Observed Trends and Future Projections of Climate in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed
Ann Arbor, MI — An analysis of observed trends (1961-2003) and regional climate model projections reveals that air temperatures throughout the Lake Winnipeg watershed showed significant increases in all seasons except autumn. Future climate projections from three regional climate models representing the effect of a scenario in which the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide rise to around 575 parts per million by 2050s indicate that air temperatures increase 2.1 - 2.8 ºC compared to the 1980s (1971 - 2000).
No significant trend was observed in annual precipitation in the region (1961-2003) although the models predicted that total annual precipitation would increase by 5.5-7.7%. Seasonally, precipitation declined in the Saskatchewan and Assiniboine river basins during the winter and an increased in part of the Red and Assiniboine river basins during summer season.
These changes in precipitation and temperature are expected to change the hydrological and nutrient transport regimes in the region.
Original Publication Information
Results of this study, "Observed Trends and Future Projections of Precipitation and Air Temperature in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed Journal of Great Lakes Research," are reported by Yonas Dibike, Terry Prowse, Rajesh Shrestha and Roxanne Ahmed in the special issue on Lake Winnipeg, of the Journal of Great Lakes Research, published by Elsevier, 2011.
Contacts
For more information about the study, contact Yonas Dibike, Environment Canada, University of Victoria, PO Box 3060 STN CSC Victoria, BC, V8W 3R4, Canada; Yonas.Dibike@ec.gc.ca, (250) 363-8910.
For information about the Journal of Great Lakes Research, contact Marlene Evans, Editor, National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3H5, Canada; jglr@ec.gc.ca; (306) 975-5310.
Since 1967, IAGLR has served as the focal point for compiling and disseminating multidisciplinary knowledge on North America's Laurentian Great Lakes and other large lakes of the world and their watersheds. In part, IAGLR communicates this knowledge through publication of the Journal of Great Lakes Research, available to members in print and electronic form. A searchable archive of the journal is available online and includes the abstracts of articles from the journal's inception in 1975 through the most recent issue. In addition, complete articles are available to members who have signed up for an electronic subscription.