40 likes | 197 Views
Potential Impacts & Adaptation Challenges of Climate Change in the UK. Water Resources & Quality -Increasing temperatures, increasing evaporation and changing rainfall patterns
E N D
Potential Impacts & Adaptation Challenges of Climate Change in the UK Water Resources & Quality -Increasing temperatures, increasing evaporation and changing rainfall patterns - Reduction in the availability of surface water in summer, over extraction of groundwater from aquifers, leading to a lowering of the water table and reduced water availability - Low level and turbulent river flows adversely impact water quality may require enhanced water treatment. More efficient use of water, acquisition and collection of (winter) water for use in the dry summers Enhanced water treatment
Flooding Increased risk in low lying urban and coastal areas Changes in insurance provision Capacity of waste water treatment plants and sewers needs to be increased Flood defences and flood water storage systems need to be upgraded Need to restrict development in flood plains Ensure new developments designed to prevent increased water runoff Biodiversity Loss of species on southerly edge of distribution, possible spread at northerly edge Water availability influence species present
Agriculture Increased irrigation demand due to increased summer droughts, pressure on water resources Affect crop yields, heat stress on livestock, soil erosion (flash floods), salt contamination and increased new crop pests Crop viability New crops effect soil erosion and biodiversity limited due to need for investment in infrastructure, equipment and processing for new crops Industry Limitation on use of water in industry Deterioration in working conditions due to warmer temperatures, greater energy consumption due to AC use Food preparation, handling and storage made more difficult by increased temperatures
Coastline Increased sea wall and cliff erosion Loss of coastal areas Tourism Increased tourism, increased congestion, increased erosion, reduced biodiversity Year round tourism Education of tourists, redirection of tourism to less visited areas Transport Risk of buckling on rail tracks due to increased temperature Asphalt road surfaces will melt more frequently Damage due to flooding Less cold weather disruption