Bonneville Power Administration

http://www.bpa.gov

Agency Topics Finance & Rates Jobs Public Involvement Contact   Advanced About BPA Projects & Programs Technologies Energy Tips Education Reports & Publications Business Listing

BPA Home EE Home Technologies Energy Web Resource Information

Energy Web Slides & Publications Demand Exchange Metering Data: Solar Schools Utilities and Federal Sites Fuel Cells Zero Energy Manufactured Home Adjust your View! Select a Font... Arial Century Gothic Courier Helvetica Georgia Times Verdana Select a Size... 9px 10px 11px 12px 13px 14px 15px 16px 17px 18px 19px 20px 22px

Climate Warming trends in the western U.S. have already produced significant changes in snow-driven hydrology. In the past 50 years, dates of peak snow accumulation and of peak snow melt derived stream flow have shifted earlier, typically by 10-40 days, and spring snow pack has decreased in most of the West (total decrease of 11% since 1950). Although a direct causal connection between the observed changes and rising concentrations of greenhouse gases cannot yet be established, it is likely that the declines reflect human influence. In many important respects, these observed changes are consistent with projections of future changes in a warming world, where losses in the West’s total April 1 snow pack are likely to exceed 40% by the 2050s. These observed changes point toward further reductions in summer water supply and increased demand. Links Companies (0) News Links (0) Utilities (0) Files Adobe Acrobat Files (0) Microsoft Word Files (0) Microsoft Excel Files (0) Microsoft Powerpoint Files (0)