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More green and less blue water in the Alps during warmer summers

Author

Listed:
  • Theodoros Mastrotheodoros

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering)

  • Christoforos Pappas

    (Université de Montréal)

  • Peter Molnar

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering)

  • Paolo Burlando

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering)

  • Gabriele Manoli

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering
    University College London)

  • Juraj Parajka

    (Vienna University of Technology)

  • Riccardo Rigon

    (University of Trento)

  • Borbala Szeles

    (Vienna University of Technology)

  • Michele Bottazzi

    (University of Trento)

  • Panagiotis Hadjidoukas

    (Zurich Research Laboratory)

  • Simone Fatichi

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering)

Abstract

Climate change can reduce surface-water supply by enhancing evapotranspiration in forested mountains, especially during heatwaves. We investigate this ‘drought paradox’ for the European Alps using a 1,212-station database and hyper-resolution ecohydrological simulations to quantify blue (runoff) and green (evapotranspiration) water fluxes. During the 2003 heatwave, evapotranspiration in large areas over the Alps was above average despite low precipitation, amplifying the runoff deficit by 32% in the most runoff-productive areas (1,300–3,000 m above sea level). A 3 °C air temperature increase could enhance annual evapotranspiration by up to 100 mm (45 mm on average), which would reduce annual runoff at a rate similar to a 3% precipitation decrease. This suggests that green-water feedbacks—which are often poorly represented in large-scale model simulations—pose an additional threat to water resources, especially in dry summers. Despite uncertainty in the validation of the hyper-resolution ecohydrological modelling with observations, this approach permits more realistic predictions of mountain region water availability.

Suggested Citation

  • Theodoros Mastrotheodoros & Christoforos Pappas & Peter Molnar & Paolo Burlando & Gabriele Manoli & Juraj Parajka & Riccardo Rigon & Borbala Szeles & Michele Bottazzi & Panagiotis Hadjidoukas & Simone, 2020. "More green and less blue water in the Alps during warmer summers," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(2), pages 155-161, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1038_s41558-019-0676-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0676-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Aster Tesfaye Hordofa & Olkeba Tolessa Leta & Tena Alamirew & Abebe Demissie Chukalla, 2023. "Climate Change Impacts on Blue and Green Water of Meki River Sub-Basin," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(6), pages 2835-2851, May.
    2. Jason Alexandra, 2021. "Navigating the Anthropocene’s rivers of risk—climatic change and science-policy dilemmas in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Jäger, Hieronymus & Peratoner, Giovanni & Tappeiner, Ulrike & Tasser, Erich, 2020. "Grassland biomass balance in the European Alps: current and future ecosystem service perspectives," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    4. David L. Miller & Sebastian Wolf & Joshua B. Fisher & Benjamin F. Zaitchik & Jingfeng Xiao & Trevor F. Keenan, 2023. "Increased photosynthesis during spring drought in energy-limited ecosystems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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