Articles | Volume 25, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-257-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-257-2021
Research article
 | 
18 Jan 2021
Research article |  | 18 Jan 2021

Ubiquitous increases in flood magnitude in the Columbia River basin under climate change

Laura E. Queen, Philip W. Mote, David E. Rupp, Oriana Chegwidden, and Bart Nijssen

Data sets

Hydrologic Response of the Columbia River System to Climate Change O. S. Chegwidden, B. Nijssen, D. E. Rupp, and P. W. Mote https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.854763

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Short summary
Using a large ensemble of simulated flows throughout the northwestern USA, we compare daily flood statistics in the past (1950–1999) and future (2050–1999) periods and find that nearly all locations will experience an increase in flood magnitudes. The flood season expands significantly in many currently snow-dominant rivers, moving from only spring to both winter and spring. These results, properly extended, may help inform flood risk management and negotiations of the Columbia River Treaty.