The Effects of Climate Change on Water Resources

抄録

　This paper introduces examples of influences of global warming on water resources, and means of adaptation. Problems regarding water resources widely and complexly interact with each other. Therefore current technologies for coping with these influences and making integrated assessments include much uncertainty and are difficult to perform. Many researchers have done their best, however, to develop numerical simulation techniques which can evaluate each interaction and the integrated influences. Numerical simulations with GCM data are elucidating problems on floods and droughts. They also help us understand the impact of fresh water resource loss and human activities in coastal regions due to sea level rise. Although no models of water quality under the influence of global warming have been established yet, there is some qualitative understanding of the influence on water quality. Even though research and discussions for adaptation of water resources have already started, no predictions of social and climatic changes have been made yet. Therefore it is necessary to develop numerical models expressing the relationship between water resources and social conditions.