In net, there is undoubtedly more evapotranspiration of Colorado River water than previously (the river used to reach the Sea and now is “over-allocated”), however the location of the evaporation has been redistributed to desert farms and cities.
The field of Urban Ecology looks at the Urban Heat Island effect and how trees help to mitigate it — at least in the wealthier areas that can afford to plant, irrigate, and maintain trees that provide shade and latent heat cooling via evapotranspiration.
I think thats an interesting question if there is more evapotranspiration or less. The argument for less evapotranspiration now, is that water funnelled to cities and then out to sea, doesnt get a chance to evapotranspire. So the question is, is the amount that goes to cities-sea greater or less than the amount that would have flowed out of the Colorado river into the Gulf of Mexico if there were no aqueducts.
I tried studying and talking to the city council at the Salton Sea, speaking of diverting CA water. There's so much bureaucracy that nothing's going to get done until that's cleared up. There was even a park ranger there who did know a lot of these effects but he was 'just some ranger'.
I hope all study shifts to encompass more interdisciplinary and ultimately empirical approaches like you’re conceptualizing. Nature doesn’t delineate in the way academia does. I think academia creates an artificial mental structure which only separates us from creative and practical inquiry.
In net, there is undoubtedly more evapotranspiration of Colorado River water than previously (the river used to reach the Sea and now is “over-allocated”), however the location of the evaporation has been redistributed to desert farms and cities.
The field of Urban Ecology looks at the Urban Heat Island effect and how trees help to mitigate it — at least in the wealthier areas that can afford to plant, irrigate, and maintain trees that provide shade and latent heat cooling via evapotranspiration.
I think thats an interesting question if there is more evapotranspiration or less. The argument for less evapotranspiration now, is that water funnelled to cities and then out to sea, doesnt get a chance to evapotranspire. So the question is, is the amount that goes to cities-sea greater or less than the amount that would have flowed out of the Colorado river into the Gulf of Mexico if there were no aqueducts.
I tried studying and talking to the city council at the Salton Sea, speaking of diverting CA water. There's so much bureaucracy that nothing's going to get done until that's cleared up. There was even a park ranger there who did know a lot of these effects but he was 'just some ranger'.
Absolutely fascinating, even for a non-scientist like me. Thanks.
A Canadian Grandma
Very interesting article. Thank you.
A fascinating read; thank you!
I hope all study shifts to encompass more interdisciplinary and ultimately empirical approaches like you’re conceptualizing. Nature doesn’t delineate in the way academia does. I think academia creates an artificial mental structure which only separates us from creative and practical inquiry.