Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-182
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-182
07 Feb 2024
 | 07 Feb 2024

The effect of climate change on the simulated streamflow of six Canadian rivers based on the CanRCM4 regional climate model

Vivek K. Arora, Aranildo Lima, and Rajesh Shrestha

Abstract. The effect of climate change is investigated on the hydro-climatology of six major Canadian rivers (Mackenzie, Yukon, Columbia, Fraser, Nelson, and St. Lawrence), in particular streamflow, by analyzing results from the historical and future simulations (RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios) performed with the Canadian regional climate model (CanRCM4). Streamflow is obtained by routing runoff using river networks at 0.5° resolution. Of these six rivers, Nelson and St. Lawrence are the most regulated. As a result, the streamflow at the mouth of these rivers shows very little seasonality. Additionally, the Great Lakes significantly dampen the seasonality of streamflow for the St. Lawrence River. Mean annual precipitation (P), evaporation (E), runoff (R), and temperature increase for all six river basins considered and the increases are higher for the more fossil fuel-intensive RCP 8.5 scenario. The only exception is the Nelson River basin for which the simulated runoff increases are extremely small. The hydrological response of these rivers to climate warming is characterized by their existing climate states. The northerly Mackenzie and Yukon River basins show a decrease in evaporation ratio (E/P) and an increase in runoff ratio (R/P) since the increase in precipitation is more than enough to offset the increase in evaporation associated with increasing temperature. For the southerly Fraser and Columbia River basins, the E/P ratio increases, and the R/P ratio decreases due to an already milder climate in the Pacific north-western region. The seasonality of simulated monthly streamflow is also more affected for the southerly Fraser and Columbia Rivers than for the northerly Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers as snow amounts decrease and snowmelt occurs earlier. The streamflow seasonality for the Mackenzie and Yukon rivers is still dominated by snowmelt at the end of the century even in the RCP 8.5 scenario. The simulated streamflow regime for the Fraser and Columbia Rivers shifts from a snow-dominated to a hybrid/rainfall-dominated regime towards the end of this century in the RCP 8.5 scenario. While we expect the climate change signal from CanRCM4 to be higher than other climate models, owing to the higher-than-average climate sensitivity of its parent global climate model, the results presented here provide a consistent overview of hydrological changes across six major Canadian river basins in response to a warmer climate.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Vivek K. Arora, Aranildo Lima, and Rajesh Shrestha

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-182', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 Apr 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply to anonymous referee #1', Vivek Arora, 15 Apr 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-182', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Apr 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply to anonymous referee #2', Vivek Arora, 02 May 2024

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-182', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 Apr 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply to anonymous referee #1', Vivek Arora, 15 Apr 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-182', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Apr 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply to anonymous referee #2', Vivek Arora, 02 May 2024
Vivek K. Arora, Aranildo Lima, and Rajesh Shrestha
Vivek K. Arora, Aranildo Lima, and Rajesh Shrestha

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Short summary
This study is likely the first Canada-wide assessment of climate change impact on the hydro-climatology of its major river basins. It finds that the precipitation, runoff, and temperature are all expected to increase over Canada in the future. The northerly Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers are relatively less affected by climate change compared to the southerly Fraser and Columbia Rivers which are located in the milder Pacific north-western region.