Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Water Quality in a Tidal Estuarine System Using a Three-Dimensional Model

Liu, Wen‐Cheng; Chan, Wen-Ting

doi:10.3390/w8020060

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The estuarine dynamics and its susceptibility to droughts can be assessed using numerical models, contributing to the definition of management measures. Models have been widely used to study the salinity dynamics in estuaries and their response to climatic forcings (e.g., [12][13][14][15]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Saltwater Intrusion in the Upper Tagus Estuary during Droughts

2019

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Droughts reduce freshwater availability and have negative environmental, economic, and social impacts. In estuaries, the dynamics between the saltwater and the freshwater can be affected during droughts, which can impact several natural resources and economic sectors negatively. The Tagus estuary is one of the largest estuaries in Europe and supports diverse uses and activities that can be affected by the saltwater intrusion (e.g., agriculture). This study assesses the saltwater intrusion in the upper reaches of the Tagus estuary using a process-based model to explore different scenarios of freshwater discharge and sea level rise. For the river discharge and mean sea level rise scenarios analyzed, salinity can reach concentrations that are inadequate for irrigation when the mean Tagus river discharge is similar or lower than the ones observed during recent droughts (22–44 m3/s). Lower river discharges aggravate the consequences. Results also show that the salinity increases with the duration of the droughts. In contrast, the impact of a moderate sea level rise on salinity intrusion is modest when compared with the impact of low river discharges. These findings contribute to support the management of the agricultural activities in the upper Tagus estuary and the water resources in the Tagus river basin.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Saltwater Intrusion in the Upper Tagus Estuary during Droughts

2019

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“…Freshwater seemed to be a source of bacteria except in the fall, since bacterial growth was noticed in the uppermost boxes. Indeed, freshwater inflow plays a key role in the delivery of organic matter and nutrients to estuaries [17,58], acting as a carrier for chlorophyll a and bacteria. For salinities higher than 18, bacterial fluxes were negative.…”

Section: Box Model Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coupling between Hydrodynamics and Chlorophyll a and Bacteria in a Temperate Estuary: A Box Model Approach

Fernandes

Teixeira

Bordalo

2019

Water

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The spatial patterns of chlorophyll a and bacteria were assessed in a temperate Atlantic tidal estuary during seasonal surveys, as well as in consecutive summer spring and neap tides. A box model approach was used to better understand spatial and temporal dynamics of these key estuarine descriptors. The Lima estuary (NW Portugal) was divided into boxes controlled by salinity and freshwater discharge and balance equations were derived for each variable, enabling the calculation of horizontal and vertical fluxes of plankton and, therefore, production or consumption rates. Chlorophyll a tended to burst within the oligohaline zone, whereas higher counts of bacteria were found in the mesohaline stretch. Whenever the water column was stratified, similar tide-independent trends were found for chlorophyll a and bacterial fluxes, with net growth in the upper less saline boxes, and consumption beneath the halocline. In the non-stratified upper estuary, other controls emerged for chlorophyll a and bacteria, such as nitrogen and carbon inputs, respectively. The presented results show that, while tidal hydrodynamics influenced plankton variability, production/consumption rates resulted from the interaction of additional factors, namely estuarine geomorphological characteristics and nutrient inputs. In complex estuarine systems, the rather simple box model approach remains a useful tool in the task of understanding the coupling between hydrodynamics and the behavior of plankton, emerging as a contribution toward the management of estuarine systems.

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“…Climate change and population growth is the most considerable factors that are affecting the ecosystems consequently, the impact of climate change on water quality is ascribed to changing hydrology and air temperature (Hosseini et al, 2017;Liu, Chan, 2016). The water quality in Rwanda is being exposed to several degrading and polluting forces being natural and manmade.…”

Section: Trends In Water Quality In Rwandamentioning

confidence: 99%

Review on Water Resources Management and Key Threats in Rwanda, East Africa

Mukanyandwi

Nahayo

Hakorimana

et al. 2018

Journal of Water Security

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Water is important for human health, industry, agriculture and ensuring the integrity and sustainability of the ecosystem. The water resources are the top affected by climate variability and population growth. The current population of Rwanda is about 12 million heading to about 25 million in 2050 under the changing climate, where since 1970 temperature rose by 1.4°C and is predicted that in 2050 to be about 2.5°C with severe effects on water resources in Rwanda. Thereby, this study reviewed the status and causes of water quality problems and suggested appropriate options to undertake for sustainable water resources access, employ and management in Rwanda. It was noticed that among others, the key threats to water quality in Rwanda, include not limited to climate change causing rainfall patterns which generated flooding, landslides and periodic droughts, which loaded pollutants into water. In addition, water quality is jeopardized by the rapid population growth, agrochemicals, industrialization, urbanization, soil steepness and land mismanagement. Accordingly, the reviewed water quality indicate that the water quality pollution likelihood is increasing over time. These facts reveal that the water quality soon or late will be highly polluted and calls for further adaptation and management measures.

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Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Water Quality in a Tidal Estuarine System Using a Three-Dimensional Model

Cited by 14 publications

References 54 publications

Saltwater Intrusion in the Upper Tagus Estuary during Droughts

Saltwater Intrusion in the Upper Tagus Estuary during Droughts

Coupling between Hydrodynamics and Chlorophyll a and Bacteria in a Temperate Estuary: A Box Model Approach

Review on Water Resources Management and Key Threats in Rwanda, East Africa

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