Climate change and water in the UK: Recent scientific evidence for past and future change

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Garner ◽  
David M Hannah ◽  
Glenn Watts
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Physical Geography ◽  
Future Change ◽  
Groundwater Temperature ◽  
River Flows ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
The Uk ◽  
New Evidence

A changing climate is anticipated to alter hydroclimatological and hydroecological processes across the UK and around the world. This paper builds on a series of reports commissioned in 2012 (Water Climate Change Impacts Report Card [WCCRC], 2012) and published in a special issue of Progress in Physical Geography in 2015 that interpreted and synthesised the relevant, peer-reviewed scientific literature of climate change impacts on the UK’s water environment. It aims to provide reliable, clear information about the potential impacts of climate change on hydrology and the water environment. We review new evidence since 2012 for historical and potential future changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration, river flows and groundwater levels, river and groundwater temperature/quality and, finally, aquatic ecosystems. Some new evidence exists for change in most of these hydrological components, typically in support of the spatial and temporal trends reported in WCCRC 2012. However, it remains the case that more research has been conducted on rainfall and river flows than evapotranspiration, groundwater levels, river and groundwater temperature, water quality or freshwater ecosystems. Consequently, there remains a clear disparity of robust evidence for historical and potential future change between the top and bottom of the hydroclimatological–hydroecological process chain. As was the case in WCCRC 2012, this remains a significant barrier to informed climate change adaptation in these components of the water environment.

scholarly journals Evidence for changes in historic and future groundwater levels in the UK

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Jackson ◽  
John P. Bloomfield ◽  
Jonathan D. Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Climate Indices ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Groundwater Drought ◽  
The One ◽  
The Uk

We examine the evidence for climate-change impacts on groundwater levels provided by studies of the historical observational record, and future climate-change impact modelling. To date no evidence has been found for systematic changes in groundwater drought frequency or intensity in the UK, but some evidence of multi-annual to decadal coherence of groundwater levels and large-scale climate indices has been found, which should be considered when trying to identify any trends. We analyse trends in long groundwater level time-series monitored in seven observation boreholes in the Chalk aquifer, and identify statistically significant declines at four of these sites, but do not attempt to attribute these to a change in a stimulus. The evidence for the impacts of future climate change on UK groundwater recharge and levels is limited. The number of studies that have been undertaken is small and different approaches have been adopted to quantify impacts. Furthermore, these studies have generally focused on relatively small regions and reported local findings. Consequently, it has been difficult to compare them between locations. We undertake some additional analysis of the probabilistic outputs of the one recent impact study that has produced coherent multi-site projections of changes in groundwater levels. These results suggest reductions in annual and average summer levels, and increases in average winter levels, by the 2050s under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, at most of the sites modelled, when expressed by the median of the ensemble of simulations. It is concluded, however, that local hydrogeological conditions can be an important control on the simulated response to a future climate projection.

scholarly journals Adapting Cultural Heritage to Climate Change Risks: Perspectives of Cultural Heritage Experts in Europe

Geosciences ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Sesana ◽  
Alexandre Gagnon ◽  
Chiara Bertolin ◽  
John Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Participatory Workshop ◽  
Climate Change Risks ◽  
The Uk

Changes in rainfall patterns, humidity, and temperature, as well as greater exposure to severe weather events, has led to the need for adapting cultural heritage to climate change. However, there is limited research accomplished to date on the process of adaptation of cultural heritage to climate change. This paper examines the perceptions of experts involved in the management and preservation of cultural heritage on adaptation to climate change risks. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from the UK, Italy, and Norway as well as a participatory workshop with stakeholders. The results indicate that the majority of interviewees believe that adaptation of cultural heritage to climate change is possible. Opportunities for, barriers to, and requirements for adapting cultural heritage to climate change, as perceived by the interviewees, provided a better understanding of what needs to be provided and prioritized for adaptation to take place and in its strategic planning. Knowledge of management methodologies incorporating climate change impacts by the interviewees together with best practice examples in adapting cultural heritage to climate change are also reported. Finally, the interviewees identified the determinant factors for the implementation of climate change adaptation. This paper highlights the need for more research on this topic and the identification and dissemination of practical solutions and tools for the incorporation of climate change adaptation in the preservation and management of cultural heritage.

scholarly journals Agricultural groundwater management in the Upper Bhima Basin, India: current status and future scenarios

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 507-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Surinaidu ◽  
C. G. D. Bacon ◽  
P. Pavelic
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Groundwater Overdraft ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Increasing Demand

Abstract. The basaltic aquifers of the Upper Bhima River basin in southern India are heavily utilized for small-scale agriculture but face increasing demand-related pressures along with uncertainty associated with climate change impacts. To evaluate likely groundwater resource impacts over the coming decades, a regional groundwater flow model for the basin was developed. Model predictions associated with different climate change and abstraction scenarios indicate that the continuation of current rates of abstraction would lead to significant groundwater overdraft, with groundwater elevations predicted to fall by −6 m over the next three decades. Groundwater elevations can however be stabilized, but would require 20–30% of the mean surface water discharge from the basin to be recharged to groundwater, along with reductions in pumping (5–10%) brought about by improved water efficiency practices and/or shifts towards lower-water use crops. Modest reductions in pumping alone cannot stabilize groundwater levels; targeted conjunctive use and improved water use efficiency are also needed.

Review of climate change impacts on marine fisheries in the UK and Ireland

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
William W. L. Cheung ◽  
John Pinnegar ◽  
Gorka Merino ◽  
Miranda C. Jones ◽  
Manuel Barange
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Marine Fisheries ◽  
The Uk

scholarly journals Co-creation processes of nature based solutions in hydrological modelling – case studies in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Borjana Bogatinoska ◽  
Angelique Lansu ◽  
Judith Floor ◽  
Dave Huitema ◽  
Stefan Dekker
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Hydrological Modelling ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Modelling Process

<p>Climate adaptation of brook catchments is much needed in the studied regions of England, Belgium and the Netherlands. With the continuous rise of global temperatures and global change, these regions suffer from the impacts of extreme weather events such as drought and flooding. Extreme weather and climate change impacts are spatially non-uniform, uncertain and can have different strengths at local and regional level. Therefore, cities and regions need to adapt to climate change in an ambiguous way. Accordingly, there is no uniformity in the adaptive capacity of individuals, groups within society, organisations and governments or how they can respond to current and future climate change impacts.</p><p>To better understand the interlinkages in nature-based climate adaptation between the socio-economic and climate change drivers, we studied these drivers in the hydrological modelling in 3 pilot studies in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. Focus is on how co-creation, defined as active participation is incorporated in the hydrological modelling process, (1) within each brook catchment and (2) between the professionals, as cross border knowledge transfer. Data on the co-creation process was collected with workshops on each of the semi-annual partner meetings of each catchment. Data on the modelling process was collected by semi-structured interviews of the professionals and by using assessment of professional learning in the network (field trips). Findings on co-creation processes of nature based solutions in hydrological modelling will be compared in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. In the end, existing co-creation processes will be joined to a framework for co-creation which can be improved and adapted based on the gathered data. This would include: identification of stakeholder groups and their needs, the level of intended participation, the identified climate problem by the stakeholders and by the policy-makers, the planned modelling approach, the NbS etc.</p><p>Keywords: climate change, hydrology, nature-based solutions, stakeholders, climate adaptation, framework.</p>

scholarly journals EVALUASI PROGRAM PEMANENAN AIR HUJAN (RAIN WATER HARVESTING) BADAN LINGKUNGAN HIDUP KOTA SEMARANG

GEMA PUBLICA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Debby Rinata Abadi ◽  
Kismartini Kismartini ◽  
Sundarso Sundarso
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Water Environment ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Rain Water ◽  
Water Harvesting ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Rain Water Harvesting

The formulation of climate change impacts in Semarang produced five major issues:  flooding, tidal flood, landslides, drought and outbreaks of infectious diseases. Rain Water Harvesting Program implemented by Regulation of the Minister of Environment No. 12 in 2009 was an attempt by Semarang government for adaptation to climate change. This evaluation aims to determine the results of the implementation and the factors that affect the implementation of the program. The results can be seen through the implementation of an evaluation process based on the Model Evaluation System Analysis in inputs, processes and outputs Based on Suitability Model by David C. Korten factors that support and hinder namely compatibility between programs with beneficiaries, the fit between programs by implementing organizations and the fit between user groups with the implementing organization. Based on the existing obstacles in the implementation of the Program Harvesting Rain Water Environment Agency of Semarang, the authors give a recommendation either: (1) changes in socialization patterns, (2) not only focus on physical development but the socialization benefits of using rainwater, (3) improving access to information for community, (4) make scientific criteria for target groups, (5) integrated with IMB licensing requirements.

scholarly journals Climate-driven changes in UK river flows

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Hannaford
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Flow Regimes ◽  
Trend Detection ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Apparent Contradiction ◽  
River Flows ◽  
Climatic Trend ◽  
The Uk

There is a burgeoning international literature on hydro-climatic trend detection, motivated by the need to detect and interpret any emerging changes in river flows associated with anthropogenic climate change. The UK has a particularly strong evidence base in this area thanks to a well-developed monitoring programme and a wealth of studies published over the last 20 years. This paper reviews this research, with a view to assessing the evidence for climate change influences on UK river flow, including floods and droughts. This assessment is of international relevance given the scale of the research effort in the UK, a densely monitored and data-rich environment, but one with significant human disturbances to river flow regimes, as in many parts of the world. The review finds that changes can be detected in river flow regimes, some of which agree with future change projections, while others are in apparent contradiction. Observed changes generally cannot be attributed to climate change, largely due to the fact that river flow records are limited in length and the identification of short-term trends is confounded by natural variability. A UK ‘Benchmark’ network of near-natural catchments is an internationally significant example of an initiative to enable climate variability to be discerned from direct human disturbances (e.g. abstractions, dam construction). Generally, however, the problem of attribution has been tackled rather indirectly in the UK, as elsewhere, and more efforts are required to attribute change in a more rigorous manner.

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