scholarly journals Hydrological Analysis of Municipal Source Water Availability in the Canadian Arctic Territory of Nunavut

ARCTIC ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-41
Author(s):  
Jenny Hayward ◽  
Lindsay Johnston ◽  
Amy Jackson ◽  
Rob Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Canadian Arctic ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Water Yield ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Available Water

In the Canadian Arctic, the availability of sustainable drinking water supplies is threatened by pressures such as increasing populations, climate change, and the remote geographic nature of the communities. The objective of this study was to conduct a screening level vulnerability assessment of municipal drinking water supplies in the Canadian territory of Nunavut with consideration for climate change, population growth, and infrastructure changes. A hydrological analysis of primary drinking water supply watersheds was performed to evaluate the relative vulnerability level in 24 Nunavut communities. We used a water balance model to predict annual water yield from each watershed using historical and projected future climate data. Approximately 25% of the study communities were projected to experience high vulnerability to water shortages by 2070, defined as using greater than 40% of available water from their source watershed on an annual basis. A medium level of vulnerability (using 20% – 40% of annual available water) was determined for 8% of the study communities and a moderate level for 12% (using 10% – 20% of annual available water). A low vulnerability level to 2070 (using less than 10% of annual available water) was determined for 55% of the communities. The vulnerability level was primarily influenced by source watershed size. The results of this study could be used as a component of a proactive strategy to help address water security issues in Nunavut. 

Assessment of climate change impacts in a semi-arid watershed in Iran using regional climate models

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid R. Solaymani ◽  
A. K. Gosain
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Regional Climate Models ◽  
Water Yield ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Semi Arid

This paper aims to summarize in detail the results of the climate models under various scenarios by temporal and spatial analysis in the semi-arid Karkheh Basin (KB) in Iran, which is likely to experience water shortages. The PRECIS and REMO models, under A2, B2 and A1B scenarios, have been chosen as regional climate models (RCMs). These regional climate models indicate an overall warming in future in KB under various scenarios. The increase in temperature in the dry months (June, July and August) is greater than the increase in the wet months (January, February, March and April). In order to perform climate change impact assessment on water resources, the Arc-SWAT 9.3 model was used in the study area. SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model results have been obtained using present and future climate data. There is an overall reduction in the water yield (WYLD) over the whole of the KB. The deficit of WYLD is considerable over the months of April to September throughout KB due to the increase in average temperature and decrease in precipitation under various emission scenarios. Statistical properties in box-and-whisker plots have been used to gain further understanding relevant to uncertainty analysis in climate change impacts. Evaluation of uncertainty has shown the highest uncertain condition under B2.

scholarly journals Water Security in Africa in the Age of Global Climate Change

Daedalus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. 7-26
Author(s):  
Allen Isaacman ◽  
Muchaparara Musemwa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Well Being ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Critical Dimensions ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This essay explores the multiple ways in which the nexuses between water scarcity and climate change are socially and historically grounded in ordinary people's lived experiences and are embedded in specific fields of power. Here we specifically delineate four critical dimensions in which the water crises confronting the African continent in an age of climate change are clearly expressed: the increasing scarcity, privatization, and commodification of water in urban centers; the impact of large dams on the countryside; the health consequences of water shortages and how they, in turn, affect other aspects of people's experiences, sociopolitical dynamics, and well-being, broadly conceived; and water governance and the politics of water at the local, national, and transnational levels. These overarching themes form the collective basis for the host of essays in this volume that provide rich accounts of conflicts and struggles over water use and how these tensions have been mitigated.

scholarly journals The Impact of Climate Change on Livestock Production in Swaziland: The case of Mpolonjeni Area Development Programme

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majahodvwa S. Nkondze ◽  
Micah B. Masuku ◽  
Absalom M. Manyatsi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Area Development

This study sought to investigate the impact of climate change on livestock production at the Mpolonjeni Area Development Programme in Swaziland. Primary data were collected using an interview schedule from 323 sampled households. Climate data were collected from the Swaziland Meteorology Department and Livestock data were collected from the Ministry of Agriculture. Perceptions of households and climate data were used to establish climate patterns in Mpolonjeni Area Development Programme. The Recardian regression model and descriptive statistics were used to establish the impact of climate change on livestock production. A total of 99.4% of the respondents suggested that temperatures were increasing whilst 98% felt that rainfall patterns were erratic. About 95% of the respondents have experienced drought at some point in time. Results of the Ricardian model showed that goats net revenue was sensitive to winter temperature, winter temperature squared, winter rainfall and winter rainfall squared. The study concludes that climate change impacts negatively on livestock production and thus livestock owners need touseclimate change adaptation strategies, adapt especially when it comes to drinking water sources for the animals. In case of poor rainfall, farmers need to provide their animals with drinking water. Government should assist livestock farmers with reliable water sources such as canals and dams.

scholarly journals Water allocation under climate change

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Barría ◽  
Ignacio Barría Sandoval ◽  
Carlos Guzman ◽  
Cristián Chadwick ◽  
Camila Alvarez-Garreton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
North Central ◽  
The Future

Chile is positioned in the 20th rank of water availability per capita. Nonetheless, water security levels vary across the territory. Around 70% of the national population lives in arid and semiarid regions, where a persistent drought has been experienced over the last decade. This has led to water security problems including water shortages. The water allocation and trading system in Chile is based on a water use rights (WURs) market, with limited regulatory and supervisory mechanisms, where the volume to be granted as permanent and eventual WURs is calculated from statistical analyses of historical streamflow records if available, or from empirical estimations if they are not. This computation of WURs does not consider the nonstationarity of hydrological processes nor climatic projections. This study presents the first large sample diagnosis of water allocation system in Chile under climate change scenarios. This is based on novel anthropic intervention indices (IAI), which were computed as the ratio between the total granted water volume to the water availability within 87 basins in north-central and southern Chile (30°S–42°S). The IAI were evaluated for the historical period (1979–2019) and under modeled-based climatic projections (2055–2080). According to these IAI levels, to date, there are 20 out of 87 overallocated basins, which under the assumption that no further WURs will be granted in the future, increases up to 25 basins for the 2055–2080 period. The results show that, to date most of north-central Chilean catchments already have a large anthropic intervention degree, and the increases for the future period occurs mostly in the southern region of the country (approximately 38°S), which has been considered as possible source of water for large water transfer projects (i.e., water roads). These indices and diagnosis are proposed as a tool to help policy makers to address water scarcity under climate change.

scholarly journals Assessment of potential hydrological climate change impacts in Kastoria basin (Western Macedonia, Greece) using EUROCORDEX regional climate models

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Groundwater Level ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Regional Climate Models ◽  
Water Yield ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Northern Greece

<p>The Mediterranean region is expected to present reduced availability of water resources due to climate change. This study aims to assess the potential hydrological responses to climate change in the Kastoria basin (Western Macedonia, Northern Greece) for the period 2019-2078. Climate projections from eight regional climate models from EURO-CORDEX were bias-adjusted using the linear scaling method. The bias-adjusted climate data were used to force the FeFLOW hydro-logical model to predict the discharge of the Kastoria aquifer towards lake Orestiada along with the projected groundwater level distribution. Precipitation (temperature) shows a tendency to decrease (increase) mainly in late spring to early autumn while increase (decrease) in the other sea-sons. Moreover, results indicate a significant increase in temperature and a slight decrease in precipitation towards 2078, while the predicted groundwater level of Kastoria aquifer will reduce slightly. However, the future hydrological behavior of the basin indicates a substantial reduction by approximately 15% of total water yield towards the end of the century.</p>

scholarly journals 1.D. Workshop: Food and water insecurities in a warming climate: What role for Public Health?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Public Health Community ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Mass Migration ◽  
Health Community

Abstract Food and water are fundamental environmental health determinants. They are necessities of life, such that shortfalls in ready access in sufficient quality and quantity precipitate poor health, failure to thrive, susceptibility to disease, and if not rectified, ultimately lead to death. Archeological and historical records testify that large scale interruptions to food and water supplies trigger widespread social upheaval and when driven by systematic inequities in distribution, can overthrow governments. The desperation to secure survival is deep-seated. Competition for scarce resources, mass migration and conflict further generate environmental damage, disruptions to social cohesion, and can also herald novel challenges to health and wellbeing. Climate change is accelerating and with it, increasing intensity of extreme events such as heatwaves, droughts, fires, storms and floods. These interrupt food and water supplies and income generation. Unless transformative and rapid reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved, and achieved promptly, the global population will be forced to confront escalation in shortfalls. Will wealthy nations accommodate the needs of the global disadvantaged? Exposure of agricultural sectors to climate extremes is already reversing gains made towards ending malnutrition and achieving SDG1: Reducing global hunger and malnutrition. Global water insecurity is also intensifying. A perfect storm is looming with accelerated global warming against a backdrop of rapid population growth and existing challenges in ensuring water and food security for all. The combination of lethal heat extremes and intensifying insecurities in these basic human needs threatens to make many homelands uninhabitable. Humanity is creating a Climate Change Emergency, which translates to a Global Public Health Emergency. It is thus incumbent upon the world's public health community to move beyond engagement in this climate change crisis. We must step up and take leadership to protect the health of all. Is the PPRR risk management model: Prevent, Prepare, Respond and Recover, the way forward? Workshop participants will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of three public health experts from the World Federation of Public Health Association to gain a deep understanding of the relationship pathways between climate change and these accelerating health threats. Recent global disasters events will illustrate the diversity and extent of this unfolding crisis. Examples of promising Public Health Response solutions will highlight what can be achieved by applying a coordinated public health lens. This interactive session elicits audience involvement through facilitated Question and Answer discussion. Following the panel presentations, the Q&A session will enable workshop participants to explore how better engagement of the public health sector can serve to help ameliorate the risks, and build resilience through Climate Change PPRR. Key messages Interruptions to food and water security generate disease, famine, conflict and in severe circumstances mass migration, disproportionately harming the global disadvantaged, and ultimately everyone. Climate change risks food & water security and thus threatens human wellbeing. Observed effects will dramatically escalate. The global public health community must engage to protect health.

scholarly journals Projecting water yield and ecosystem productivity across the United States by linking an ecohydrological model to WRF dynamically downscaled climate data

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 935-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanlei Sun ◽  
Ge Sun ◽  
Erika Cohen ◽  
Steven G. McNulty ◽  
Peter V. Caldwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Water Yield ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Ecosystem Productivity ◽  
The Future ◽  
Ecohydrological Model ◽  
Ipcc Sres ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Abstract. Quantifying the potential impacts of climate change on water yield and ecosystem productivity is essential to developing sound watershed restoration plans, and ecosystem adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study links an ecohydrological model (Water Supply and Stress Index, WaSSI) with WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting Model) using dynamically downscaled climate data of the HadCM3 model under the IPCC SRES A2 emission scenario. We evaluated the future (2031–2060) changes in evapotranspiration (ET), water yield (Q) and gross primary productivity (GPP) from the baseline period of 1979–2007 across the 82 773 watersheds (12-digit Hydrologic Unit Code level) in the coterminous US (CONUS). Across the CONUS, the future multi-year means show increases in annual precipitation (P) of 45 mm yr−1 (6 %), 1.8° C increase in temperature (T), 37 mm yr−1 (7 %) increase in ET, 9 mm yr−1 (3 %) increase in Q, and 106 gC m−2 yr−1 (9 %) increase in GPP. We found a large spatial variability in response to climate change across the CONUS 12-digit HUC watersheds, but in general, the majority would see consistent increases all variables evaluated. Over half of the watersheds, mostly found in the northeast and the southern part of the southwest, would see an increase in annual Q (> 100 mm yr−1 or 20 %). In addition, we also evaluated the future annual and monthly changes of hydrology and ecosystem productivity for the 18 Water Resource Regions (WRRs) or two-digit HUCs. The study provides an integrated method and example for comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on watershed water balances and ecosystem productivity at high spatial and temporal resolutions. Results may be useful for policy-makers and land managers to formulate appropriate watershed-specific strategies for sustaining water and carbon sources in the face of climate change.

scholarly journals Stormwater harvesting: Improving water security in South Africa’s urban areas

2017 ◽  
Vol Volume 113 (Number 1/2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd Fisher-Jeffes ◽  
Kirsty Carden ◽  
Neil P. Armitage ◽  
Kevin Winter ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Aquifer Recharge ◽  
Real Time Control ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Stormwater Harvesting

Abstract The drought experienced in South Africa in 2016 – one of the worst in decades – has left many urbanised parts of the country with limited access to water, and food production has been affected. If a future water crisis is to be averted, the country needs to conserve current water supplies, reduce its reliance on conventional surface water schemes, and seek alternative sources of water supply. Within urban areas, municipalities must find ways to adapt to, and mitigate the threats from, water insecurity resulting from, inter alia, droughts, climate change and increasing water demand driven by population growth and rising standards of living. Stormwater harvesting (SWH) is one possible alternative water resource that could supplement traditional urban water supplies, as well as simultaneously offer a range of social and environmental benefits. We set out three position statements relating to how SWH can: improve water security and increase resilience to climate change in urban areas; prevent frequent flooding; and provide additional benefits to society. We also identify priority research areas for the future in order to target and support the appropriate uptake of SWH in South Africa, including testing the viability of SWH through the use of real-time control and managed aquifer recharge.

scholarly journals Climate Change Adaptation Measures in the Irrigation of a Super-Intensive Olive Orchard in the South of Portugal

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1658
Author(s):  
Sofia Branquinho ◽  
João Rolim ◽  
José Luís Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
The South ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Regulated Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Olive Orchard ◽  
Expected Increase

The south of Portugal is one of the regions that will be most affected by the impacts of climate change (CC), with an expected increase in water scarcity. Irrigated super-intensive olive orchards occupy a large area of the used agricultural surface in the Alentejo region, south of Portugal, making it necessary to adapt this crop to the effects of CC. This study assessed the impacts of CC and defined adaptation measures concerning irrigation management of the super-intensive olive orchard. To compute the crop irrigation requirement (CIR), the soil water balance model ISAREG was combined with climate data relative to the reference period 1971–2000 and to the representative concentration pathways RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for the periods 2011–2040, 2041–2070, and 2071–2100. The growing degree-days (GDD) approach was used to estimate olive phenology for these CC scenarios. Unchanged irrigation management with an average CIR increase up to 16% in RCP4.5 and 31% in RCP8.5 is expected. By adopting higher levels of water deficit, water savings of up to 22% can be realized. The results showed that the anticipated CIR increase for the CC scenarios can be mitigated through regulated deficit irrigation strategies.

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