University of Colorado, Boulder
Synthesis Comments
Unifying themes: water, variability
Water- critical resource of the 21st Century
balance in precipitation and evapotranspiration
(temperature influence); role of groundwater
balance of rain and snow- timing of snowmelt, and SWE
paleo view of current climate trends (especially
drought)- “luck” of a few good years interspersed with
low precipitation years- need to remind decision makers
of the long view
is the current combination of drought and high
temperatures unprecedented?
Synthesis Comments
Variability - understanding the multiple sources of
temporal variation influencing climate trends (annual,
decadal, multidecadal)- predictions of future climate
appriciation of the role of extreme events and shortterm variation as ecological/ evolutionary influences
(disturbance)
mountain context- resilience- biotic dispersal
spatial variability as related to mountains (lapse rates,
air flows)
is this variability addressed in models projecting
future climate?
Synthesis Comments/ editorials:
Can future biotic distributions be predicted from
current species/community/biome-climate
correlations?
Climate interactions with other stressorsLand use change (management strategies,
feedbacks to climate)
Atmospheric pollution- ozone, reactive N
Invasive species (gypsy moth, Bromus)
Climate and recreation (skiing, hiking, fishing)CLIMAS
Synthesis Comments/ editorials:
Linkage of climate and ecosystem function and
biogeochemistry- e.g. water balance, snowcover
Monitoring networks/ observatories: climate
(NPS, Mountain Climate Network), hydrological,
paleo, GLORIA, phenological
Potential products:
“state of the knowledge” report- review and
synthesis of mountain climate issues (paleo, drivers,
water resources, future scenarios, ecological
responses); similar to MRI book
synthesis report(s) in review journal
brochure for the general public, managers,
politicians