Human actions accelerate climate-driven floods and droughts

Date:
March 9, 2022
Source:
University of Waterloo
Summary:
A study of more than 2,000 streams around North America found that
those altered by human activity are at greater risk of flooding.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A study of more than 2,000 streams around North America found that those altered by human activity are at greater risk of flooding.


==========================================================================
The study from the University of Waterloo analyzed the seasonal
flow patterns of 2,272 streams in Canada and the U.S. and found that human-managed streams - - those impacted by developments like dams,
canals, or heavy urbanization - - had significantly different flow
patterns compared to streams in natural watersheds.

Greater flow increases in managed watersheds indicates more severe
flooding - - possibly as a result of the increased paved surfaces in urban regions. Flow dampening on the other hand can lead to water shortages
and a loss in biodiversity in managed streams.

The study used natural watersheds untouched by human activity to measure
the impact of climate change on streamflow. Using them as a baseline,
the researchers then compared flow in managed streams within a radius
of 115 kilometers to measure the impact of human developments.

"Compared to their natural neighbours, about 48 per cent of the
human-altered streams had significant increases in seasonal flow trends,
while 44 per cent showed a significant decrease in the seasonal flow
tends," said Nitin Singh, a postdoctoral fellow in Waterloo's Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences and lead author of this work. "We
used machine learning to show conclusively that these changes are caused
by human activity." While previous studies have looked at stream flows
at the annual scale, this study considers seasonal effects like spring
flooding and summer droughts, which are critical for water management.

"It is important to recognize human modifications of the landscape often amplify the effects of climate change on streamflow," said Nandita Basu, Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Civil and Environmental Engineering. "We need to take responsibility to manage our landscape sustainably, because it's not just climate that is changing it."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Waterloo. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Nitin K. Singh, Nandita B. Basu. The human factor in seasonal
streamflows
across natural and managed watersheds of North America. Nature
Sustainability, 2022; DOI: 10.1038/s41893-022-00848-1 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220309090717.htm

--- up 1 week, 2 days, 10 hours, 51 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)