has one of the world's most variable
climates, with severe drought and torrential rainstorms experienced
in recent years. The extreme climate events in this region have
been some of the most costly natural disasters in Canada history.
Climate models suggest that this hydroclimatic variability could be
amplified by global warming 鈥� presenting a more challenging future
scenario than the projected shifts in average conditions.
To appreciate how global warming might affect the variable
hydroclimate of western Canada, we first must understand the
internal (natural) short-term variability. Because some climate
cycles are as long or longer than most weather station records, we
use the response of tree growth to climate to generate proxy
records of the hydroclimate of the past millennium. The long
climate records indicate that western water policy and management
practices were established during a period of intense, but not
sustained drought, and that adjustments may be required to sustain
land and water use under a hydrologic regime that has elements of
previous regimes and global warming.
Free, everyone welcome. Seating is limited. No
reservations necessary.聽The conference is聽followed by a
reception.