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You are here: Home / Publications / Regional climate change and adaptation — The Alps facing the challenge of changing water resources

Regional climate change and adaptation — The Alps facing the challenge of changing water resources

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EEA Report No 8/2009
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Drawing on the most recent knowledge of climate change impacts in the Alps and experiences across the region, this report analyses the risks that climate change presents to the region's water supply and quality, identifying needs, constraints, opportunities, policy levers and options for adaptation. It extracts policy guidance on adaptation practice and aims to assist regional and local stakeholders in developing robust adaptation strategies. The focus of the report is on water resources and related adaptation, rather than water-related extreme events like floods, avalanches, landslides or mudflows, which are already well covered by existing studies of climate change impacts in the Alps.

Published by

  • EEA (European Environment Agency)
  • Published: Sep 09, 2009

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Order a printed copy online (EU-Bookshop).

: 978-92-9213-006-0
: TH-AL-09-008-EN-C
: EUR 10.00

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Figures used

Climate change and water conflicts Climate change and water conflicts
Change in temperature 1760–2007 for the Greater Alpine Region (GAR) Single years and 20-year smoothed mean GAR series from 1760–2007 (1760/1961–2007/2008) Change in temperature 1760–2007 for the Greater Alpine Region (GAR) Single years and 20-year smoothed mean GAR series from 1760–2007 (1760/1961–2007/2008) Single years (thin lines) and 20-year smoothed mean (bold lines)
Case studies in water-sensitive regions of the Alps Case studies in water-sensitive regions of the Alps
Temperature and precipitation in the Alps for the period 1961–1990 Temperature and precipitation in the Alps for the period 1961–1990
Run-off and snow cover change up until the end of the 21st century in the winter, according to the CLM A1B scenario Run-off and snow cover change up until the end of the 21st century in the winter, according to the CLM A1B scenario Left: relative difference in water available for runoff
Impacts of climate change on landscape structure in Dischmatal (Graubünden, Switzerland) in an ecosystem model Impacts of climate change on landscape structure in Dischmatal (Graubünden, Switzerland) in an ecosystem model
Leading horizontal climate sub-regions of the Greater Alpine Region (GAR) Leading horizontal climate sub-regions of the Greater Alpine Region (GAR) Bold lines: north-west (NW), north-east (NE), southwest (SW) and southeast (SE)
Average yearly run-offs of the main alpine rivers — tendencies Average yearly run-offs of the main alpine rivers — tendencies Bolt lines: 12-year moving average.
Temperature change in the Alps and their sub-regions according to different emission scenarios Temperature change in the Alps and their sub-regions according to different emission scenarios Regional statistics: G = Greater Alpine Region, A = Alps, NW = north-western Alps, NE = northeastern Alps, SW = southwestern Alps, SE = southeastern Alps, H = higher than 1 500 m.
Changes in seasonal precipitation and run-off according to different emission scenarios in CLM Changes in seasonal precipitation and run-off according to different emission scenarios in CLM Left: relative difference in water available for runoff
Annual precipitation series (left graph) and annual cloudiness series (right graph) Annual precipitation series (left graph) and annual cloudiness series (right graph) NW (top, grey) vs SE (bottom, black)
Protected areas in the Alps Protected areas in the Alps
The Alps, the main river basin districts and climatic sub-regions The Alps, the main river basin districts and climatic sub-regions
Seasonal changes in precipitation and temperature up until the end of the 21st century, according to CLM scenario A1B Seasonal changes in precipitation and temperature up until the end of the 21st century, according to CLM scenario A1B Left: absolute difference in temperature

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