Diffuse water pollution during recent extreme wet-weather in the UK: Environmental damage costs and insight into the future?

Zhang, Yusheng; Granger, S.G.; Semenov, Mikhail A.; Upadhayay, Hari Ram; Collins, Adrian L.

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130633

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…As natural stream methane emissions are equivalent to ~30% of their present-day emissions—while challenging—it is at least possible that current emissions could be reduced by some 70% through management strategies aimed at eliminating the export of excess fine sediment to streams from agricultural catchments. Given the forecasts for more frequent rainfall extremes and concomitant elevated soil erosion and sediment loss rates, these issues likely mean such strategies need to include major structural land cover change to reduce off-site impacts of agriculture moving forward 25 , 26 . Furthermore, given that intensive agriculture is a global issue 29 , methane emissions from streams and rivers (2.6 Tg CH 4 per year 2 ) around the world could be reduced if such effective management is widespread.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Projections suggest that our capacity to mitigate the off-site consequences of agriculture will be even more challenged under future climates. This is due to even higher elevated loss of sediment and nutrients driven by extreme rainfall events that will require significant land cover change (e.g., swapping crops for trees) to mitigate such externalities 25 , 26 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Separating natural from human enhanced methane emissions in headwater streams

et al. 2022

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Headwater streams are natural sources of methane but are suffering severe anthropogenic disturbance, particularly land use change and climate warming. The widespread intensification of agriculture since the 1940s has increased the export of fine sediments from land to streams, but systematic assessment of their effects on stream methane is lacking. Here we show that excess fine sediment delivery is widespread in UK streams (n = 236) and, set against a pre-1940s baseline, has markedly increased streambed organic matter (23 to 100 g m−2), amplified streambed methane production and ultimately tripled methane emissions (0.2 to 0.7 mmol CH4 m−2 d−1, n = 29). While streambed methane production responds strongly to organic matter, we estimate the effect of the approximate 0.7 °C of warming since the 1940s to be comparatively modest. By separating natural from human enhanced methane emissions we highlight how catchment management targeting the delivery of excess fine sediment could mitigate stream methane emissions by some 70%.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Separating natural from human enhanced methane emissions in headwater streams

et al. 2022

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“…Besides the COVID-19 pandemic, climatic extremes such as floods and droughts can degrade water quality and cause severe water pollution incidents because of limited prediction skills 5 , resulting in the failure or misoperation of water-engineered systems 6 and the absence of a timely water govenance policy 7 . These climatic extremes can also affect the mental health of the public directly and indirectly 8 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring the impact of climate extremes and COVID-19 on statewise sentiment alterations in water pollution complaints

et al. 2023

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The COVID-19 pandemic and associated prevention policies can directly or indirectly alter the sentiment of individuals while registering water pollution complaints, but observational evidence remains limited. Here, we conducted a sentiment analysis on over 10,000 water pollution complaints from residents in Alabama, USA (2012–2021) to better understand how and to what extent COVID-19 has altered emotion (polarity score-based) and attitude (subjectivity) of water pollution complaints. We found that the 2017 state-wise drought significantly increased the percentage of negative water pollution complaints by +35%, with no significant alternation in attitude before the COVID-19 pandemic. Since COVID-19, the percentage of negative and subjective water pollution complaints significantly decreased and increased by −30 and +20%, respectively, and these sentiment alternations were maintained by 2021. This study provides a new direction for environmental governance and management, requiring a timely response to changes in the public’s emotions and attitudes during the next climate extremes and pandemics.

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