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APPLIED PHYSICAL SCIENCES / ECOLOGY
Emissions pathways, climate change, and impacts on California
aATMOS Research and Consulting, 809 West Colfax Avenue, South Bend, IN 46601; cClimate Research Division, The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0224; dDepartment of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305; eUnion of Concerned Scientists, Two Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA 02238; fCivil Engineering Department, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95053; gAtmosphere and Ocean Sciences Group, Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720; hEnvironmental and Societal Impacts Group, National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307; iDepartment of Biological Sciences and Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; jCorvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR 97331; kDepartment of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; lCenter for Climatic Research, Department of Geography, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716; and mDepartment of Geography, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242
Contributed by Christopher B. Field, June 23, 2004
| Abstract |
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The magnitude of future climate change depends substantially on the greenhouse gas emission pathways we choose. Here we explore the implications of the highest and lowest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emissions pathways for climate change and associated impacts in California. Based on climate projections from two state-of-the-art climate models with low and medium sensitivity (Parallel Climate Model and Hadley Centre Climate Model, version 3, respectively), we find that annual temperature increases nearly double from the lower B1 to the higher A1fi emissions scenario before 2100. Three of four simulations also show greater increases in summer temperatures as compared with winter. Extreme heat and the associated impacts on a range of temperature-sensitive sectors are substantially greater under the higher emissions scenario, with some interscenario differences apparent before midcentury. By the end of the century under the B1 scenario, heatwaves and extreme heat in Los Angeles quadruple in frequency while heat-related mortality increases two to three times; alpine/subalpine forests are reduced by 5075%; and Sierra snowpack is reduced 3070%. Under A1fi, heatwaves in Los Angeles are six to eight times more frequent, with heat-related excess mortality increasing five to seven times; alpine/subalpine forests are reduced by 7590%; and snowpack declines 7390%, with cascading impacts on runoff and streamflow that, combined with projected modest declines in winter precipitation, could fundamentally disrupt California's water rights system. Although interscenario differences in climate impacts and costs of adaptation emerge mainly in the second half of the century, they are strongly dependent on emissions from preceding decades.
Here, we examine a range of potential climate futures that represent uncertainties in both the physical sensitivity of current climate models and divergent greenhouse gas emissions pathways. Two global climate models, the low-sensitivity National Center for Atmospheric Research/Department of Energy Parallel Climate Model (PCM) (3) and the medium-sensitivity U.K. Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Model, version 3 (HadCM3), model (4, 5) are used to calculate climate change resulting from the SRES (Special Report on Emission Scenarios) B1 (lower) and A1fi (higher) emissions scenarios (1). These scenarios bracket a large part of the range of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change nonintervention emissions futures with atmospheric concentrations of CO2 reaching
550 ppm (B1) and
970 ppm (A1fi) by 2100 (see Emissions Scenarios in Supporting Text, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). Although the SRES scenarios do not explicitly assume any specific climate mitigation policies, they do serve as useful proxies for assessing the outcome of emissions pathways that could result from different emissions reduction policies. The scenarios at the lower end of the SRES family are comparable to emissions pathways that could be achieved by relatively aggressive emissions reduction policies, whereas those at the higher end are comparable to emissions pathways that would be more likely to occur in the absence of such policies.
| Climate Projections |
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150 km2) (6) and to individual weather stations (7) for analyses of temperature and precipitation extremes and health impacts. Downscaling to the 1/8° grid used an empirical statistical technique that maps the probability density functions for modelled monthly precipitation and temperature for the climatological period (19611990) onto those of gridded historical observed data, so the mean and variability of observations are reproduced by the climate model data. The bias correction and spatial disaggregation technique is one originally developed for adjusting General Circulation Model output for long-range streamflow forecasting (6), later adapted for use in studies examining the hydrologic impacts of climate change (8), and compares favorably to different statistical and dynamic downscaling techniques (9) in the context of hydrologic impact studies. Station-level downscaling for analyses of temperature and precipitation extremes and health impacts used a deterministic method in which grid-cell values of temperatures and precipitation from the reference period were rescaled by simple monthly regression relations to ensure that the overall probability distributions of the simulated daily values closely approximated the observed probability distributions at selected long-term weather stations (7). The same regression relations were then applied to future simulations, such that rescaled values share the weather statistics observed at the selected stations. At the daily scales addressed by this method, the need to extrapolate beyond the range of the historically observed parts of the probability distributions was rare even in the future simulations (typically <1% of the future days) because most of the climate changes involve more frequent warm days than actual truly warmer-than-ever-observed days (7).
Except where otherwise noted, we present projected climate anomalies and impacts averaged over 20202049 (with a midpoint of 2035) and 20702099 (here designated as end-of-century, with a midpoint of 2085), relative to a 19611990 reference period.
Temperature. All simulations show increases in annual average temperature before midcentury that are slightly greater under the higher A1fi emissions scenario (see Fig. 4, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). By end-of-century, projected temperature increases under A1fi are nearly twice those under B1, with the more sensitive HadCM3 model producing larger absolute changes (Table 1). Downscaled seasonal mean temperature projections (10) show consistent spatial patterns across California, with lesser warming along the southwest coast and increasing warming to the north and northeast (Fig. 1). Statewide, the range in projected average temperature increases is higher than previously reported (1114), particularly for summer temperature increases that are equal to or greater than increases in winter temperatures.
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7%) by the end of the century (Table 1). These results differ from previous projections showing precipitation increases of 75200% by 2100 (1113), but they are consistent with recent PCM-based midrange projections (14, 15). The larger-scale pattern of rainfall over North America is more uniform across scenarios, showing an area of decreased (or lesser increase in) precipitation over California that contrasts with increases further up the coast (see Fig. 11, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). Because interdecadal variability often dominates precipitation over California, projected changes in climate and impacts associated with the direct effects of temperature should be considered more robust than those determined by interactions between temperature and precipitation or precipitation alone. | Extreme Heat and Heat-Related Mortality |
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347 days per year are likely to lie below 35°C). For the four locations examined for extreme heat occurrence (Los Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno, and Shasta Dam), mean and maximum temperatures occurring 50% and 5% of the year increase by 1.55°C under B1 and 3.59°C under A1fi by the end of the century. Extreme temperatures experienced an average of 5% of the year during the historical period are also projected to increase in frequency, accounting for 1219% (B1) and 2030% (A1fi) of days annually by 20702099 (see Fig. 12, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). The annual number of days classified as heatwave conditions (3 or more consecutive days with temperature above 32°C) increases under all simulations, with more heatwave days under A1fi before midcentury (see Fig. 13, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). Among the four locations analyzed, increases and interscenario differences are proportionally greatest for Los Angeles, a location that currently experiences relatively few heatwaves. By the end of the century, the number of heatwave days in Los Angeles increases four times under B1, and six to eight times under A1fi. Statewide, the length of the heatwave season increases by 57 weeks under B1 and by 913 weeks under A1fi by the end of this century, with interscenario differences emerging by midcentury (Table 1; see also Fig. 14, which is published information on the PNAS web site).
The connection between extreme heat and summer excess mortality is well established (17). Heat-related mortality estimates for the Los Angeles metropolitan area were determined by threshold meteorological conditions beyond which mortality tends to increase. An algorithm was developed to determine the primary environmental factors (including maximum apparent temperature, number of consecutive days above the threshold apparent temperature, and time of year) that explain variability in excess mortality for all days with apparent maximum temperatures at or above the derived daily threshold apparent temperature (18) value of 34°C (see Heat-Related Mortality in Supporting Text). Estimates do not account for changes in population or demographic structure.
From a baseline of
165 excess deaths during the 1990s, heat-related mortality in Los Angeles is projected to increase by about two to three times under B1 and five to seven times under A1fi by the 2090s if acclimatization is taken into account (see Heat-Related Mortality in Supporting Text). Without acclimatization, these estimates are about 2025% higher (Table 1). Actual impacts may be greater or lesser depending in part on demographic changes and societal decisions affecting preparedness, health care, and urban design. Individuals likely to be most affected include elderly, children, the economically disadvantaged, and those who are already ill (19, 20).
| Impacts on Snowpack, Runoff, and Water Supply |
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1.7 km3 of water storage by midcentury and 2.1 km3 by the end of the century for HadCM3. For PCM, overall SWE losses are smaller, but the difference between the A1fi and B1 scenarios is larger by the end of the century, representing >4 km3 of storage. Reductions for all simulations except PCM under the lower B1 emission scenario are greater than previous projections of diminishing snowpack for the end of the century (8, 21). By 20202049 the SWE loss is comparable to that previously projected for 2060 (22). Warmer temperatures and more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow also causes snowmelt runoff to shift earlier under all simulations (Table 1), which is consistent with earlier studies (23). The magnitude of the shift is greater in the higher-elevation Southern basins and under the higher A1fi scenario. Stream inflows to major reservoirs decline because of diminished snowpack and increased evaporation before midcentury, except where winter precipitation increases (Table 1). The greater reductions in inflows seen under A1fi are driven by both higher temperatures and lower average precipitation as compared with B1.
Earlier runoff may also increase the risk of winter flooding (7). Currently, state operators maintain
12 km3 of total vacant space in the major reservoirs to provide winter and early spring flood protection,n a volume approximately equal to that stored in the natural snowpack reservoir by April 1st. Capturing earlier runoff to compensate for future reductions in snowpack would take up most of the flood protection space, forcing a choice between winter flood prevention and maintaining water storage for the summer and fall dry period use. Flood risk and fresh-water supply are also affected by higher sea levels, which are projected to rise 1040 cm under B1 and 2065 cm under A1fi by 2100 (Table 1; see also Fig. 16, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site).
Declining Sierra Nevada snowpack, earlier runoff, and reduced spring and summer streamflows will likely affect surface water supplies and shift reliance to groundwater resources, already overdrafted in many agricultural areas in California (24). This could impact 85% of California's population who are agricultural and urban users in the Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and the South Coast, about half of whose water is supplied by rivers of the Central Valley. Under A1fi (both models) and B1 (HadCM3), the projected length, frequency, and severity of extreme droughts in the Sacramento River system during 20702099 substantially exceeds what has been experienced in the 20th century. The proportion of years projected to be dry or critical increases from 32% in the historical period to 5064% by the end of the century under all but the wetter PCM B1 scenario (see Table 2, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). Changes in water availability and timing could disrupt the existing pattern of seniority in month-dependent water rights by reducing the value of rights to mid- and late-season natural streamflow and boosting the value of rights to stored water. The overall magnitude of impacts on water users depends on complex interactions between temperature-driven snowpack decreases and runoff timing, precipitation, future population increases, and human decisions regarding water storage and allocation (see Impacts on Water Supply in Supporting Text).
| Impacts on Agriculture and Vegetation Distribution |
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For dairy production, losses were estimated for temperatures above a 32°C threshold (27), as well as for additional losses between 25°C (28) and 32°C. For the top 10 dairy counties in the state (which account for 90% of California's milk production), rising temperatures were found to reduce production by as much as 710% (B1) and 1122% (A1fi) by the end of the century (see Table 3, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). Potential adaptations may become less practical with increasing temperature and humidity (29).
For wine grapes, excessively high temperatures during ripening can adversely affect quality, a major determinant of market value. Assuming ripening occurs at between 1,150 and 1,300 biologically active growing degree days (30), ripening month was determined by summing modeled growing degree days above 10°C from April to October, for both baseline and projected scenarios. Monthly average temperature at the time of ripening was used to estimate potential temperature impacts on quality. For all simulations, average ripening occurs 12 months earlier and at higher temperatures, leading to degraded quality and marginal/impaired conditions for all but the cool coastal region under all scenarios by the end of the century (see Table 3, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). As with other perennial crops, adaptation options to shift varieties or locations of production would require significant time and capital investment.
The distribution of California's diverse vegetation types also changes substantially over the century relative to historical simulations (Fig. 3; see also Fig. 17, which is published as supporting information on the PNAS web site). Projections of changes in vegetation distribution are those given by MC1, a dynamic general vegetation model that simulates climate-driven changes in life-form mixtures and vegetation types; ecosystem fluxes of carbon, nitrogen, and water; and fire disturbance over time (31). Vegetation shifts driven primarily by temperature, such as reductions in the extent of alpine/subalpine forest and the displacement of evergreen conifer forest by mixed evergreen forest, are consistent across models and more pronounced under A1fi by the end of the century. Changes driven by precipitation and changes in fire frequency are model-dependent and do not exhibit consistent interscenario differences. Most changes are apparent before mid-century, with the exception of changes in desert cover. The shift from evergreen conifer to mixed evergreen forest and expansion of grassland are consistent with previous impact analyses (13), whereas the extreme reduction in alpine/subalpine forest and expansion of desert had not been reported in previous impacts assessments (12, 13).
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| Conclusions |
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| Acknowledgements |
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| Footnotes |
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Abbreviations: DJF, December, January, February; HadCM3, Hadley Centre Climate Model, version 3; JJA, June, July, August; PCM, Parallel Climate Model; SRES, Special Report on Emission Scenarios; SWE, snow water equivalent.
n See the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control Requirements for California Reservoirs, Sacramento District Water Control Data System, Sacramento, CA (www.spkwc.usace.army.mil). ![]()
o See Western U.S. Climate Historical Summaries (Western Regional Climate Center) at www.wrcc.dri.edu/climsum.html. ![]()
b To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: hayhoe{at}atmosresearch.com.
© 2004 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA
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enovi
, N., Alcamo, J., Davis, G., de Vries, B., Fenhann, J., Gaffin, S., Gregory, K., Grübler, A., Jung, T. Y., Kram, T., et al. (2000) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, U.K.).
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