Groundwater nitrate pollution and climate change: learnings from a water balance-based analysis of several aquifers in a western Mediterranean region (Catalonia)

Abstract. In previous studies the Western Mediterranean Oscillation index (WeMOi) at daily resolution has proven to constitute an effective tool for analysing the occurrence of episodes of torrential rainfall over eastern Spain. The Western Mediterranean region is therefore a very sensitive area, since climate change can enhance these weather extremes. In the present study we selected the extreme torrential episodes (≥ 200 mm in 24 hours) that took place in Catalonia (NE Iberia) during the 1951–2016 study period (66 years). We computed daily WeMOi values and constructed WeMOi calendars. Our principal results reveal the occurrence of 50 episodes (0.8 cases per year), mainly concentrated in the autumn months. We inferred a threshold of WeMOi ≤ −2 to define an extreme negative WeMO phase at daily resolution. Most of the 50 episodes (60 %) in the study area occurred on days presenting an extreme negative WeMOi value. Specifically, the most negative WeMOi values are detected in autumn, during the second 10-day period of October (11th–20th), coinciding with the highest frequency of extreme torrential events. On comparing the subperiods, we observed a statistically significant decrease in WeMOi values in all months, particularly in late October, and in November and December. No changes in the frequency of these extreme torrential episodes were observed between both subperiods; in contrast, a displacement of the episodes is detected from early to late autumn.

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Intra-annual variability of the Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO) and occurrence of extreme torrential precipitation in Catalonia (NE Iberia)

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science ◽

10.5194/nhess-20-2483-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (9) ◽

pp. 2483-2501

Author(s):

Joan Albert Lopez-Bustins ◽

Laia Arbiol-Roca ◽

Javier Martin-Vide ◽

Antoni Barrera-Escoda ◽

Marc Prohom

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Principal Result ◽

Sensitive Area ◽

Weather Extremes ◽

Sea Temperature ◽

Late Autumn ◽

Annual Variability ◽

Mediterranean Oscillation

Abstract. In previous studies the Western Mediterranean Oscillation index (WeMOi) at daily resolution has proven to constitute an effective tool for analysing the occurrence of episodes of torrential precipitation over eastern Spain. The western Mediterranean region is a very sensitive area, since climate change can enhance these weather extremes. In the present study we created a catalogue of the extreme torrential episodes (≥200 mm in 24 h) that took place in Catalonia (NE Iberia) during the 1951–2016 study period (66 years). We computed daily WeMOi values and constructed WeMOi calendars. Our principal result reveals the occurrence of 50 episodes (0.8 cases per year), mainly concentrated in the autumn. We confirmed a threshold of WeMOi ≤ −2 to define an extreme negative WeMO phase at daily resolution. Most of the 50 episodes (60 %) in the study area occurred on days presenting an extreme negative WeMOi value. Specifically, the most negative WeMOi values are detected in autumn, from 11 to 20 October, coinciding with the highest frequency of extreme torrential events. On comparing the subperiods, we observed a statistically significant decrease in WeMOi values in all months, particularly in late October and in November and December. No changes in the frequency of these extreme torrential episodes were observed between both subperiods. In contrast, a displacement of the extreme torrential episodes is detected from early to late autumn; this can be related to a statistically significant warming of sea temperature.

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METHODS OF RENOVATION OF LOW-RISE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH LANDSCAPE RECULTIVATION (ON THE EXAMPLE OF ROSTOV REGION)

Биосферная совместимость: человек, регион, технологии ◽

10.21869/23-11-1518-2019-26-2-43-58 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 43-58

Author(s):

Oksana Sadkovskaya

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Urban Planning ◽

Water Balance ◽

Urban Environment ◽

Water Saving ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Urban Spaces ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Rostov Region ◽

Planning Methods

One of major factors of deterioration in a microclimate of urban development in the conditions of the Rostov region, is degradation of landscapes owing to violation of water balance of the territory. In article the main reasons for violation of water balance which included natural features of the region, a consequence of anthropogenic influence, climatic changes, etc. are considered. Examples from the world practice of urban planning, which show the relevance and effectiveness of compensation for the effects of anthropogenic im-pacts and climate change using planning methods, are given. The experience of the United States, the Nether-lands, Canada and other countries that use water-saving technologies in planning is considered. The rela-tionship of urban planning and the formation of sustainable urban landscapes is shown. The integration of water-saving technologies into the urban environment can be a means of optimizing landscapes and a means of creating unique urban spaces. Reclamation of the urban landscape of low-rise buildings is a necessary step in creating a modern and comfortable urban environment in the conditions of the Rostov region. Meth-ods are proposed to compensate for negative changes in urban landscapes that can be applied at the stage of urban planning. As well as the proposed methods can be applied in the reconstruction of urban low-rise buildings. The considered methods concern not only urban landscapes, but also agricultural landscapes that surround small and medium-sized cities of the Rostov region. In article the author's concept of the organiza-tion of the low housing estate on a basis Urban- facies is submitted. Planning methods of regulation of water balance of the territory on the basis of models the ecological protective of landscapes are offered: an ecolog-ical core, an ecological corridor and an ecological barrier and also analogs from town-planning practice are considered. The reclamation of urban landscapes based on urban planning methods for regulating the water balance of the territory will allow creating unique urban spaces that are resistant to local climatic conditions and the possible consequences of climate change.

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Assessment of climate change impacts on water balance and hydrological extremes in Bang Pakong-Prachin Buri river basin, Thailand

Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.envres.2020.109544 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 186 ◽

pp. 109544 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thundorn Okwala ◽

Sangam Shrestha ◽

Suwas Ghimire ◽

S. Mohanasundaram ◽

Avishek Datta

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Water Balance ◽

River Basin ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Hydrological Extremes

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A water balance model to estimate climate change impact on groundwater recharge in Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Hydrological Sciences Journal ◽

10.1080/02626667.2019.1702989 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 470-486 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Edgar Rodríguez-Huerta ◽

Martí Rosas-Casals ◽

Laura Margarita Hernández-Terrones

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Water Balance ◽

Groundwater Recharge ◽

Climate Change Impact ◽

Yucatan Peninsula ◽

Water Balance Model ◽

Balance Model ◽

Yucatán Peninsula ◽

Change Impact

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Potential of Arabic documentary sources for reconstructing past climate in the western Mediterranean region from AD 680 to 1815

The Holocene ◽

10.1177/09596836211033202 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 095968362110332

Author(s):

Yassin Meklach ◽

Chantal Camenisch ◽

Abderrahmane Merzouki ◽

Ricardo Garcia Herrera

Keyword(s):

Spatial Resolution ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Climate Extremes ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Historical Documents ◽

Atmospheric Conditions ◽

Documentary Sources ◽

Drought Conditions ◽

Temporal And Spatial ◽

Climate Proxies

Archival records and historical documents offer direct observation of weather and atmospheric conditions and have the highest temporal and spatial resolution, and precise dating, of the available climate proxies. They also provide information about variables such as temperature, precipitation and climate extremes, as well as floods, droughts and storms. The present work studied Arab-Islamic documentary sources covering the western Mediterranean region (documents written by Arab-Islamic historians that narrate social, political and religious history) available for the period AD 680–1815. They mostly provide information on hydrometeorological events. In Iberia the most intense droughts were reported during AD 747–753, AD 814–822, AD 846–847, AD 867–874 and AD 914–915 and in the Maghreb AD 867–873, AD 898–915, AD 1104–1147, AD 1280–1340 and AD 1720–1815 had prevalent drought conditions. Intense rain episodes are also reported.

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