The life cycle of a master’s thesis: Assessing the impacts of projected climate warming on stream temperatures in the Stillaguamish River
Research Mentor(s)
Dr. Robert Mitchell
Description
The Stillaguamish River is a snow-and-rain mixed basin and the fifth largest river in the Puget Sound basin. Elevations in the 1700 square-kilometer Stillaguamish River basin reach roughly 2000 meters, and historically, snowpack is sustained above about 1000 meters. Snowmelt in the Stillaguamish watershed is crucial for maintaining spring and summer streamflow and regulating stream temperatures. Previous modeling projects a decreased snowpack at the end of the century, resulting in lower streamflows and higher temperatures in summer. Stream temperature increases are concerning because of the threatened Chinook salmon population, which spawn in the spring and summer. We reexamine projected stream temperatures in the Stillaguamish River to include the Pilchuck subbasin and main stem. To estimate stream temperature changes through the 21st century, we model hydrology with Distributed Hydrology Soil and Vegetation Model and temperature with the River Basin Model. We apply tributary specific calibration parameters and dynamically downscaled historical meteorological forcings. We calibrate modeled streamflow and temperature using historical measurements. Using the calibrated models, we will project hydrology and stream temperature through 2099 by applying dynamically downscaled global climate scenarios. We expect increases in stream temperatures in all tributaries of the Stillaguamish River, further threatening salmon recovery.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
May 2022
End Date
May 2022
Location
SMATE Library (Bellingham, Wash.)
Department
Geology
Genre/Form
student projects; posters
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
The life cycle of a master’s thesis: Assessing the impacts of projected climate warming on stream temperatures in the Stillaguamish River
SMATE Library (Bellingham, Wash.)
The Stillaguamish River is a snow-and-rain mixed basin and the fifth largest river in the Puget Sound basin. Elevations in the 1700 square-kilometer Stillaguamish River basin reach roughly 2000 meters, and historically, snowpack is sustained above about 1000 meters. Snowmelt in the Stillaguamish watershed is crucial for maintaining spring and summer streamflow and regulating stream temperatures. Previous modeling projects a decreased snowpack at the end of the century, resulting in lower streamflows and higher temperatures in summer. Stream temperature increases are concerning because of the threatened Chinook salmon population, which spawn in the spring and summer. We reexamine projected stream temperatures in the Stillaguamish River to include the Pilchuck subbasin and main stem. To estimate stream temperature changes through the 21st century, we model hydrology with Distributed Hydrology Soil and Vegetation Model and temperature with the River Basin Model. We apply tributary specific calibration parameters and dynamically downscaled historical meteorological forcings. We calibrate modeled streamflow and temperature using historical measurements. Using the calibrated models, we will project hydrology and stream temperature through 2099 by applying dynamically downscaled global climate scenarios. We expect increases in stream temperatures in all tributaries of the Stillaguamish River, further threatening salmon recovery.
