40 Million Americans Depend On The Colorado River. That Could Be A Problem.
The Colorado River now carries about 20% less water than it did a century ago. The Colorado originates in the Rocky Mountains, where it is fed by melting snow. Due to the changes in weather patterns attributable to a heating planet, not as much snow falls in those mountains today as in prior years. Less snow means the land in the upper elevations is warmed by the sun where previously the snow cover would reflect sunlight back into space, making the area hotter, which means that whatever snow falls melts sooner.
