Recent Climate Change in Utah, 1870–2023 Scott Hotaling, Ph.D.1,2, Kendall Becker, Ph.D.1,2 1
Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University 2
Climate Resiliency Extension, Utah State University
Climate change is impacting Utah. Forty-five years of temperature data show that Utah is steadily warming which, in turn, is driving declines in winter snowpack, shifting the timing and amount of available water, increasing fire risk, and causing ecological change. This link between warming and natural resources stems from the fundamental connection in mountain regions between temperature, precipitation, and water supply. In winter, Utah receives a considerable amount of precipitation, which primarily falls as snow. Snowpack seasonally accumulates at higher elevations, then melts in spring and summer. By acting as a natural water reservoir that is seasonally replenished, snowpack buffers the landscape against dry conditions. Snow cover also acts as a large-scale control on plant growth and animal movement, influencing local ecology. Thus, current and projected shifts in Utah’s temperature and precipitation regimes due to climate change will continue to impact its water supply, wildfire risk, and ecosystems.
Temperature
Utah’s snowpack acts as a natural water reservoir, accumulating in winter and melting in spring and summer.
Ambient temperatures strongly influence many aspects of modern life, natural resources, and ecosystems. In a dry state like Utah, annual and seasonal temperatures are closely tied to water demand and availability. Warmer summers increase demand for water. Warmer winters cause more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, resulting in a shallower snowpack that contains less water and melts out earlier. Together, warmer summers and winters exacerbate water supply issues, particularly in late summer when water is most needed. Over the past four decades, the annual mean temperature in Utah has increased by around 0.4 °F per decade (Figure 1). This trend is driven by rising summer temperatures and is projected to continue; winter temperatures are also projected to increase (Hegewisch & Abatzoglou, n.d.-a, n.d.-b).
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