Follow-up

Further to my last blog about the flooding of the Souris, here is a response from a dear friend and esteemed climate scientist Dr. James Bruce. Among his many credentials, Jim is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Jim is also pictured in the photographs from my swearing-in ceremony.

Hello Elizabeth,

My second-hand information suggests that the dams helped to reduce the Souris peak.  At least the North Dakotans are quoted as being satisfied with dam operation in Saskatchewan.

On the climate change question, there have been studies that show that a greenhouse gas enhanced climate results in greater transport northward of moisture in spring from the Gulf of Mexico and heavier precipitation in the upper Great Plains.  In my view this has been reflected in the recent frequent spring flooding on the Red River, the rise of Devil's Lake, ND, and floods this year on the Assiniboine and the Souris.

The key paper is:
Cook, K.H. et al., 2008.  Springtime intensification of the Great Plains low level jet and midwest precipitation in GCM simulations of the 21st century, Journal of Climate, V21#23, pg 6321-6340.

Hope all is well; keep up the good work.

James P. Bruce, O.C., F.R.S.C.