Researchers at Washington State University are hoping to make some economic and social predictions about climate change.
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Flickr Creative Commons: Karl S Johnson
RICHLAND, Wash. – Researchers at Washington State University are hoping to make some economic and social predictions about climate change. They’re developing a computer model with the help of a $1.5 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Water Sustainability Climate program.
The new computer model will predict how climate change will affect water use in the Columbia River Basin. The model will consider how much water is available, its quality, and who needs it.
Cailin Huyck Orr is leading the team of researchers at Washington State University. She said the difference with this model is: water users will help fine-tune it.
Researchers will adjust the model depending on how people say they’ll use water in different scenarios. That could mean what type of crops farmers will plant, if there is less precipitation.
“What we’d really like to do is provide information that can help people plan ahead of the time when we need to be making those decisions. And hopefully reduce conflict,” Huyck Orr said.
Huyck Orr said the model will also predict how public policies could impact the Columbia River Basin.
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