Review of climate change impacts on reservoir hydrology and long-term basin-wide water resources management

Abstract

ABSTRACT Global climate change is known to trigger local and regional hydrologic variations such as changes in precipitation patterns, increased surface temperatures, variations in the streamflow and the occurrence of frequent floods and droughts which in turn affect the built environment. Apt and efficient water management is paramount as climate change can considerably affect the water supply-demand balance. Focusing on reservoir management, the vulnerability to floods and droughts, the effect on energy production, the ability to cope with the agricultural and drinking water demand and the impact on ecological flow need to be reconsidered. The objectives of this paper are to review and identify the impacts of climate change on reservoir hydrology, discuss the related uncertainties and conclude and recommend the ways of adapting to the change. Under reservoir operation, the emphasis is on the consequent need for closer attention of the planners and reservoir operators. Variations in precipitation patterns affect hydropower generation and become a reason for aggravated floods and droughts. Changed evaporation volumes affect the irrigation and drinking water supplies considerably. Several possible approaches are discussed emphasizing long-term basin-wide water resource management. The recommendation is to stress more on the ways of reducing climate change impacts in future studies.