Water: A Zero Sum Game

Learn More About Climate, University of Colorado Boulder

This video takes viewers high into the Rocky Mountain snowpack, where researchers dig snow pits to explore the source of Colorado's water supply. Highlights the importance of snowpack on the supply of fresh water available in western and southwestern states. Snowmelt dynamics are discussed, including the impact of a warming climate.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Although focused on Colorado, the video is a good resource for teaching about the effects of global warming on US citizens. This video would serve best as a prompt to begin a lesson or unit on the water cycle and/or local water supplies if living in a region supplied by snow melt.
Video shows scientists measuring snowpack in Colorado mountains and discusses the importance of snowpack to water storage and water supply to lower elevations. A smaller snowpack means less water storage and less water available. Comments from expert scientist: The video presents researchers working in the field and explains how the scientific knowledge originates from this work. The underground lysimeter installation is a great example of this. The connection and explanation between snowmelt and the subsurface flow (how water actually gets into the stream) is weak. The conclusion that the climate-driven transition from snow to rain, causing increased evapotranspiration, is not supported by anything presented in this video.