| Title |
Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Water Temperature of the Streams in Han-River Basin |
| Authors |
김민희 ( Minhee Kim ) ; 이정희 ( Junghee Lee ) ; 성경희 ( Kyounghee Sung ) ; 임철수 ( Cheolsoo Lim ) ; 황원재 ( Wonjae Hwang ) ; 현승훈 ( Seunghun Hyun ) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.15681/KSWE.2022.38.1.19 |
| Keywords |
Climate change; Future air temperature; Han-River basin; Water quality; Water temperature |
| Abstract |
Climate change has increased the average air temperature. Rising air temperature are absorbed by water bodies, leading to increasing water temperature. Increased water temperature will cause eutrophication and excess algal growth, which will reduce water quality. In this study, long-term trends of air and water temperatures in the Han-river basin over the period of 1997-2020 were discussed to assess the impacts of climate change. Future (∼2100s) levels of air temperature were predicted based on the climate change scenarios (Representative concentration pathway (RCP) 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5). The results showed that air and water temperatures rose at an average rate of 0.027°C year-1 and 0.038°C year-1 respectively, over the past 24 years (1997 to 2020). Future air temperatures under RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 increased up to 0.32°C 1.18°C, 2.14°C, and 3.51°C, respectively. An increasing water temperature could dissolve more minerals from the surrounding rock and will therefore have a higher electrical conductivity. It is the opposite when considering a gas, such as oxygen, dissolved in the water. Water temperature also governs the kinds of organisms that can live in rivers and lakes. Fish, insects, zooplankton, phytoplankton, and other aquatic species all have a preferred temperature range. As temperatures get too far above or below this preferred range, the number of individuals of the species decreases until finally there are none. Therefore, changes of water temperature that are induced by climate change have important implications on water supplies, water quality, and aquatic ecosystems of a watershed. |