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Changing of the climate change in seasonal river flow in the northernmost latitudes Europe, Russia and America, which poses a threat to water security and river ecosystems. This
Changing of the climate change in seasonal river flow in the northernmost latitudes Europe, Russia and America, which poses a threat to water security and river ecosystems.
This is warned by research conducted by the University of Leeds (UK) and the Southern University of Science and Technology of China and published this Thursday in the journal Science.
Seasonality of river flow This is important in the cycle of floods and droughts.. If this is changed, not only water security will be at risk, but also freshwater biodiversity.
Human activity is known to alter river flows around the world, directly through the construction of reservoirs and indirectly through the effects of climate change, which alter air temperature, precipitation, lto waterlogging and thawing of the soil.
More than two-thirds of the world’s rivers have been altered by humans, but today there is virtually no research showing their consequences.
To assess the actual flow situation of rivers, the team analyzed historical data for waterways around the world and found that 21 percent experience significant changes seasonal rise and fall of water levels.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons Archive
The team used average monthly flow data recorded at 10,120 gauging stations (facilities that measure the flow of water flowing through a river) from 1965 to 2014. These data demonstrate for the first time that a widespread decline in river flow seasonality is related to climate change.
“Research shows that rising air temperatures are fundamentally changing natural river flow patterns,” explains Hong Wang, a Leeds researcher and lead author of the study.
The study found that 19% of gauging stations in Europe are experiencing a significant reduction in seasonality of river flow, especially in the north of the continent. in western Russia and the Alps.
In northern North America, 40% of the 119 stations observed showed a significant decrease in streamflow seasonality, similar to the results in southern Siberia, where 32% of stations showed a significant decrease.
In addition, regions USA (lower 48 states of North America, including the District of Columbia) showed predominantly downward trend seasonality of river flow in general, with the exception of the Rocky Mountain and Florida rivers.
And in central North America, the study found significant trends toward decreased seasonality of river flow at 18 percent of stations.
Photo: Archive
In contrast, the researchers observed a significant increase in streamflow seasonality at 18 percent of the stations.
“The rise and fall of river flows during different seasons serve as vital signals for species living in the water. For example, many fish use a certain increase in flow as a signal to go to their breeding grounds upstream or towards the sea. Without these signals, they will not be able to spawn,” explains Megan Claar, a member of the Water@leeds research center and co-author of the study.
Moreover, the study warns that these changes will not occur in the future, but rather They are already happening.
“We should be very concerned about accelerating climate change and start thinking about mitigation strategies and adaptation plans to mitigate future weakening of seasonal river flows, especially in places like western Russia, Scandinavia and Canada,” concludes Joseph Holden, director of water resources. @Leeds.
(EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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