Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation - Cross-regional Research Programme (Project C - Water)
Background and Goals
In the next 100 years, greater climatic fluctuations from year to year, new precipitation patterns, droughts and changes in seasonal river flow properties will affect large numbers of water users in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation project is studying climate effects and possible adaptation strategies using case studies in two contrasting regions of the United Kingdom.
Objective is to develop a practical guideline to the management of water resources under changing climatic conditions.
Content time
toResearch area/region
Country
- Great Britain
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Approach and results
The assessment of future climate effects is based on UKCIP02, which forecasts warming of between 1 and 3.5°C and reductions in precipitation of between 0 and 11% by 2080 for the United Kingdom.
Parameter (climate signals)
- River flooding
- Altered rainfall patterns
- Higher average temperatures
- Low water
- Dry periods
Further Parameters
See UKCIP
Time horizon
- long term = to 2100 and beyond
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Approach and results
The influence of climate change on the demand for public water provision is relatively low compared to possible impacts of social and economic changes. On the other hand, the effects on the availability of water could be much greater, particularly as a result of reductions in the amount of water flow in the summer. In agriculture, increasing water demand is expected due to rising deficiency in soil moisture in summer. Other effects include increasing drought periods and changes in water quality due to low river levels.
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Measures and/or strategies
The aim is to ensure the water supply. Measures are:
- Better management of drought risks.
- Drought forecasts and warnings, and "drought communication": restriction of water use when drought occurs.
- Better management of water storage and networking of water resource systems to make the entire water supply more resistant to drought.
Objective ist to guaranteeing the water supply
Time horizon
- 2051–2080 (far future)
Participants
Funding / Financing
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Project management
HR Wallingford Limited
Contact
HR Wallingford UK
Howbery Park
Wallingford
UK-OX10 8BA
