HR: 14:10h
AN: ED23C-03    [Abstracts]
TI: Yosemite National Park: Hydroclimate Observatory and Educational Opportunity
AU: * Lundquist, J D
EM: jlundquist@ucsd.edu
AF: Scripps Insitution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0213 United States
AU: Cayan, D R
EM: dcayan@ucsd.edu
AF: Scripps Insitution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0213 United States
AU: Cayan, D R
EM: dcayan@ucsd.edu
AF: United States Geological Survey, UCSD/SIO 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0224 United States
AB: In Summer 2001, a network of sensors measuring stream depth, stream temperature, water conductivity, air temperature, and relative humidity were deployed throughout the Merced and Tuolumne River watersheds in Yosemite National Park. The goal of the network has been to increase our understanding of high-altitude meteorology and hydrology in order to link short-term physical processes with long-term changes and to improve water supply forecasts in a changing climate. Because of the link between short-term and long-term processes and because of the location's public appeal, the observatory has proved to be an excellent vehicle for educating the public about the changing climate and potential impacts on water resources in the Western United States. The educational component of the project has taken many forms, including: 1) talks to the public within the Yosemite Forum Series and the Parson's Lodge Series, 2) discussions with the park interpretive staff, 3) communication with park visitors while field work is being carried out, 4) online articles at Sierra Nature Notes, 5) discussions with news reporters, and 6) visits and talks to interested student and corporate groups. In order to understand climatic change, the general public needs to be able to relate personal experiences, such as visiting Yosemite's waterfalls and wildlife, to possible future scenarios, such as "Yosemite Falls will stop flowing earlier in future summers" and "Golden-mantled ground squirrels are no longer found near Crane Flat but only at higher elevations." Once they have a personal connection, people ask intelligent questions, including asking what they can do to help.
UR: http://tenaya.ucsd.edu/{\sim}jessica/
DE: 1833 Hydroclimatology
DE: 1860 Runoff and streamflow
DE: 1863 Snow and ice (1827)
DE: 1884 Water supply
DE: 0815 Informal education
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting