| Session Details | |
| Section | HS - Hydrological Sciences |
| Session Title | Climate Change Impacts and Water Resources Challenges |
| Main Convener | Prof. Eiichi Nakakita (Kyoto University, Japan) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. Shadrack Kithiia (University of Nairobi, Japan) |
| Session Description | Climate change is changing our assumptions about water resources. As climate change warms the atmosphere and alters the hydrological cycle, it continues to change to the amount, timing, and intensity of precipitation and consequently the flow of water in hydrological basins. These changes are also likely to affect the programs designed to protect the quantity and quality of water resources to stakeholders’ health and safety. Changes in the amount of rain falling during storms provide evidence that the water cycle is already changing. Over the past 50 years, the amount of rain falling during the most intense infrequent storms has increased by almost 20% (USGCRP, 2009). This alters the timing of streamflow in rivers that have their sources in mountainous areas. As temperatures rise, people and animals need more water to maintain their health and to continue with many important economic activities which include producing energy by hydro-power plants, raising livestock, and growing food corps. However, the amount of water available for these activities may be reduced as Earth warms, and competition for water resources increases. The impacts of climate change on water resources may vary from region to region potentially more so in terms of increased flooding and drought, water quality and ecological impairment, damage to infrastructure, and other impacts to society which have been observed happening today. This section thus, seeks to discuss the impacts brought on climate changes on water resources particularly those in regards to these (but not limited to) highlighted topics: Increase in rain and heavy precipitation events. Increase on the number of destructive typhoons Severity of and drought length. The warming of air temperature on streams and lakes. Sea level rise and encroachment of saline waters into freshwater areas |