Perspective Impact on Water Environment and Hydrological Regime Owing to Climate Change: A Review

Abstract

This study summarizes reviews on climate change’s impact on the water environment and hydrological regime. The results indicate a strong relationship between the climatological parameters and hydrological patterns. This relationship can be determined in two steps: (1) define the variations in climatological factors, particularly temperature and precipitation, and (2) measure the variations in runoff and inflows to streams and river systems using different statistical and global climate modeling approaches. It is evident that the increasing global temperatures have significant positive effects on runoff variations and evapotranspiration. Similarly, the increase in temperature has speeded up the melting of glaciers and ice on hilly terrains. This is causing frequent flash floods and a gradual rise in the sea level. These factors have altered the timing of stream flow into rivers. Furthermore, the accumulation of greenhouse gases, variations in precipitation and runoff, and sea-level rise have significantly affected freshwater quality. These effects are likely to continue if timely mitigation and adaptation measures are not adopted.

Spatiotemporal Variability and Trends in Rainfall and Temperature in South Ethiopia: Implications for Climate Change Adaptations in Rural Communities

“…Along with predicted rainfall, the future temperature change is one of the most important indicators of ongoing global climate change [21]. Changes in temperature, which cause alterations in rainfall patterns, are important for water resource management and water-related natural hazards [22].…”

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The impact of the geographical environment on the hydromorphological conditions of watercourses in southern Poland

“…Thus, the geographical environment is the natural one considered collectively with man and the material manifestations of human activity (Rinaldi et al 2016, Maaß et al 2021, Abbas et al 2022. Hydromorphological assessment of watercourses is an important element of water policy in the European Union and worldwide, as it provides an important background for biological and physicochemical analyses of the aquatic environment (Pavlek et al 2023).…”