Research areas
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Climate change adaptation |
A broad range of effects and issues concerning climate change in the hydrological cycle are outlined and quantified, including:
- Groundwater resources and stream runoff
- Changes in groundwater abstraction for irrigation purposes
- looding caused by rising groundwater levels, high water levels in rivers or sea level rise
- Saltwater intrusion into aquifers caused by rise in sea level
- Pesticide and nutrient leaching into the aquatic environment
- Protection of catchment areas and well fields
- Water in the landscape, including surface runoff and wetlands
Quantification of projection uncertainty is an important component of climate impact studies. There is uncertainty associated with projection of greenhouse gas emissions, climate models and the hydrological models, as well, with a possible outcome of a significant uncertainty in prediction of hydrological impacts of climate change.
Technical opportunities for adapting to future climate change have a growing research potential. Hydrological calculations can be applied to evaluate the impact of alternative adaptation strategies, including changes in groundwater abstraction, changes in stream morphology and maintenance, establishment of flood plains, establishing fallow lands in river valleys, damming, etc.
| Increase in groundwater level, Western Jutland, for the A2 scenario as compared with present climate (Sonnenborg et al., 2006) |
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GEUS is a participant in cross-institutional efforts to coordinate and support research within climate adaptation in Denmark, KFT ( http://www.klima.au.dk/dk/om-klimaaudk/kft/). Within this cooperation, a facilitated inclusion of research results on climate adaptation within the Danish Society, from citizen to business, is sought. For this purpose, a web portal containing current and summarized information from the research and implementation communities has been established.
Finally, Department of Hydrology is a participant in various activities and projects in the field of groundwater impact and exploitation during times of disaster and climate change as well as adaptation strategies as applied to water resources in third world countries.
Current projects:
- HYACINTS ( http://hyacints.dk): HYdrological Modelling for Assessing Climate Change Impacts at differeNT Scales.
- CRES: http://cres-centre.net/joomla/ Centre for Regional change in the Earth System
- BaltCICA http://www.baltcica.org/): Consequences of climate change in the Baltic region.
- CLIWAT ( http://www.cliwat.eu/): Effects of climate change on groundwater and surface water systems in the North Sea region.
- PRECIOUS ( http://hyacints.dk/related_activities_uk/index.html): Prediction of Climatic Impacts on Pesticide Leaching to the Aquatic Environments.
- KTF: Coordination Unit for Climatic Adaptation research ( http://www.klima.au.dk/dk/om-klimaaudk/kft/) and portal ( http://www.klimatilpasning.dk)
- CLIVET: Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources and Agriculture - and Adaptation Strategies in Tanzania (Contact: Karen Villholth)
- GWES : Groundwater for Emergencies (Contact: Karen Villholth)
- KIMONO: Koncept for integrated assessment and steering of risk for climate generated groundwater flooding of point pollutions in the coastal zone. (Contact person: Hans Jørgen Henriksen)
Contacts: (CV's are found here)
Jens Christian Refsgaard
Torben O. Sonnenborg
Britt S.B. Christensen
Karen Grothe Villholth
Peter van der Keur
Klaus Hinsby
Hans Jørgen Henriksen
Services:
FIVA HYACINTS seminar. Uncertainties in Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources. 10 September 2009 ( http://www.fiva.dk).
Scientific publications:
Roosmalen, L.v, Christensen J.H., Butts M., Jensen K.H., Refsgaard J.C.. 2009 Quantifying climate change signals for Denmark and assessing the robustness for hydrological impact studies. Journal of Hydrology, Published online, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.11.014.
Roosmalen, L.v., T.O. Sonnenborg, and K.H. Jensen. 2009. The impact of climate and land-use changes on the hydrology of a large-scale agricultural catchment. Water Resources Research, 45, 1-18: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007WR006760
Villholth, K.G., P. Jeyakumar, P.H. Amerasinghe, A.S.P. Manamperi, M. Vithanage, R.R. Goswami, and C.R. Panabokke. 2009. Tsunami impacts and rehabilitation of groundwater supply: Lessons learned from Eastern Sri Lanka. Groundwater for Emergency Situations (GWES) Methodological guide - Case studies, UNESCO-IHE.
Villholth, K.G. and L. Lytton. 2008. A conceptual framework for how to ensure the sustainable use, management, and protection of groundwater resources for water supply during disasters. Paper invited for the XXXVI IAH Congress, Toyama, Japan Oct 26 to Nov 1, 2008.
Roosmalen, L.v., B.S.B. Christensen, and T.O. Sonnenborg. 2007. Regional differences in climate change impacts on groundwater and stream discharge in Denmark. Vadose Zone Journal, 6, 554-571:
http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/vzj2006.0093
Popular articles/reports:
- Hetzel, F., V. Vaessen, T. Himmelsbach, W. Struckmeier, and K.G. Villholth. 2008. Groundwater and Climate Change: Challenges and Possibilities. Brief developed in collaboration between BGR and GEUS.
- Villholth, K.G. 2008. Cleaning wells after seawater flooding. Emergency guidelines. WHO technical note No. 3. http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/hygiene/envsan/technotes/en/index.html
