Abstract
Surface water quality may change in the future due to climatic variability as natural processes will most likely be modified by anthropogenic activities. As such, stream temperature is very likely to change as well which will impact on surface water quality and aquatic ecosystem dynamics. The present study focused on improving modelling of surface water quality indices and water quality parameters under various climate change scenarios in relationship with stream temperature. Future climate data were extracted from the Canadian Coupled General Climate Model (CGCM 3.1/ T63) under the greenhouse emission scenarios B1 and A2, as defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This study illustrates the usefulness of the stream temperature models, coupled with Climate Change Scenarios to predict the evolution of future stream water temperature regimes and associated biogeochemical water quality parameters pertaining to drinking water quality. The specific objectives of the present study were to analyze the surface water quality of 15 rivers in New Brunswick (Canada) on the basis of 9 parameters under climate change. A Weighed Method and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Method were used to assess the water quality for each river under present and future climate. The knowledge gained from this study will enable engineers and water resources managers to better understand river thermal regimes and climate change impact on water quality related to Drinking Surface Water.
Highlights
Climate Change impacts on river systems include changes in runoff, groundwater flow as well as the timing ofHow to cite this paper: El-Jabi, N., et al (2014) Water Quality Index Assessment under Climate Change
With respect to biogeochemical water quality, most climate change impacts can be attributed to changes in stream water temperature
The impact of climate change on stream water temperature is highly dependent on the future evolution of air temperature as well as on other meteorological and physical parameters
Summary
How to cite this paper: El-Jabi, N., et al (2014) Water Quality Index Assessment under Climate Change. To these quantitative aspects, water quality needs to be assessed for effective water resources management. With respect to the biogeochemical water quality, most climate change impacts can be attributed to changes in stream temperature. With increases in stream temperature, dissolved oxygen will decrease and biological activities will increase. Such changes in stream temperature will have consequences on nutrients, organic matter as well as biomass within the river environment. The impact of climate change on stream temperature is highly dependent on the future evolution of air temperature and other meteorological and physical parameters [1]. As air temperature is the parameter that is expected to change most significantly under climate change; stream temperature is expected to be an extremely important parameter
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