This thesis is focused on determining the rate at which the climate of
western North America (WNA) has changed in recent history, and looks at the
impact that projected future climatic changes will have on a large glaciated
watershed in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The rate of change over WNA is
quantified for 485 climate stations for the period 1950-2005 using indicators
developed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Results of the
analysis show statistically significant historical trends across the study area. To
gauge the effect of climate change on glaciers, a mass balance model was
developed and integrated with the University of Lethbridge GENESYS
hydrometeorological model. GCM future climate scenarios were used to model
change in the Upper North Saskatchewan River Basin through 2100. Results
forecast dramatic declines (> 80%) in total glacier area, ice volume, and
streamflow contribution by 2100. / ix, 137 leaves ; 29 cm
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:ALU.w.uleth.ca/dspace#10133/3227 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Booth, Evan L. J |
| Contributors | Byrne, James |
| Publisher | Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Geography, c2011, Arts and Science, Department of Geography |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Relation | Thesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science) |
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