Title
Impacts of climate change on the precipitation and streamflow regimes in equatorial regions: Guayas river basin
Date Issued
01 November 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Publisher(s)
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Abstract
The effects of climate change projected for 2050 to 2079 relative to the 1968–2014 reference period were evaluated using 39 CMIP5 models under the RCP8.5 emissions scenario in the Guayas River basin. The monthly normalized precipitation index (SPI) was used in this study to assess the impact of climate change for wet events and droughts from a meteorological perspective. The GR2M model was used to project changes in the streamflow of the Daule River. The climate projection was based on the four rigorously selected models to represent the climate of the study area. On average, an increase in temperature (~2◦C) and precipitation (~6%) is expected. A 7% increase in precipitation would result in a 10% increase in streamflow for flood periods, while an 8% decrease in precipitation could result in approximately a 60% reduction in flow for dry periods. The analysis of droughts shows that they will be more frequent and prolonged in the highlands (Andes) and the middle part of the basin. In the future, wet periods will be less frequent but of greater duration and intensity on the Ecuadorian coast. These results point to future problems such as water deficit in the dry season but also increased streamflow for floods during the wet season. This information should be taken into account in designing strategies for adaptation to climate change.
Volume
13
Issue
21
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Investigación climática
Meteorología y ciencias atmosféricas
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85118846253
Source
Water (Switzerland)
ISSN of the container
20734441
Sponsor(s)
The authors are grateful to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMHI) in Ecuador for providing temperature and precipitation data (https://www. serviciometeorologico.gob.ec/, accessed on 2 February 2015). The authors also wish to thank the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) for providing 39 global circulation models (https: //climexp.knmi.nl/plot_atlas_form.py, accessed on 2 February 2015). Mercy Ilbay-Yupa thanks the Water Resources Management Group of the Technical University of Cotopaxi (UTC).
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus