| Title: | Potential impact of climate change on suspended sediment yield in NW Spain: A case study on the Corbeira Catchment |
| Authors: | Rodríguez-Blanco, M.L., R. Arias, M.M. Taboada-Castro, J.P. Nunes, J.J. Keizer and M.T. Taboada-Castro |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Journal: | Water |
| Volume (Issue): | 8(10) |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 444 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/w8100444 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | pollutant only |
| Primary Application Category: | climate change assessment |
| Secondary Application Category: | sediment loss and transport |
| Watershed Description: | 16 km^2 Corbeira River, located in the southeast part of La Coruña Province in northwest Spain. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | Soil losses and the subsequent sediment delivery constitute significant environmental
threats. Climate change is likely to have an impact on the availability of water and therefore on
sediment yield in catchments. In this context, quantifying the sediment response to an increased
atmospheric CO2 concentration and climate change is of utmost importance to the proper
management of rural catchments. However, quantitative assessment of climate change impact
remains a complex task. In this study, the potential medium (2031–2060) and long-term (2069–2098)
impacts of projected changes of temperature, rainfall and CO2 concentration on sediment yield in
a small rural catchment located in NW Spain were evaluated using the Soil and Water Assessment
Tool (SWAT) model. Climate change scenarios were created using future climate data projected
by regional climate models from the ENSEMBLES project and two CO2 concentration scenarios
(550 and 660 ppm). The results showed that climate change would have a noticeable impact on
suspended sediment if the forecast temperature, rainfall and CO2 concentration changes included
in this study were met. Overall, suspended sediment is expected to decrease (2031–2060: -11%,
2069–2098: -8%) compared to the baseline period (1981–2010), mainly due to decreased streamflow.
However, an increase in sediment transport in winter is predicted, possibly associated with increased
erosion in cultivated areas (11%–17%), suggesting that, at this time of the year, the effect of soil
detachment prevails over sediment transport capacity. Consequently, management practices aimed
at reducing soil erosion in cultivated areas should be carried out, because these are the main source
of sediment in the study area. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | rural catchment; suspended sediment; SWAT model; climate change |