Hydrology, temperature, and water source dynamics across river basins of western North America

Abstract

Climate change is altering temperature and precipitation regimes across the globe, resulting in often extreme modifications to river dynamics. Such impacts are particularly pronounced in western North America, a region with both water surplus and scarcity and therefore a long history of water resource challenges. To preserve riverine ecosystems, it is essential to improve our understanding of fundamental processes governing river dynamics, how river systems have and continue to change with anthropogenic forcing, and what tools and management actions may best facilitate conservation. Despite the breadth of studies examining western river hydrology and temperature, a persistent need remains for fundamental understanding and predictions on a management-relevant scale and the generation of insights that considers both temporal and spatial variation simultaneously. My dissertation research answers questions relating to how we describe and model patterns in riverine ecosystems and consists of a portfolio of projects aimed at improving our ability to understand fundamental drivers of, and predict and mitigate anthropogenic induced changes to, river hydrology, temperature, and water source.