| Citation |
Stahl, K., Moore, R.D. Shea, J.M,. Hutchinson, D.G. and Cannon, A. 2008. Coupled modelling of glacier and streamflow response to future climate scenarios. Water Resources Research 44, W02422, doi:10.1029/2007WR005956. |
| Organization |
UBC |
| URL |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2007WR005956/abstract |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
This study investigated the sensitivity of streamflow to changes in climate and glacier cover for the Bridge River basin, British Columbia, using a semi-distributed conceptual hydrological model coupled with a glacier response model. Mass balance data were used to constrain model parameters. Climate scenarios included a continuation of the current climate and two transient GCM scenarios with greenhouse gas forcing. Modelled glacier mass balance was used to re-scale the glacier every decade using a volume-area scaling relation. Glacier area and summer streamflow declined strongly even under the steady-climate scenario, with the glacier retreating to a new equilibrium within 100 years. For the warming scenarios, glacier retreat continued with no evidence of reaching a new equilibrium. Uncertainty in parameters governing glacier melt produced uncertainty in future glacier retreat and streamflow response. Where mass balance information is not available to assist with calibration, model-generated future scenarios will be subject to significant uncertainty. |
| Information Type |
article |
| Regional Watershed |
Howe Sound & Sunshine Coast |
| Sub-watershed if known |
|
| Aquifer # |
|
| Comments |
|
| Project status |
complete |
| Contact Name |
Dan Moore |
| Contact Email |
[email protected] |
