Chapter 11 - Impacts of global climate change on water quality and its assessment

Abstract

Water scarcity and degraded water quality have, of late, posed a great threat to a vast majority of mankind. Consequently, the study of the adverse impacts of global climate change (GCC) on water quality has become an emerging area of worldwide interest. It is also well accepted that human-induced climate change is, to an extent, inevitable. This chapter summarizes the latest major scientific findings and the resultant implications for managing the potential impacts of GCC especially with regard to water quality. Recent findings, detailed technical data and analyses, maps, analytical methodology, graphs, models that support the findings are summarized in this chapter that also incorporates various modeling approaches for assessment of such impacts on surface and ground water quality. The chapter, in addition, provides detailed information in a table on the various factors of GCC and their impacts on the parameters affecting water quality, types of water body, study area, and important findings and assessments.