Climate Modification of Dry Desert Air by a Large Irrigation Project

Burman, R.D. and Wright, J.L. and Marwitz, J.D. (1975) Climate Modification of Dry Desert Air by a Large Irrigation Project. pp. 33-34. In: Proc. 12th Agric. & Forest Meteorol. Conf. USA-AZ-Tucson, 1975/04/14-16.

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Abstract

Climatic changes caused by the evapotranspiration
of large amounts of irrigation
water may be important in irrigation scheduling,
weather forecasting and the management of irrigated
farmland. Results from previous studies
are often in disagreement as to the magnitude of
climatic modification by irrigation. Some
studies show only minimal changes (Fritschen and
Nixon, 1967, Fowler and Helvey, 1974) and others
show sizeable modifications (Davenport and
Hudson, 1967). Beebe (1974) reports that severe
storms as indicated by tornado's are more prevalent
over irrigated land in Texas. A recent
statistical report (Schickendanz, 1976) shows
rainfall increases, temperature anomalities, and
hail increases, all caused by irrigation.
Schickendanz work covered a very large area in
the Great Plains of the United States. Previously
reported studies differ greatly in size of
area involved and objectives. The studies reported
here had the objective of showing the
possible climate modification caused by a large
irrigation project in Idaho surrounded by a nonirrigated
sagebrush grass desert.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
NWISRL Publication Number:	0341
Subjects:	Mass Import - unclassified
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:56
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2017 18:58
Item ID:	997
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/997