Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources
Overview
> Jump to impact by region
Expected impacts of climate change on water resources include:
higher precipitation in some regions and reduction in others;
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increased evaporation;
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changes in runoff and available surface flow, causing changes in the infiltration rates of water in soils;
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drier regions will be more sensitive to changes in hydrological regimes;
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rising sea level, which can adversely affect freshwater supplies; and
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additional stress on scarce water supplies.
Adaptation-related projects on water resources could focus on short and long-term response strategies. This includes regulations and technologies for directly controlling land and water use, the implementation of hard and soft measures, and improvements in water-management operations and institutions. Other adaptation measures could include measures to maintain flood plains, protect waterside vegetation, restore river channels, and reduce water pollution.
Impact by region
The above map, produced by the World Resources Institute and others, indicates regions that are currently under water stress. Regions in red are currently worst affected (download PDF of larger map). Climate change is expected to increase the pressures on dwindling freshwater supplies in many regions of the world that are already under severe water stress. (Source: New Scientist, 2004.)
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