Assessment of Aquatic Environmental Impact by a Future Climate Change in a Reservoir Located in the Bolivian Andes

Abstract

Glacial melt water is major water resources in and around La Paz, the capital of Bolivia in the center of South America. However, it is predicted that the glaciers in this area will disappear in 30 or 40 years because of climate change. In this study, water temperature around the end of the century in Tuni Reservoir, which is located at downstream of glaciers and provides domestic water to the cities nearby, were predicted with 1-dimensional hydraulic model using the outputs of a global climate model. The results indicate that surface temperature in the reservoir will basically depend on temperature rise. However, inflow rates will decrease about 60% by glacier disappearance and change more variably each year. So, it is important to consider how to take and convey water in the future.