Water Temperature of Streams in the Cook
Inlet Basin, Alaska, and Implications of Climate Change
By Rebecca E. Kyle and Timothy P. Brabets
USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4109
ABSTRACT
Water-temperature data from 32 sites in the Cook Inlet
Basin, south-central Alaska, indicate various trends that depend on watershed
characteristics. Basins with 25 percent or more of their area consisting of
glaciers have the coldest water temperatures during the open-water season,
mid-May to mid-October. Streams and rivers that drain lowlands have the warmest
water temperatures. A model that uses air temperature as input to predict water
temperature as output was utilized to simulate future trends in water
temperature based on increased air temperatures due to climate warming. Based on
the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient, the model produced acceptable results for 27
sites. For basins with more than 25 percent glacial coverage, the model was not
as accurate. Results indicate that 15 sites had a predicted water-temperature
change of 3 degrees Celsius or more, a magnitude of change that is considered
significant for the incidence of disease in fish populations.
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A printed version of this report can be obtained by calling 1-888-ASK-USGS (275-8747).
Suggested reference: Kyle, R.E., and Brabets, T.P., 2001, Water Temperature
of Streams in the Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska, and Implications of Climate Change:
U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4109, 24 p.
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