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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314893
Title: Long-term trends in climate and hydrology in an agricultural headwater watershed of central Pennsylvania, USA

Author
item Bryant, Ray
item LU, HAIMING - Nanjing Research Institute For Agriculture
item Elkin, Kyle
item Buda, Anthony
item Collick, Amy
item Folmar, Gordon
item Kleinman, Peter

Submitted to: American Water Resources Association Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2015
Publication Date: 1/15/2016
Citation: Bryant, R.B., Lu, H., Elkin, K.R., Buda, A.R., Collick, A.S., Folmar, G.J., Kleinman, P.J. 2016. Long-term trends in climate and hydrology in an agricultural headwater watershed of central Pennsylvania, USA. American Water Resources Association Conference Proceedings,4:713-731.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Climate change has emerged as a key issue facing agriculture and water resources in the US. Long-term (1968-2012) temperature, precipitation and streamflow data from a small (7.3 km2) watershed in east-central Pennsylvania was used to examine climatic and hydrologic trends in the context of recent climate change. Annual mean temperatures increased 0.38°C per decade, which led to an expansion of the growing season, and increased evapotranspiration (+37.1 mm per decade). Additionally, mean annual precipitation also increased while the overall change in streamflow decreased. In general, the findings suggest some challenges for producers and water resource managers with regards to increased rainfall and runoff. However, some changes such as an enhanced growing season can be viewed as a positive effect.