GEOG 3290 - Water Resources in a Changing Climate

The availability of water is changing in Utah, the western US, and globally due in part to climate change and population demands. In this course we explore examples ranging from: the shrinking Great Salt Lake, Colorado River compact renegotiation, changing timing and amounts of snowpack runoff, depletion of groundwater, shrinking mountain glaciers as a water resource downstream, etc. We will take a holistic view of these topics to understand both the physical science as well as the social science aspects and impacts of these changes. We will use a variety of methodologies and tools to investigate these changing resources. Satellites can measure snowpack extent, volume, and melt timing, glacier changes, groundwater induced land subsidence and other forms of remote sensing (drones, airborne snow surveys, GPS networks, etc.) can also observe water resources. Various types of computer models and projections will be discussed: weather prediction models, Global Climate Models (GCMs), IPCC projections, population/demographic dynamics, global urbanization. These models can provide estimates of availability and demands on water resources over various spatial and temporal scales needed for assessment of societal impact of changing water resources. Field measurements are also critical to our understanding of water resources (stream flow gauges, automatic weather stations, snowpack analysis, etc.) and may be experienced through optional fieldtrips.