Thursday, February 25, 2010

More Water Info

Climate change and Sierra Nevada snowpack

The Sierra Nevada snowpack is one of the largest sources of fresh water for California. The melting of the snowpack allows water to be captured and pumped to homes throughout California. However, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is melting at a faster rate than it has in previous years.

Scientists measured snow accumulation and melt trends over a 28 year period at 260 different snow sensor stations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This study revealed that less snow accumulated and melted earlier in areas below 2400m. Generally, most snow sensor stations above 2400m revealed an increased trend in snow accumulation but earlier snow melt.

Johnson, Tammy, Jeff Dozier, and Joel Michaelsen. Climate change and Sierra Nevada snowpack. Publication. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK: International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 1999. Print.


Climate Change Impacts on Water Supply and Agricultural Water Management in California's Western San Joaquin Valley, and Potential Adaptation Strategies (2009)

This study revealed that "increasing agricultural demand under climate change brought on by increasing temperature will place additional stress on the water system, such that some water users will experience a decrease in water supply reliability."

California residents must adapt water consumption habits that conserve this precious resource in order to guarantee it for the future.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON WATER SUPPLY AND AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT IN CALIFORNIA’S WESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, AND POTENTIAL ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
(2009). California Climate Change Center, Aug. 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2010. http://www.energy.ca.gov/2009publications/CEC-500-2009-051/CEC-500-2009-051-F.PDF.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Nathan Lewis Presentation Reflection

Nathan Lewis gave a well structured presentation that was consistently supported by facts. There were many points throughout his presentation that specifically captured my attention, most notably was the global energy consumption in one year. The world uses about 13TW (terawatts) of energy a year, the U.S. using 3 of those 13TW. I am finding it difficult to visualize what 13TW looks like. When I hear 13TW all I imagine is a number.

Solar energy is the best alternative, carbon-free energy source for the future. During his presentation, Nathan Lewis discussed that solar energy was the most likely candidate for a future fuel source because the amount of energy that the sun emits is far greater than the amount of energy that we use. One of the biggest obstacles on the pathway towards a more solar energy reliant future is the current cost of solar energy vs. the current cost of energy generated by coal. Solar energy is stuck at a crossroads of what is most environmentally friendly and what is most economic. Solar energy will not replace coal until it becomes a more cost effective source of energy.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Climate Change in Regards to Water

Article 1

"Pacific Institute - Bottled Water and Energy." Pacific Institute: Research for People and the Planet. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. http://www.pacinst.org/topics/water_and_sustainability/bottled_water/bottled_water_and_energy.html.

The source lists several key facts that highlight the large carbon footprint that the bottled water industry leaves behind. Tap water is the alternative to bottled water.

Most households in the United States have access to purified drinking water that is supplied via faucets, however many Americans choose to buy bottled water rather than take a drink of tap, a decision that leaves behind a substantial carbon footprint.

In 2006, Americans bought a total of 31.2 billion liters of water. Bottling water produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide and 3 liters of water were required to produce 1 liter of bottled water. 3.4 megajoules of energy are required in order to produce a typical 1-liter plastic bottle, capping and packaging. 900,000 tons of Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), a type of plastic typically produced by natural gases and petroleum, were required to produce water bottles. Once a plastic water bottled has been produced it must be shipped to markets, further increasing its carbon footprint.

Articles 2 & 3

"Climate Change." California Department of Water Resources. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/.

Uncertain Future; Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for California's Water. Rep. State of California | The Resources Agency Department of Water Resources, Oct. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2009. http://www.water.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/ClimateChangeWhitePaper.pdf.

These two sources host valuable pieces of information regarding California's increasing drought and how it is a result of climate change. They provide facts about the water that Californians receive from the Sierra Nevada snowpack and the San Joaquin Delta.

The effects of climate change can be felt in the form of California's current drought and projections for how it may worsen. "Sea level has risen about seven inches at the Golden Gate Bridge in the last century, and continued sea level rise could threaten many coastal communities as well as the sustainability of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta which supplies 25 million Californians with drinking water."

"The annual snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada snowpack currently releases 15 million acre-feet of water," with much of it eventually making its way into the San Joaquin Delta. "Based upon historical data and modeling, DWR [California Department of Water Resources] projects that the Sierra snowpack will experience a 25 to 40 percent reduction from its historic average by 2050." Rising temperatures in California will result in lower levels of fresh water collection in the future if nothing is done to counteract climate change.

Reflection

It is important that we make larger steps towards preserving the availability of water in the future by improving our water consumption habits and making a more conscious effort to understand how climate change jeopardizes water resources. Water is an invaluable resource essential to life on earth. The most critical effects of climate change will be felt in the form of future water shortages if strong efforts are not invested toward water conservation.

I plan to use the information that I have gathered from these articles to show the reasons why we must conserve water in order to preserve our water usage for the future. If we do not initiate stricter water consumption and conservation efforts Californians will not be able to guarantee a future with water.

These are some of the ideas that I have brainstormed for my video:
  • A time lapse of a simulation of the increased snowmelt in the Sierra Nevadas over the next 100 years.
  • The carbon footprint that bottled water leaves behind from its production and transportation to markets.
  • The path that our water travels: from the Sierra Nevadas to the San Joaquin Delta and then to Southern California.