Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources

Abstract

Water resources planning and management in the 21st century is becoming an increasingly difficult task due to conflicting demands from various stakeholder groups, increasing population, rapid urbanization, projected climate change and consequent changes expected in the hydrologic cycle, the use of toxic chemicals in various land use activities, and the increasing incidence of natural disasters. Among these, the impacts of global warming and consequent projected climate change due to the increasing concentrations of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere on water resources have emerged as a matter of grave concern to water resource managers and decision-makers. Human activities and changes in land cover and use are believed to be the primary cause of build up in the atmospheric concentrations of GHGs. This alters the energy balance and tends to warm the atmosphere resulting in climate change. Studies in recent years have shown important regional water resources vulnerabilities to changes in both temperature and precipitation patterns. It is primarily at the local and regional scales that policies could be evolved and technical measures could be taken to avoid or reduce the negative impacts of climatic change on the natural environment and society. Understanding the possible impacts of climate change on water resources is of utmost importance for ensuringits appropriate management and utilization.