| Title: | Uncertainty in climate change impacts on basin-scale freshwater resources – preface to the special issue: the QUEST-GSI methodology and synthesis of results |
| Authors: | Todd, M.C., R.G. Taylor, T.J. Osborn, D.G. Kingston, N.W. Arnell and S.N. Gosling |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Journal: | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Volume (Issue): | 15 |
| Pages: | 1035-1046 |
| Article ID: | |
| DOI: | 10.5194/hess-15-1035-2011 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | climate change |
| Secondary Application Category: | hydrologic assessment |
| Watershed Description: | 3,099 km^2 Yiang, a Yangtze River tributary in central China; 3,240 km^2 Huangfuchuan in China, a tributary of the Yellow River; and 2,090 km^2 Mitano in Uganda |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a preface to this Special Issue
on the results of the QUEST-GSI (Global Scale Impacts)
project on climate change impacts on catchment scale water
resources. A detailed description of the unified methodology,
subsequently used in all studies in this issue, is provided. The
project method involved running simulations of catchment scale
hydrology using a unified set of past and future climate
scenarios, to enable a consistent analysis of the climate
impacts around the globe. These scenarios include “policy relevant”
prescribed warming scenarios. This is followed by
a synthesis of the key findings. Overall, the studies indicate
that in most basins the models project substantial changes to
river flow, beyond that observed in the historical record, but
that in many cases there is considerable uncertainty in the
magnitude and sign of the projected changes. The implications
of this for adaptation activities are discussed. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | |