TY - JOUR
T1 - Future eco-hydrological dynamics
T2 - Urbanization and climate change effects in a changing landscape: A case study of Birmingham's river basin
AU - Giglou, Abolfazl Nazari
AU - Nazari, Rouzbeh
AU - Karimi, Maryam
AU - Lawrence Museru, Mujungu
AU - Ntow Opare, Kofi
AU - Nikoo, Mohammad Reza
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2024/4/1
Y1 - 2024/4/1
N2 - The global challenges of water availability and quality are driven by land use and climate changes, further exacerbated by global warming. Altered Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) due to urbanization, deforestation, and agriculture triggers many environmental issues to eco-hydrological systems, which are already profoundly impacted by shifting climate patterns. The Upper Black Warrior River Basin in Birmingham, Alabama, is a prime example of how converting forests into urban areas impairs water quality and increases surface runoff due to impermeable surfaces. This study delved into the temporal and spatial alterations in eco-hydrologically relevant flows, considering individual and combined climate change scenarios and LULC transformation. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) served as the modeling platform, calibrated (2016–2022) and validated (2011–2015) at a daily time scale. Five distinct scenarios were crafted to portray eco-hydrology's past, present, and future responses (runoff and river nutrients) to climate and LULC variations. The model demonstrated strong performance for discharge and predicted increased runoff in future periods, which is attributed to the anticipated warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers characterized by more intense rainfall events. Notably, the study unveiled the adverse impact of climate change on monthly nitrates leaching into surface runoff, with the lowest levels predicted during May to September coinciding with reduced precipitation. Conversely, human activity positively impacts runoff, especially in FMC, which has a higher deforestation rate (42.8%) and increased runoff compared to VC. The study also emphasized the significant link between flow and nutrient concentration, highlighting the dominant role of nonpoint sources in contributing to these inputs. These findings have significant implications for local stakeholders, necessitating considering the potential consequences of integrated climate change and urbanization on eco-hydrology. Effective management strategies, such as improved land use practices and reduced nutrient leaching, must be implemented to minimize these impacts.
AB - The global challenges of water availability and quality are driven by land use and climate changes, further exacerbated by global warming. Altered Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) due to urbanization, deforestation, and agriculture triggers many environmental issues to eco-hydrological systems, which are already profoundly impacted by shifting climate patterns. The Upper Black Warrior River Basin in Birmingham, Alabama, is a prime example of how converting forests into urban areas impairs water quality and increases surface runoff due to impermeable surfaces. This study delved into the temporal and spatial alterations in eco-hydrologically relevant flows, considering individual and combined climate change scenarios and LULC transformation. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) served as the modeling platform, calibrated (2016–2022) and validated (2011–2015) at a daily time scale. Five distinct scenarios were crafted to portray eco-hydrology's past, present, and future responses (runoff and river nutrients) to climate and LULC variations. The model demonstrated strong performance for discharge and predicted increased runoff in future periods, which is attributed to the anticipated warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers characterized by more intense rainfall events. Notably, the study unveiled the adverse impact of climate change on monthly nitrates leaching into surface runoff, with the lowest levels predicted during May to September coinciding with reduced precipitation. Conversely, human activity positively impacts runoff, especially in FMC, which has a higher deforestation rate (42.8%) and increased runoff compared to VC. The study also emphasized the significant link between flow and nutrient concentration, highlighting the dominant role of nonpoint sources in contributing to these inputs. These findings have significant implications for local stakeholders, necessitating considering the potential consequences of integrated climate change and urbanization on eco-hydrology. Effective management strategies, such as improved land use practices and reduced nutrient leaching, must be implemented to minimize these impacts.
KW - Climate change
KW - CMIP6
KW - Eco-hydrology
KW - LULC
KW - SDSM
KW - SWAT
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85186760789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85186760789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/2e17c5f1-f95f-39de-a865-8d795e660e31/
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141320
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141320
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85186760789
SN - 0959-6526
VL - 447
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
M1 - 141320
ER -