Water Lesson 10: Climate Change and the Hydrological Cycle Flashcards
Input/output/store = short droughts may become more frequent
Input
Input/output/store = Sea level will rise by between 0.4cm and 1 m by 2100
Store
Input/output/store = There may be a decrease in recharge and lower groundwater levels
Input
Input/output/store = Increase in evaporation
Output
Input/output/store = Annual rainfall may not change much, but rainfall events will be more intense
Input
Input/output/store = High flows and flooding are expected to increase over the century
Input
Effect on precipitaion input from climate change
-Increases in the tropics and high latitudes with a decrease 10-30 degrees north and south of the Equator
-Length, frequency and intensity of heatwaves have increased - notable in southern Europe and southern Africa - increased drought
-More precipitation as rainfall not snow
Effect on EV and EVT from climate change
-EV is increasing in Asia and North America but increased cloud cover from increased water vapour may work against this
-TP linked to vegetation changes and soil moisture
Effect on run-off and stream flow from climate change
Increase in climate and hydrological extremes, with more droughts and flood
-More intense rainfall will increase run-off rates and reduce infiltration
Where is there a decrease in rainfall and run-off?
Mediterranean, Africa and South USA
Effect on groundwater flow from climate change
Human abstraction the dominant influence here on supplies especially for agriculture
Effect on reservoir, lake and wetland storage from climate change
-Regional variations in lakes and reservoirs linked to regional changes in climate e.g. Lake Chad
-Changes in wetland storage - decreasing water volumes and higher temps
Effects on permafrost from climate change
-Increasing air and ocean temps. leading to degradation in northern areas
-Releases more methane from thaw lakes - positive feedback
Effect on snow from climate change
-Length of snow cover season has decreased especially in the northern hemisphere
-Spring melt has occurred earlier in the last 50-100 years
Effect on ice from climate change
Glaciers have retreated globally since the Little Ice Age with downwasting accelerating
-Result of rapid temp increases and changes in precipitation type - more rain than snow
