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Show 7 I The effect of global warming on the precipitation in the Uintah Basin By Karl Shuler Sinn moat of the preatigioua end distinguished institutions engaged in research on climate change agree that global wanning is slowly occurring, we might logically ask what effect will this increase in tempera-tur- e change haveon the precipitation pattern here in the Uintah Basin. Whether or not global warming, with its increase in temperature, is a long term climatic change occurring over thousands of years or simply a short term aberration in the earths isothermal field isunknown. There is slso a disagreement among scientists as to the cause of this change. Certainly any increase in the average temperature experienced here in the Uintah Basinover that in the past will lead to changes in its weather and climate. Let us look at just two of the weather variables which will be changes, although there will certainly be others. One is the amount of precipitation which will be received in the Uintah Basin, and the other is the intensity of thunderstorm activity especially during the summer months. The amount ofmoisture that a parcel of air can hold is directly proportional to the temperature of the air pared. Consequently, warm air can hold more moisture, if it is available, than cold air. This means that if we hold constant the other variables which affect precipitation amount as we have stated, and there are several others, and allow the variable oftemperature to niae with a resultant increase in moisture that the air parcel can hold, an increase in precipitation from tlie storm system will result. This is only true if the upper atmosphere, iso baric, pressure field with its corresponding wind system is conducive to precipitation. Conversely, if the atmosphere is wanner than usual and the upper atmosphere, isobaric, pressure field is not conductive for precipitation, then drought conditions here in the Uintah Basin can prevail. With summertime temperatures from global warming higher than normal, the droughtconditions will be more sever than normal since there will bo a more rapid and a greater transference of moisture from the ground into the atmosphere. This is a simplistic way to solve a complex problem and can certainly be subject to error. To correct the inequity of an over abundance ofwater duringa period of time when the atmospheie is conducive to precipitation and those periods of time when the atmosphere is conducive to drought, it will be necessary to construct additional water storage projects in the Uintah Basin toequalue the flowofirrigttion water to our farm lands during the periods ofeacesswaterandperiodiofdrought. Last summer severe droughtconditions struck a large portion ofboth the Indian and homestead farm and pasture lands, resulting in a consid- erable loss of crop and forage production. Without the present water stor-ag-e facilities which wo have, and which were filled to capacity and were available for irrigation purposes, agricultural production in the Uintah Basin would have been a total disas- ter. The people of the Uintah Basin were told that the Central Utah Project would supply this additional water storage when signatures were being acquired to bring Uintah and Duchesne counties into the Central Utah Water Conservatory District However, these water storage projects, have never materialised. The great ma jority ofthe construction and hinds of the Central Utah Conservancy District have been devoted to projects designed to remove water from the Uintah Basin to the Wasatch Front leaving a large portion of the farmlands and pasture lands from the Lake Fork River Drainage to the Whiterocks River Drainage sitting high and dry. People in this area now find themselves in the predicament of paying taxes that have been and still are being used to remove water from the Uintah Basin while their own lands, both Indian and Homestead, suffer severe crop losses from lack of irrigation water during periods of drought. In all fairness, the Central Utah Prtyect did construct some excellent water storage facilities in the Vernal Ki,nce OOODdBgj area. Also Starvation Reservoir has greatly improved the irrigation water supplies on the Duchesne River, although its primary purpose is designed to remove water from the Uintah Basin, A public policy is needed in the Uintah Basin essentially stating no additional excess water origrr g in the Uintah Basin shall bs removed from the Uintah Basin, but instead shall be stored and used of drought. These fiiturs water storage prqjects must be constructed one step at a time, and designed to meet the financial abilities of the people of the Uintah Basin. Another phenomena that likely will be associated with global wanning is that in the Uintah Basin there will be an increase in the violence of the thunderstorm activity which occurs especially during the summer months. Sincetheearth'ssurface and lower atmosphere will be wanner than in previous years, there will be an increased acceleration upward of the air particles adjacentto the surface of the earth and from the lower atmosphere into the upper atmosphere. beWhen the increased moisture cause the wanner temperatures can hold a greater amount of water vapor arrives in the in the air parcels Uintah Basin during the summer monsoon season and are accelerated upward, either by heating or geographic lifting, into the upper atmoet-in- sphere, violent down drafts of microburst winds will occur to com- pensate for this rapid upward movement of the air. Hail is a likelihood and the posai-biht- y of tornadoes does exist, although tornadoes are not a usual phenomena in the Uintah Basin since the mountain terrain tends to die- - Insurance Agen. UfrHSO& smfl GjXptigtP (gUBugftare Iowa Tanklines Inc. j UINTAH BASIN STANDARD. December 12. 2000- - Page nipt their circulatory system. Also pattern of the Uintah Basin, we can there is usually s lack of moisturt and expect greeter amounts of prwd pi lotion and more violent thunderstorm agreatdiversyof the temperatures between the air meases moving over activity when atmospheric conditions the Uintah Basin. These art some of are conducive to such weather patthe meteorological conditions necessary to instigate the dynamic energy in the tornado. In the areas east of the Rocky Mountains, eometimee known at "Tornado Alley became of the fre- icy of the occurrence of tone-- , the Gulf of Mexico provides a vast reservoir of water vapor within the wind system, as it moves northward into the United States. As the frigid, arctic air mauee move southward out of Canada and collide with the warm humid air maseet moving northward from the Gulf of Mexico, n severe thunderstorms, hail, microbunts of wind, and tornadoes frequently occur, the majority occurring during the spring months when the temperature diversify between the air meases is at its greatest. These violent weather phenomena may writ bring to mankind a greater realization as tojust how puny mankind is in relationship to nature. Briefly summarising the effect of global warming on the precipitation We are actively seeking experienced and qualified Drivers and Owner Operators. A rapidly growing carrier is looking for personnel to haul petroleum products from the Uintah Basin to Salt Lake City and the surrounding 1 1 Western States. Must have a Class A CDL with TX endorsements, be able to obtain a medical examiners certificate and provide a MVR. cism. However, meteorology is not an exact science, although with computers to solve the complex mathematical aquations governing atmospheric flow, and satellites to observe the cloud and precipitation patterns prevailing in the atmosphere, weather forecasting is far more accurate today in precious years. than it nr (Stusler holds Professional I Society.) Community Orchestra holds annual Christmas concert Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7 JO pm Christmas Conthe cert performed at the West Junior High School auditorium. West Junior High School is between Roosevelt and Ft Ducheeae on Highway 40. Admission is free but the holiday joy you will receive ie priceless. This delightftil music end dance experience is fast becoming a "have to" Christmas tradition for many families in the Basin It is an ideal activity for families, youth groups, seniors for everyone! A new feature of the concert this year is a 30 voice choir which willjoin the orchestra is some of the many festive sad spiritual carols which add so much to our enjoyment oftbs sea will see W-- (Formerly Darryl B. Taylor Trans.) terns. Also we can expect for more severe drought conditions than occurred in the past when atmospheric conditions are conductive to such weather patterns. In taking the simplistic approach that the increase in temperature is a variable and holding the other variables constant in the precipitation equation, 1 have induced a measure of error in my prognosis of future weather changes in the Uintah Basin and do become open to scientific criti- son. Another new feature ia the telling of The Little Match Girl by Hana Christian Anderson. Barbara Finer will do an interpretive dance to this poignant story. The program ia designed to people of all ages and includes Christmas carols and festive music ranging from Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" to Johan Pachelbel's Basin. Festive decorations will complement the musical atmo- o tphert. Be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday. Dec. 13 at 7 JO pm. If you are unable to attend this evening the program is being presented at Vernal Middle School on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the same time. bsbeeri Intermcxinlain Bobcat Salt Lake City 4100 South 500 West Ogden 2532 So. 1760 West Orem 745 No. 400 West 801-262-02- 08 801-627-00- Insurance is the Law Free Quotes W Make sure you're covered! 801-426-91- 52 YEAR END CLEARANCE BOBCAT SKID STEER LOADERS ;f7Rcpresentlng ? ifcj ? National Fanners Union z Bear River Mutual Company Benefits Include: New progressive pay ffcihlf Insurance WatIoa Holiday package,-Orou- p Pay, Sick Leave, 401(k) participation and Home Daily. All interested & qualified applicants can contact Tracy Hall at t MCA Regal. ! 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