scholarly journals Groundwater extraction reduces tree vitality, growth and xylem hydraulic capacity in Quercus robur during and after drought events

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Skiadaresis ◽  
Julia Schwarz ◽  
Kerstin Stahl ◽  
Jürgen Bauhus
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Groundwater Extraction ◽  
Tree Vitality ◽  
Groundwater Availability ◽  
Oak Trees ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Reduced Water

AbstractClimate change is expected to pose major direct and indirect threats to groundwater-dependent forest ecosystems. Forests that concurrently experience increased rates of water extraction may face unprecedented exposure to droughts. Here, we examined differences in stem growth and xylem hydraulic architecture of 216 oak trees from sites with contrasting groundwater availability, including sites where groundwater extraction has led to reduced water availability for trees over several decades. We expected reduced growth and xylem hydraulic capacity for trees at groundwater extraction sites both under normal and unfavourable growing conditions. Compared to sites without extraction, trees at sites with groundwater extraction showed reduced growth and hydraulic conductivity both during periods of moderate and extremely low soil water availability. Trees of low vigour, which were more frequent at sites with groundwater extraction, were not able to recover growth and hydraulic capacity following drought, pointing to prolonged drought effects. Long-term water deficit resulting in reduced CO2 assimilation and hydraulic capacity after drought are very likely responsible for observed reductions in tree vitality at extraction sites. Our results demonstrate that groundwater access maintains tree function and resilience to drought and is therefore important for tree health in the context of climate change.

scholarly journals Forestry of Serbia - achievement of Millenium Goals in the era of climate change and globalization

2014 ◽  
pp. 89-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasa Orlovic ◽  
Milan Drekic ◽  
Bratislav Matovic ◽  
Leopold Poljakovic-Pajnik ◽  
Mirjana Stevanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Novi Sad ◽  
Experimental Trials ◽  
Level 2 ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Forest Institutions

This paper is a review presenting research results on the forest ecosystems of Serbia that are carried out at the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (University of Novi Sad, Serbia) in the context of climate change and globalisation. The review displays results of the long-term monitoring of the forest ecosystems, where the data were obtained at the permanent experimental trials of IPC-Forests (level 2) and the iLTER's network. All findings are systematically divided according to the research disciplines and the most important tree species (poplar, willow, oak, wild cherry and European beech). Also the aspects of social sciences are included (meaning evaluating forest institutions in the first place). This review is meant to contribute inputs to the ongoing discussion about the achievement of the Millenium Goals of Sustainable Development in the context of Serbian forestry.

scholarly journals Climate Adaptation in the Water Sector in India

2019 ◽  
pp. 498-518
Author(s):  
Veena Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Hydrologic Cycle ◽  
Rainfall Trends ◽  
Droughts And Floods ◽  
Regional Redistribution ◽  
Short Term Variability

Climate change is likely to affect both the short-term variability of water resources through increased frequency and intensity of droughts and floods, and long-term changes in mean renewable water supply. Both models and historical data suggest that temperatures have increased in most parts of India, affecting the hydrologic cycle through decreased Himalayan snowpack, increased evaporation, and evapotranspirative demand by vegetation. In contrast, there are uncertainties about the climate–rainfall relationship. While most climate models predict intensification of the Indian monsoon, past rainfall trends suggest a weakening and a regional redistribution, perhaps due to local factors such as aerosols, land use change, and sea surface temperatures. Translating these uncertain projections to water availability is complicated by sparse hydrologic records and human modifications of catchments. Empirical research suggests that climate change is not the only stressor. As climate and socio-economic futures are interlinked, this requires participatory, adaptive management and mainstreaming of adaptation across agencies.

scholarly journals Stochastic System Dynamics Modelling for climate change water scarcity assessment on a reservoir in the Italian Alps

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Terzi ◽  
Janez Sušnik ◽  
Stefan Schneiderbauer ◽  
Silvia Torresan ◽  
Andrea Critto
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Stochastic System ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Short Term ◽  
System Dynamics Modelling ◽  
Dynamics Modelling

Abstract. Water management in mountain regions is facing multiple pressures due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. This is particularly relevant for mountain areas where water abundance in the past allowed for many anthropogenic activities, exposing them to future water scarcity. To better understand the processes involved in water scarcity impact, an innovative stochastic System Dynamics Modelling (SDM) explores water stored and turbined in the S.Giustina reservoir (Province of Trento, Italy). The integration of outputs from climate change simulations as well as from a hydrological model and statistical models into the SDM is a quick and effective tool to simulate past and future water availability and demand conditions. Short-term RCP4.5 simulations depict conditions of highest volume and outflow reductions starting in spring (−16.1 % and −44.7 % in May compared to the baseline). Long-term RCP8.5 simulations suggest conditions of volume and outflow reductions starting in summer and lasting until the end of the year. The number of events with stored water below the 30th and above the 80th quantiles suggest a general reduction both in terms of low and high volumes. These results call for the need to adapt to acute short-term water availability reductions in spring and summer while preparing for hydroelectric production reductions due to the chronic long-term trends affecting autumn and mid-winter. This study provides results and methodological insights for potential SDM upscaling across strategic mountain socio-economic sectors (e.g., hydropower, agriculture and tourism) to expand water scarcity assessments and prepare for future multi-risk conditions and impacts.

scholarly journals Long-Term Variability in Potential Evapotranspiration, Water Availability and Drought under Climate Change Scenarios in the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahtsente Tadese ◽  
Lalit Kumar ◽  
Richard Koech
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Awash River Basin ◽  
Mitigate Climate Change

Understanding the hydrological processes of a watershed in response to climate change is vital to the establishment of sustainable environmental management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the variability of potential evapotranspiration (PET) and water availability in the Awash River Basin (ARB) under different climate change scenarios and to relate these with long-term drought occurrences in the area. The PET and water availability of the ARB was estimated during the period of 1995–2009 and two future scenarios (2050s and 2070s). The representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) simulations showed an increase in the monthly mean PET from March to August in the 2050s, and all the months in the 2070s. The study also identified a shortage of net water availability in the majority of the months investigated and the occurrence of mild to extreme drought in about 40–50% of the analysed years at the three study locations (Holetta, Koka Dam, and Metehara). The decrease in water availability and an increase in PET, combined with population growth, will aggravate the drought occurrence and food insecurity in the ARB. Therefore, integrated watershed management systems and rehabilitation of forests, as well as water bodies, should be addressed in the ARB to mitigate climate change and water shortage in the area.

A multi-risk assessment of water scarcity in the south-eastern Italian Alps using a System Dynamics approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Terzi ◽  
Janez Sušnik ◽  
Sara Masia ◽  
Silvia Torresan ◽  
Stefan Schneiderbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
High Water ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Multiple Impacts ◽  
Dam Reservoirs

<p>Mountain regions are facing multiple impacts due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. Shifts in precipitation and temperature are affecting the available water influencing a variety of economic activities that still rely on large quantities of water (e.g. ski tourism, energy production and agriculture). The Alps are among those areas where recent events of decreased water availability triggered emerging water disputes and spread of economic impacts across multiple sectors and from upstream high water availability areas to downstream high water demand areas. In order to make our water management systems more resilient, there is a need to unravel the interplays and dependencies that can lead to multiple impacts across multiple sectors. However, current assessments dealing with climate change usually account for a mono sectoral and single risk perspective.</p><p>This study hence shows an integrative assessment of multi-risk processes across strategic sectors of the Alpine economy. System dynamics modelling (SDM) is applied as a powerful tool to evaluate the multiple impacts stemming from interactions and feedbacks among water-food-energy economic sectors of the Noce river catchment in the Province of Trento (Italy).</p><p>The SDM developed for the Noce catchment combined outputs from physically based models to evaluate water availability and statistical assessments for water demands from three main sectors: (i) apple orchards cultivation, (ii) water releases from large dam reservoirs for hydropower production and (iii) domestic and seasonal tourism activities.</p><p>Hydrological results have been validated on historical time series (i.e. 2009-2017) and projected in the future considering RCP 4.5 and 8.5 climate change scenarios for 2021-2050 medium term and 2041-2070 long term. Results show a precipitation decrease affecting river streamflow with consequences on water stored and turbined in all dam reservoirs of the Noce catchment, especially for long-term climate change scenarios. Moreover, temperature scenarios will increase the amount of water used for agricultural irrigation from upstream to downstream. Nevertheless, decreasing population projections will have a beneficial reduction of water demand from residents, counterbalancing the increasing demand from the other sectors.</p><p>Finally, the integrated SDM fostered discussions in the Noce catchment on interplays between climate change and anthropogenic activities to tackle climate-related water scarcity.</p>

scholarly journals Sacred Groves: A Pattern of Zagros Forests for Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Reduction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiuob moradi ◽  
Nagi Shabanian
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Carbon Content ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Carbon Pools ◽  
Sacred Grove ◽  
Sacred Groves

Abstract Background Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide has led to the global consequences of climate change. Biological carbon sequestration through vegetation and soils is one of the cost-effective ways to reduce this gas. Forests ecosystems are the most important carbon pools among terrestrial ecosystems and play a sustainable and long-term role in reducing climate change. Among forest ecosystems, sacred groves are less-disturbed and they can be a pattern of successful forest management for carbon sequestration and climate change reduction. In the present study, for the first time, the amount of carbon content in sacred grove and silvopastoral lands were investigated to determine the capacity of Zagros oak forests in carbon sequestration and climate change reduction. The aim of this study was to estimate the amount of carbon reserves in mentioned land-uses in order to obtain a systematic attitude towards management of these different land-use types and attain a suitable solution to counter the climate change crisis and ultimately sustainable environmental development. Results The results showed that each of the studied variables in the two studied land use is significantly different from each other. The mean of each of these biomass or carbon pools in silvopastoral is significantly lower than sacred groves. The results indicate that the common utilizations in the forests of the study area cause a significant reduction (P ≤ 0.01) in the forest biomass value and respective carbon content. Sacred grove currently absorbs 826.96 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare more than silvopastoral lands and this is a sign of high degradation in the forests of the study area. Conclusions According to the results obtained in this study, forest ecosystems that are protected against human intervention play a significant role in long-term carbon storage. Any interference with the natural conditions of the ecosystem has a significant negative impact on carbon reserves. Therefore, by selecting appropriate measures, local communities should be empowered to reduce their dependence on low incomes obtained from deforestation and conversion.

Worsening drought threatens Panama Canal

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Environmental Activism ◽  
Panama Canal ◽  
Canal Water ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Reduced Water

Subject Canal climate threats. Significance The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has announced that it will introduce a 10,000-dollar surcharge on ships over 125 feet (38.1 metres) in length, with effect from February 15. Other fees will also be applied to vessels depending on water levels at the time of transit. Recent droughts in areas around the canal have reduced water levels, restricting the number of vessels that can transit the waterway. The situation -- largely attributed to climate change -- threatens to deteriorate further over the coming years, undermining the canal’s reliability as a logistics and transport hub. Impacts Uncertainty over long-term canal revenue prospects may lead the government to rein in its spending plans. Canal water shortages are likely to boost environmental activism in Panama, not just related to the canal. The long-discussed Nicaragua canal would face similar water challenges, further reducing the likelihood that project will go ahead.

Incorporating long-term trends in water availability in water supply planning

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 113-120
Author(s):  
D. Luketina ◽  
M. Bender
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Planning Time ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Supply Planning ◽  
Decadal Climate

This paper examines factors affecting water availability and hydrological trends of water supply. The relative impacts of the different factors have been assessed on a planning time frame of around 30 years. It is demonstrated that the non-greenhouse processes of multi-decadal climate change and el Niño-la Niña climate change will almost certainly be more significant than greenhouse induced climate change. Further, in developing countries, increased water consumption, population growth, and urbanization are likely to be the dominant factors when considering water availability. The type of responses that a water supply organization can make are discussed.

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