Climate change impacts on streamflow in the upper North Saskatchewan River Basin, Alberta

This research focuses on the estimation of the impacts of climate change on water yield, streamflow extremes, and the streamflow regimes in the Cline River Watershed, and consequently, water availability for hydropower generation in this area. The Cline River Watershed comprises the flow into Lake Abraham, the reservoir for Bighorn Dam, is part of the upper North Saskatchewan River basin (UNSRB). This objective was achieved by parameterizing the ACRU agro-hydrological modelling system. After parameterization was complete, ACRU output was calibrated and verified against available observed data, including temperature, snow water equivalent, glacier mass balance, potential evapotranspiration, and streamflow data. After ACRU was properly verified, five selected climate change scenarios to estimate impacts of climate change in this area. Overall water yields are projected to increase over time. A large shift in seasonality is likely the biggest impact climate change will have on water resources in the Cline River Watershed.

Authors

• Nemeth, Michael W.
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Climatic changes -- Alberta -- Upper North Saskatchewan River Basin
• Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Alberta -- Upper North Saskatchewan River Basin
• Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Alberta -- Upper North Saskatchewan River Basin -- Forecasting
• Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Alberta -- Upper North Saskatchewan River Basin -- Mathematical models
• Climatic changes -- Research -- Alberta -- Upper North Saskatchewan River Basin
• Stream measurements -- Alberta -- Upper North Saskatchewan River Basin
• Upper North Saskatchewan River Watershed (Alta. and Sask.)
• Dissertations, Academic

Identifier

hdl:10133/2477

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/2477