Chapter 1 - Water Management and Climate Change in Semiarid Environments

Abstract

Climate change will impact on Mediterranean agricultural systems. This impact will be especially relevant for agricultural water management, a key component in semiarid environments. An accurate characterization of the impacts of climate change is essential to develop strategies of adaptation and mitigation to increase the sustainability of Mediterranean agricultural systems. However, the identification of these impacts is not an easy task due to the high uncertainty associated with future climate conditions and consequent crop responses. Therefore this chapter evaluates different methodologies for the impact assessment of climate change on water management in agriculture. Considering the identification of these main impacts on water management, several adaptation and mitigation strategies currently considered or under evaluation in southern Spain have been carried out. Finally, approaches for extension of these adaptation and mitigation strategies are described.