Abstract
In order to study the impact of climate change on metal contaminant transport in urban waters and its relevance for water quality, we have analyzed variations in metal- and suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) in three urban rivers and one small creek in the Gothenburg region during various hydrological events such as spring flood, dry period, and wet period. To interpret river loads of metals and SSC we have furthermore followed meteorological trends since 1961 and additionally calculated future trends for the Gothenburg region, located on the west coast of Sweden. During periods of a short-term increase in precipitation we found an increased particle bound metal transport in urban watercourses of the Göta Älv River. In addition, a correlation between studied parameters indicates that surface runoff from brownfields most likely is the main source to the increased transport of pollutants in river systems rather than re-suspension of polluted river sediment.
Highlights
Global Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, and Urban Water QualityThere has been an increase of CO2 in the atmosphere since, at least, the beginning of the monitoring of atmospheric CO2 in the 1950s (Keeling and Whorf, 1999; Frogner et al, 2001)
Prior to the Dry period sampling campaign, there were more than 2 months with few precipitation occasions which resulted in low discharge
Our study suggests that conditions during the wet periods bring more particles and contaminants to the rivers in the case study area
Summary
Global Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, and Urban Water QualityThere has been an increase of CO2 in the atmosphere since, at least, the beginning of the monitoring of atmospheric CO2 in the 1950s (Keeling and Whorf, 1999; Frogner et al, 2001). Together with other climate gasses this has resulted in the climate change seen as, among other things, increase in severity and frequency of extreme weather events such as elevated temperatures, cyclones and heavy rainfall which may influence water quantity and quality (Khan et al, 2015). In addition to such extreme weather events, WHO predicts changed patterns of disease and negative effects on agricultural production due to climate change. In order to take relevant and forward-looking measures, that are to be implemented in Climate and Urban Water Quality national, regional and global policies, it is important to improve the insight to the environmental processes that may be caused by climate change
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