1What impact does climate change have on precipitation?
Warmer air holds more water, therefore, there would be an increase in rainfall frequency and intensity; areas most affected would be the tropics and high latitudes
Decreases in precipitation would most likely lie between 10° and 30° north and south of the Equator
Increased frequency and length of heatwaves, increasing occurrences of drought and water scarcity
Snowfall is replaced with rain in northern regions, reducing glacier mass
2What impact does climate change have on soil moisture?
Where areas see an increase in precipitation then it would follow that soil moisture will increase also and vice versa
Overall impact of climate change is uncertain as many factors contribute soil moisture levels and climate is just one factor
3What impact does climate change have on evapotranspiration?
Increased evaporation over large land masses such as North America and Asia
Transpiration levels would alter inline with vegetation changes (increase or decrease), this would further link to changes in soil moisture and precipitation
4What impact does climate change have on ice stores?
Higher temperatures lead to negative mass balance
Shrinking of glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets
Reduction of glacial water for human use
5What impact does climate change have on ocean stores?
Possible increase in evaporation
Rise in sea levels as warmer waters expand
Rise in frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones
Storage capacity increased by meltwater
6What impact does climate change have on snow stores?
Decreased length of snow cover seasons - economic impact on tourism revenue
Spring melt starts earlier
7What impact does climate change have on permafrost?
Melting of permafrost and release of methane to the atmosphere, increase of greenhouse effect (positive feedback)
Changes to the ecosystems and tundra reducing stores of water
8What impact does climate change have on surface runoff and streamflow?
Increased low and high flow events (drought and floods)
Reduced infiltration with increased surface runoff
9What impact does climate change have on groundwater flow and aquifers?
Abstraction of water makes impact uncertain
Aquifers depleted through over abstraction but also low flow events not recharging store
10What impact does climate change have on reservoir, lake and wetland storage?
Human activity changing wetlands cannot be linked to climate change, however, there does appear to be a link with decreasing stores and temperature rises
11What would be the impacts of the Enzo cycles?
• ENSO cycles result in both extreme flooding and drought in different parts of world at the same time
• However, if land and sea surface temperatures continue to rise, then it is possible ENSO cycles could become more frequent rather than every 2-3 years
• This would lead to more periodic unusual climates for both South America and Australia
• It would also lead to unreliable patterns of rainfall and failure of monsoons impacting many tropical monsoon climates (India etc.)
• Increased intensity and frequency of drought impacts agriculture raising water insecurity
• Loss of snow and glacier melt threatens many communities particularly in mountainous areas
• Greater rates of evapotranspiration and desiccation of forest stores
• Increased temperatures lead to greater evaporation from surface water and reservoirs, reducing levels of water and increasing risk of water borne disease and mosquitos
• Depleted aquifers leads to water insecurities and lowering of water table