Colorado River Streamflow Variability and Changing Causal Drivers: Post 2000s analysis
The Colorado River exhibits substantial interannual and decadal variability in streamflow, historically influenced by sea surface temperature (SST) variability in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. However, under increasing climate variability and change, these historical relationships appear to be shifting or weakening. This presentation investigates how the influence of large-scale climate drivers on Colorado River streamflow has evolved over time.Ìý
By examining changes in these relationships across multiple periods, the study identifies emerging patterns and reassesses the reliability of traditional predictors. The results provide new insights into the changing dynamics of climate-streamflow linkages and highlight key factors to consider when interpreting and predicting Colorado River variability in a non-stationary climate.