Climate Change, Regional Water Balance and Land Use Policy, in the Watershed of Lake Kinneret (Israel)

Moshe Gophen,Moshe Meron,Valerie Levin-Orlov,Yosef Tsipris,Mordechay Peres

doi:10.4236/oje.2020.104014

Abstract

Long term data record (1944-2018) of climatological conditions in the Lake Kinneret and its watershed ecosystems was statistically evaluated and the impact of Anthropogenic operations was included as well. Precipitation input source is obviously uncontrolled natural component whilst the other three regional water outflows pathways are under anthropogenic control: Evapo-transpiration (ET), Runoff and underground flows. Indications for climate change expressed as air warming with consequences on regional (watershed and the lake) water resources and consumption capacities policy in the drainage basin and in the Lake are discussed. The decline of air temperature from 1940 to 1970s is probably due to a change in the Albedo effect. After the decline air temperature was twisted towards elevation. Climate change caused a decline in rainfall, followed by a reduction of Jordan and other river discharges and underground flows, accompanied by a decline of WL. With respect to climate change, water allocation for agricultural consumption was shrunk.

Highlights

A paper was published by [1] [2] in which the author claimed that WL decline in Lake Kinneret (Israel) is mostly due to the allocation of too much water for agricultural irrigation in the upper Jordan watershed
During temporal droughts of 1960, 1961, 1973, 1979, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2014-2018 (13 years, out of recorded 83, 16%), the annual water inputs through the Jordan River was below 300 mcm (106 m3) and annual Lake Water level increase was less than 1.0 meter and water allocation to agriculture was severely restricted as well
The available information presented in this paper is due to the Israeli part of the Kinneret Watershed which comprises about 73% (2000 km2) of the total (2730 km2)

Summary

Introduction

A paper was published by [1] [2] in which the author claimed that WL decline in Lake Kinneret (Israel) is mostly due to the allocation of too much water for agricultural irrigation in the upper Jordan watershed. This largely unsubstantiated statement ignores much available data on the subject and should be classified as scientifically sloppy and irresponsible.

Objectives

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Results

Conclusion