Uncertainty in climate change impacts on basin-scale freshwater resources – preface to the special issue: the QUEST-GSI methodology and synthesis of results

Todd, M., Taylor, R., Osborn, T., Kingston, D., Arnell, N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2691-4436 and Gosling, S. (2011) Uncertainty in climate change impacts on basin-scale freshwater resources – preface to the special issue: the QUEST-GSI methodology and synthesis of results. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 15 (3). pp. 1035-1046. ISSN 1027-5606 doi: 10.5194/hess-15-1035-2011

Abstract/Summary

This paper presents a preface to this Special Issue on the results of the QUEST-GSI (Global Scale Impacts) project on climate change impacts on catchment-scale water resources. A detailed description of the unified methodology, subsequently used in all studies in this issue, is provided. The project method involved running simulations of catchment-scale hydrology using a unified set of past and future climate scenarios, to enable a consistent analysis of the climate impacts around the globe. These scenarios include "policy-relevant" prescribed warming scenarios. This is followed by a synthesis of the key findings. Overall, the studies indicate that in most basins the models project substantial changes to river flow, beyond that observed in the historical record, but that in many cases there is considerable uncertainty in the magnitude and sign of the projected changes. The implications of this for adaptation activities are discussed.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/19937
Identification Number/DOI	10.5194/hess-15-1035-2011
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology Interdisciplinary Research Centres (IDRCs) > Walker Institute
Publisher	Copernicus
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