Climate Change Disrupting Seasonal Flow of Rivers, Threatening Water Security and Ecosystems
A recent study conducted by scientists from the University of Leeds has revealed that climate change is causing disruptions in the seasonal flow of rivers in the far northern latitudes of America, Russia, and Europe. This poses a significant threat to water security and ecosystems. The research team analyzed historical data from river gauging stations worldwide and found that 21% of them exhibited significant alterations in the seasonal rise and fall of water levels.
Linking River Flow Changes to Climate Change
The study utilized data-based reconstructions and state-of-the-art simulations to demonstrate that river flow in latitudes above 50°N is now less likely to vary with the seasons compared to previous patterns. These changes can be directly attributed to climate change caused by human activity. This research provides evidence that climate change is currently affecting river flow seasonality, which was previously limited to local studies or failed to consider the explicit impact of human-induced climate change.
“A lot of concern is based upon what climate change will do in the future but our research signals that it’s happening now and that increases in air temperature are driving huge changes in river flow.”
Research Methodology and Findings
The research team analyzed monthly average river flow measurements from 10,120 gauging stations spanning from 1965 to 2014. For the first time, they were able to exclude direct human interventions such as reservoir management or water extraction, highlighting that the widespread reduction in river flow seasonality is primarily driven by climate change.
The results of this research, funded by the University of Leeds and the Southern University of Science and Technology in China, have been published in the journal Science.
Lead author Hong Wang, a PhD researcher at the University of Leeds and the Southern University of Science and Technology, stated, “Our research shows that rising air temperatures are fundamentally altering the natural patterns of river flow. The concerning aspect of this change is the observed weakening of river flow seasonality, which is a direct consequence of historical human-induced emissions. This signals a sustained and considerable diminishment of river flow seasonality if air temperatures continue to rise.”
Human Impact on River Flow
Human activities have significantly altered river flow patterns worldwide. These alterations occur both directly through flow regulations like reservoirs and indirectly through land use changes and the impacts of climate change on air temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, and snowmelt. Over two-thirds of the world’s rivers have already been affected by human interventions, even without considering the indirect impacts of greenhouse gases and aerosols.
River flow seasonality plays a critical role in predicting cycles of floods and droughts. Weakening these peaks and troughs can jeopardize water security and freshwater biodiversity. For instance, a substantial portion of early meltwater from snowpack depletion may rapidly flow into oceans, making it unavailable for human use.
Regional Findings
In northern North America, 40% of the 119 observed stations showed a significant decrease in river flow seasonality. Similar results were observed in southern Siberia, with 32% of stations experiencing a significant decrease. In Europe, 19% of river gauging stations, mainly in northern Europe, western Russia, and the European Alps, exhibited a significant decrease in river flow seasonality.
Additionally, the contiguous United States showed predominantly decreasing trends of river flow seasonality overall, except for rivers in the Rocky Mountains and Florida. In central North America, 18% of the stations showed significant decreasing river flow seasonality trends. Conversely, 25% of the gauging stations in southeast Brazil experienced a significant increase in river flow seasonality, indicating that changes to the water cycle have varying impacts in different parts of the world.
Dr. Megan Klaar, an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds School of Geography and a member of water@leeds, emphasized the importance of river flow seasonality for species living in the water. She explained, “For example, many fish use specific increases in water flow as cues to migrate to their breeding areas upstream or towards the sea. Without these cues, they won’t be able to spawn.”
Implications and Recommendations
The research concludes that there is an urgent need to accelerate climate adaptation efforts to protect freshwater ecosystems. Managing flows to recreate natural systems and processes that are being lost is crucial. Professor Joseph Holden, Director of water@leeds, highlighted the significance of the research findings and urged proactive measures, stating, “We should be very concerned about what the future holds given accelerating climate change and begin to think about mitigation strategies and adaptation planning to alleviate the future weakening of seasonal river flow, particularly in locations such as western Russia, Scandinavia, and Canada.”
Further Information
The research article titled “Anthropogenic climate change has influenced global river flow seasonality” was published on February 29th in the journal Science. The article can be accessed here.
For media inquiries, please contact Kersti Mitchell via k.mitchell@leeds.ac.uk.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
- Indicator 6.4.2: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
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SDG 15: Life on Land
- Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
- Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. | Indicator 6.4.2: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements. | Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type. |
Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets identified are:
– Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
– Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
– Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Indicator 6.4.2: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources.
– Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
– Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.
These indicators can provide insights into the impact of climate change on river flow seasonality, water security, and freshwater ecosystems.
By analyzing historical data from river gauging stations, the researchers found significant alterations in the seasonal rise and fall of water levels in rivers above 50°N latitudes. This disruption in river flow seasonality can affect water-use efficiency, water scarcity, and the conservation of freshwater ecosystems.
The article also highlights the need to accelerate climate adaptation efforts to safeguard freshwater ecosystems and manage flows to recreate natural systems and processes that are being lost. This aligns with the targets of SDG 6, SDG 13, and SDG 15.
Overall, the article provides evidence of the impact of climate change on river flow seasonality and emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues to ensure water security and protect freshwater ecosystems.
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Source: leeds.ac.uk
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