Keira Trujillo
CEEN 381
Journal Article
02/06/17 Changes in the Timing of Snowmelt and Streamflow in Colorado:
A Response to Recent Warming
This article was developed by David Clow, an employee of the USGS here in Lakewood in 2007.
The purpose of his writing was to display the effects of climate change on the snowpack and
streamflow in the Rocky Mountains. High elevation areas get most precipitation in the winter
months in the form of snow. Previous studies before 2007 inferred that the Rockies were immune
to the effects of climate change due to the higher elevations. This study challenged that
statement.
The report discusses data that was collected for 29 years from 1978-2007. This data consisted of
snowpack measurements, temperature measurements, and streamflow measurements. The
snowpack was measured using snowpack telemetry (SNOTEL). A pressure sensor is placed on
the ground surface and then collects data throughout the year. The system displays a
measurement in centimeters based on the amount of pressure on the sensor. Temperature is also
recorded with this device. SNOTEL measurements were taken at 14 different locations in the
Rockies at varying elevations. Streamflow values were taken from the USGS database for 14
different streams as well. These streams were chosen under the condition that 50% of the annual
