Changing Weather Patterns Affect Runoff and Pollution Transport Dynamics in the Grand River Basin, Missouri
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities are responsible for many changes in climate since the mid-twentieth century, but infrastructures in place for food, water, energy, shelter, and transportation are mostly designed under the assumption that climate is stationary. In particular, food production systems, which are intensively managed, are vulnerable to changing weather patterns. The land management activities and weather in these intensively managed ecosystems alter the water cycle and increase the flux of pollution to downstream areas. Initiatives such as the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Water Initiative seek to improve ecosystem health while maintaining the economic viability of agricultural practices. Here, we evaluate the impacts of changing weather patterns on watershed runoff, soil erosion, and pollution transport within the intensively managed Grand River Basin in Missouri. Our goal is to quantitatively describe the changing weather patterns, particularly precipitation, and subsequent watershed runoff of the past four decades. We will then go on to elucidate the erosion and nitrogen and phosphorus pathways, and the links between runoff generation and land management. Our goal is to identify vulnerable areas within the watershed that are prone to greater pollution transport, and develop conservation plans to reduce their impacts on receiving waters. Our results will be valuable for policymakers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector of the Grand River Basin when making decisions regarding pollution control and best management practices.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021AGUFM.H14F..02H