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Assessment of the impacts of climate change on mountain hydrology: development of a methodology through a case study in Peru

This report presents a summary of the efforts to develop methodological tools for the assessment of climate impacts on surface hydrology in the Peruvian Andes.

Marisa Escobar / Published on 24 March 2011
Citation

Vergara, W., A. Deeb, I. Leino, A. Kitoh, M. Escobar (2011). Assessment of the impacts of climate change on mountain hydrology: development of a methodology through a case study in Peru. World Bank Studies, Washington, DC, USA.

Climate change is beginning to have effects on natural resources in ways that need to be anticipated when planning for the future. In particular, changes in rainfall patterns and temperature may impact the intensity or schedule of water availability. Also the retreat of tropical glaciers, the drying of unique Andean wetland ecosystems, as well as increased weather variability and weather extremes will affect water regulation.

These changes could have impacts on energy and other sectors, such as agriculture, and could have broader economic effects. Yet anticipating those impacts is a new frontier; there are few examples of projections of climate impacts on resource availability and even fewer examples of the applications of such projections in planning for sustainable economic development.

This report presents a summary of the efforts to develop methodological tools for the assessment of climate impacts on surface hydrology in the Peruvian Andes. It is targeted to decision-makers in Peru and in other countries to give them guidance on how to choose available and suitable tools and make an assessment of climate impacts on water regulation.

Download the PDF or purchase the book (external link to World Bank website)

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SEI author

Topics and subtopics
Water : Water resources
Related centres
SEI US
Regions
Peru

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