Potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows: a case study in the Himalayan River basin
Understanding the potential impact of anthropogenic climate change on the hydrological regime of the Koshi River Basin (KRB) is very important for sustainable water resources and ecosystem management. The hydrological studies are mainly focused on the annual, seasonal, and peak flows of the hydrolog...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Aqua |
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| Online Access: | http://aqua.iwaponline.com/content/72/11/2109 |
| _version_ | 1797429068533071872 |
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| author | Pragya Pradhan Sangam Shrestha Mohana Sundaram Shanmugam |
| author_facet | Pragya Pradhan Sangam Shrestha Mohana Sundaram Shanmugam |
| author_sort | Pragya Pradhan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the potential impact of anthropogenic climate change on the hydrological regime of the Koshi River Basin (KRB) is very important for sustainable water resources and ecosystem management. The hydrological studies are mainly focused on the annual, seasonal, and peak flows of the hydrological regime; however, the ecologically relevant flows of the hydrological regime are less explored. In this study, we analyzed the different flow characteristics based on the magnitude, intensity, and duration using the Indicator of Hydrologic Alterations (IHA) under the influence of shared socio-economic pathway (SSP) scenarios. We found that the KRB will experience a shift in hydro-climatic events, an increase in rise and fall rates of flow, increase in monthly low flows of the hydrological regime, eventually affecting the livelihoods and ecosystem of the basin. This study highlights the importance of environmental flow components (EFCs) in a hydrological regime to better understand the flow characteristics during the future hydro-climatic variability.
HIGHLIGHTS
IHA and EFCs were grouped into five based on magnitude, intensity, and duration.;
Increased uncertainty has increased the chances of untimely extreme events in the KRB.;
Future post-monsoon and winter streamflow increases, sustaining the water table and aquatic life.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:07:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3296f0bc5602410e9cc59e1b3d6a6215 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2709-8028 2709-8036 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:07:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aqua |
| spelling | doaj.art-3296f0bc5602410e9cc59e1b3d6a62152023-12-02T09:44:24ZengIWA PublishingAqua2709-80282709-80362023-11-0172112109212510.2166/aqua.2023.284284Potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows: a case study in the Himalayan River basinPragya Pradhan0Sangam Shrestha1Mohana Sundaram Shanmugam2 Water Engineering and Management, School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand Water Engineering and Management, School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand Water Engineering and Management, School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand Understanding the potential impact of anthropogenic climate change on the hydrological regime of the Koshi River Basin (KRB) is very important for sustainable water resources and ecosystem management. The hydrological studies are mainly focused on the annual, seasonal, and peak flows of the hydrological regime; however, the ecologically relevant flows of the hydrological regime are less explored. In this study, we analyzed the different flow characteristics based on the magnitude, intensity, and duration using the Indicator of Hydrologic Alterations (IHA) under the influence of shared socio-economic pathway (SSP) scenarios. We found that the KRB will experience a shift in hydro-climatic events, an increase in rise and fall rates of flow, increase in monthly low flows of the hydrological regime, eventually affecting the livelihoods and ecosystem of the basin. This study highlights the importance of environmental flow components (EFCs) in a hydrological regime to better understand the flow characteristics during the future hydro-climatic variability. HIGHLIGHTS IHA and EFCs were grouped into five based on magnitude, intensity, and duration.; Increased uncertainty has increased the chances of untimely extreme events in the KRB.; Future post-monsoon and winter streamflow increases, sustaining the water table and aquatic life.;http://aqua.iwaponline.com/content/72/11/2109climate changeefcshydrologyihakrbssps |
| spellingShingle | Pragya Pradhan Sangam Shrestha Mohana Sundaram Shanmugam Potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows: a case study in the Himalayan River basin Aqua climate change efcs hydrology iha krb ssps |
| title | Potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows: a case study in the Himalayan River basin |
| title_full | Potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows: a case study in the Himalayan River basin |
| title_fullStr | Potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows: a case study in the Himalayan River basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows: a case study in the Himalayan River basin |
| title_short | Potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows: a case study in the Himalayan River basin |
| title_sort | potential impacts of climate change on ecologically relevant flows a case study in the himalayan river basin |
| topic | climate change efcs hydrology iha krb ssps |
| url | http://aqua.iwaponline.com/content/72/11/2109 |
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