Mad River and Climate Change

Content information from Vermont Research Newsletter of September 21, 2018

Mad River, Vermont. Image: stage.saltandwind.com

A recent study published in Science Direct (sciencedirect.com) focused on the effects of climate change on the Mad River in Vermont. The study found that watershed discharge and sediment yield are expected to increase with warming temperatures, and that peak flows and sediment loads will intensify and become more variable. The study also cited high levels of phosphorus related to agricultural runoff.

The highlights of the study’s conclusions included:

• Watershed discharge and sediment yield are expected to increase with climate change.
• Peak flows and sediment loads are expected to increase and become more variable.
• General Circulation Models (GCMs) are not suitable for assessing the impacts of extreme precipitation and flow.

Learn more at http://bit.ly/MadRvrVT-Climate.

Reprinted with permission from the Center for Research on Vermont.

The Vermont Research News is a bi-monthly curated collection of Vermont research — focused on research in the Vermont “laboratory” — research that provides original knowledge to the world and research that adds to understanding of the state’s social, economic, cultural and physical environment. Contact Newsletter Editor Kirsti Blow at kirstiblow@gmail.com or Richard Watts at rwatts@uvm.edu.