Impacts of simulated climate change on West Texas

Climate records for the four first-class stations of Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, and Wichita Falls were statistically analyzed to produce a climatology of the west Texas region. This climatology was used for comparison to the baseline run of a general circulation model to validate its appropriateness in predicting the impacts of global warming in the West Texas area. Statistical analysis was then performed on the doubled CO2 run of the GCM, and a comparison was made to the baseline run. This enabled a determination of the sensitivity of the region to climate change brought about by increased CO2. The effects to the three meteorological variables of temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity are presented.