Zachary lauffenburger
Impact of Climate water deficit thresholds on dryland agriculture in the Western US
Farmers in the western U.S. have a long history of adapting to variations in the climate in order to maximize revenue while minimizing risk. Climate change, however, is disrupting historical climate patterns at an accelerating rate. Therefore, it is important to identify regions where rainfed crop production is teetering on climatic thresholds in order to anticipate increases in crop abandonment.
Zachary H. Lauffenburger is a PhD student, and UM BRIDGES Fellow, working in the Regional Hydrology Lab at the University of Montana. His research explores the hydro-economics of agriculture in the western U.S. Using combinations of historical crop data, satellite observations, climate change projections, and models, Zachary strives to ensure agricultural production and water resources are sustainable throughout the coming century.