Assessing the Climate Change Impact on Water Resources and Adaptation Strategies in Algerian Cheliff Basin
The effect of climate change on the water resources of the Cheliff basin in Algeria was evaluated with a particular focus on the significant factors affecting the water reserves. The Cheliff basin, which is one of the largest basins in the north of Algeri
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Contents 1 Introduction 2 Materials and Methods 2.1 Description of Case Study Area 2.2 Methodology 3 Results and Discussion 3.1 Precipitation 3.2 Hydrometric Network and Presentation of Hydrometric Stations Selected 3.3 Annual and Seasonal Flow Trends 3.4 Surface Water Resources 3.5 Impact of Climate Change on Surface Water Resources 3.6 Water Resources Management 3.7 Projected Climate Change and Adaptation on Surface Water Resources 4 Conclusion 5 Recommendations for Future Work References
Abstract The effect of climate change on the water resources of the Cheliff basin in Algeria was evaluated with a particular focus on the significant factors affecting the water reserves. The Cheliff basin, which is one of the largest basins in the north of Algeria, is affected by water scarcity due to the extension of industrial and agricultural activities with the population growth, on the one hand, and to a decline in water resources caused by extreme droughts, on the other hand. The results of the current climate change assessment revealed a downward trend in the precipitation ranging from Y. Elmeddahi (*) Vegetable Chemistry-Water-Energy Research Laboratory, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University Hassiba Ben Bouali of Chlef, Ouled Fares, Algeria e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] R. Ragab Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, CEH, Wallingford, UK Abdelazim Negm, Bouderbala Abdelkader, Haroun Chenchouni, and Damia Barcelo (eds.), Water Resources in Algeria - Part I: Assessment of Surface and Groundwater Resources, Hdb Env Chem, DOI 10.1007/698_2019_398, © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
Y. Elmeddahi and R. Ragab
14 to 54% and a reduction in streamflows that exceeds 40% with a break observed at the beginning of the 1980s. According to different emission scenarios, several general circulation models (GCMs) predict an increase in temperature of +0.9 C to +5 C on average at the end of the twenty-first century, with a decrease in average rainfall of 10–30%. A conceptual model predicted a flow deficit ranging from 10 to 48% at different periods and in different scenarios. This study found that the problem of water scarcity was exacerbated by poor management of available water resources and by the significant increase in the population, which exceeded five million in 2010. Intensive use of water for irrigation and economic development has put additional pressure on the limited water resources. All these facts call for a proper “fit for purpose” integrated water management policy for the whole country. Keywords Cheliff basin, Climate change, Trend, Water resource
1 Introduction Over the past three decades of the twentieth century, many scientists have argued that climate change could lead to major changes threatening the very existence of humans on the planet. Recently, considerable research has been led to address the impact of climate change on the environment and particularly on water resources [1–10]. During the last century, the average temperature across the Mediterranean basin and the No
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