Climate Change and Society

Changing weather patterns affect both the amount and quality of water resources available for drinking, irrigation, fish farming, power generation, shipping, recreation, and other uses. Rising temperatures are already decreasing the size of snowpack in the western United States. Over time, this reduced snowpack could affect seasonal water supplies in regions that depend on this source of water. Droughts can have similar effects in areas where water supplies are already scarce, such as the U.S. Southwest. In addition, floods and severe storms—which will become more frequent because of climate change—can compromise the quality of water supplies by washing chemicals and other contaminants into lakes, rivers, and streams. Climate Change and Society