Past work on climate variability and water resources has focused on water quantity impacts (e.g., flooding
and droughts) rather than on changes in water quality. This paper addresses two aspects of climate
variability impacts on selected water quality parameters: assessment of projecting seasonal
water using various prior season hydroclimate parameters; and, assessment of the feasibility of
projecting seasonal to annual lake water quality changes using El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
indicators observed in prior seasons. Work with Lake Cachuma, near Goleta, California, found that dry
season water quality, when taste and odor complaints could be forecast from wet season hydroclimate (air
temperature related) using probability relationships. The assessment of ENSO patterns suggests that dry
season ENSO is a strong predictor of regional wet season precipitation, and thus provides opportunities to
forecast increases in turbidity and color. In addition, prior season hydroclimate parameters may provide
insight on water quality related to spring runoff and to summer taste and odor concerns. Water quality
forecasting models using prior hydroclimate parameter or climate variability indices to forecast future
water quality has the potential to assist water suppliers in managing their source waters on a seasonal
basis. Includes 18 references, tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 620 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 8 |
| Published : | 11/01/2005 |
