Last May, the Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group organized a tour along several European hydrological institutes in an attempt to compensate for the negative impact of the covid pandemic on networking and scientific exchange. During the tour, discussions were held to discuss the future of hydrology from the perspective …
Continue readingAuthor: Ryan Teuling
Ecosystems get increasingly thirsty due to climate change
A new study shows that future ecosystem functioning will increasingly depend on water availability. Using recent simulations from climate models, an international team of scientists found several “hot spot regions” where increasing water limitation strongly affects ecosystems. These include Central Europe, the Amazon, and western Russia. Pinpointing such regions is essential: …
Continue readingGlobal tree restoration will change water availability
Tree restoration is an effective way to store atmospheric carbon and mitigate climate change. Many initiatives exist to increase global tree cover. However, the effects of these initiatives on water resources are still poorly understood. Locally, tree restoration will enhance evaporation. But impacts on precipitation reach far beyond country or …
Continue readingDrought makes heatwaves hotter, but less deadly
During heatwaves, there is no rain and the soil dries out. This further enhances the rising of heatwave temperatures. But remarkably, desiccated soils also have an advantage: they reduce air humidity and make a heatwave less deadly to humans. Heatwaves and droughts are causing acute excess mortality and damage to …
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