Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.2
Direct and indirect impacts of climate change on rivers. c, t, w: variable relevant in cold (c), temperate (t) or warm (w) ecoregions
Category
Response
Indicator
Justification of indicator
c
t
w
Decrease in ice cover
duration
Higher temperatures will
reduce ice cover duration.
Ice cover
duration
Ice cover is a key factor
for the productivity of
boreal aquatic ecosystems
and easy to monitor.
x
(x)
Increase in drought
frequency and
duration
Decreased summer
precipitation and increasing
air temperature in some
parts of Central, Eastern
and Southern Europe
change the character of
several small streams from
permanent to temporary.
Drought periods
As gauging stations are
not installed in most small
headwater streams,
drought periods can be
easily recorded by visiting
the respective streams.
x
x
Hydrology
Change of
permanent to
intermittent regime
Due to less precipitation
and increased demand for
freshwater, higher
temperatures, and higher
transpirations, many small
rivers will become
intermittent with long dry
phases in summer.
Drought periods
As gauging stations are
not installed in most small
headwater streams,
drought periods can be
easily recorded by visiting
the respective streams.
(x)
x
Increased fine
sediment entry
Extreme precipitation
events increase surface
runoff and lead to large
amounts of fine sediments
entering the streams;
sediments accumulate and
clog the bottom interstitial.
Number and
discharge or
flood events in
unusual seasons
(recorded by
gauging
stations)
Extreme precipitation
events will wash out fine
sediments from adjacent
cropland and other
land-use types. They are
well reflected by the
discharge of a river.
(x)
x
(x)
Morphology
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