Drought conditions expose rivers to hotter water temperatures
Drought conditions expose rivers to hotter water temperatures Science Daily
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Study Reveals Impacts of Climate Change on River Water Temperatures
As climate change warms the planet and droughts are anticipated to become more frequent and extreme, a new study reveals how reduced water flows and rising atmospheric temperatures are set to heat our rivers — creating major challenges for aquatic life, ecosystems, and society.
Importance of Water Temperature in Rivers
Water temperature is an important control for all the physical, chemical, and biological processes in rivers. It is particularly important for organisms that cannot regulate their own body temperature, such as fish. River temperature is important for human health and industrial, domestic, and recreational uses by people.
Primary Mechanisms Driving River Water Temperature Increases
Scientists have identified three primary mechanisms that drive river water temperature increases during droughts:
- Atmospheric energy inputs
- Physical habitat influences (shading and river channel shapes controlling flow)
- Contributions of different water sources — groundwater tends to cool rivers in summer
Impact of Shortwave Radiation on River Water Temperatures
A review published in Hydrological Processes, led by University of Birmingham in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate, highlights that intense shortwave radiation during hot and dry periods is likely to be the biggest factor of high river water temperatures.
Factors Affecting River Water Temperature during Droughts
This combined with declining water levels and volumes, and slower flow velocities during droughts will warm up waters more quickly. However, the authors emphasise that cooling effects from groundwater inputs, channel shading, and evaporation can offset high temperatures in certain circumstances.
Implications for Aquatic Life and Ecosystems
Co-author David Hannah, Professor of Hydrology and UNESCO Chair in Water Sciences at the University of Birmingham, commented: “Rising river water temperatures can have significant and often detrimental implications for aquatic life, impacting both individual species and entire ecosystems.”
“Drought conditions often coincide with high atmospheric temperatures and such trends will become more intense and frequent with climate change — with major implications for river water temperatures due to the combination of intense solar radiation and lower (and slower) water flows.
“However, certain management interventions such as riverside planting, and river restoration initiatives — including recreating natural channel forms and reconnecting groundwaters — could help to offset high thermal extremes during droughts if interventions are well targeted.”
Call for Holistic Approaches to River Restoration
The researchers note that more holistic, catchment-wide approaches to river restoration are required that consider how high river water temperature extremes can be offset while delivering other environmental and ecological benefits. The study authors call for new scientific approaches examining how the processes operating across the three mechanisms they have identified interact — helping to better inform models capable of estimating where and when high river thermal extremes are likely to occur during droughts.
Future Research Questions
Lead-author Dr James White, from the University of Birmingham, commented: “Our work highlights critical future research questions that will help us to better model river water temperature dynamics during droughts — helping river managers to work out how thermal extremes could be better managed through mitigation and adaptation strategies.”
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 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 |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries | Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into their national policies, strategies, and planning |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 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 |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
The article discusses the importance of water temperature in rivers for human health and various uses by people. It highlights the challenges that rising river water temperatures can pose to aquatic life and ecosystems. SDG 6 aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
SDG 13: Climate Action
The article mentions how climate change, including rising atmospheric temperatures, can contribute to higher river water temperatures. SDG 13 focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
SDG 15: Life on Land
The article emphasizes the potential detrimental implications of rising river water temperatures on aquatic life and ecosystems. SDG 15 aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, including freshwater ecosystems.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
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
The article highlights the importance of managing water flows and levels during droughts to mitigate the impact of rising river water temperatures. This target focuses on ensuring sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
The article emphasizes the need for adaptive strategies to manage river water temperature extremes during droughts, considering the interaction between climate change, atmospheric energy inputs, and water sources. This target aims to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
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
The article calls for holistic, catchment-wide approaches to river restoration that consider the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems. This target focuses on the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.
3. Are there any 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
The article discusses the impact of reduced water flows and declining water levels during droughts on river water temperatures. This indicator measures the level of water stress, which is relevant to target 6.4.
Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into their national policies, strategies, and planning
The article emphasizes the need for mitigation and adaptation strategies to manage river water temperature extremes during droughts. This indicator measures the integration of mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into national policies and planning, which is relevant to target 13.1.
Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type
The article highlights the importance of considering the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems in river restoration initiatives. This indicator measures the proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity covered by protected areas, which is relevant to target 15.1.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 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 |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries | Indicator 13.1.2: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into their national policies, strategies, and planning |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 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 |
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Source: sciencedaily.com
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