Mediterranean water resources in a global change scenario

• Published in: Earth-science reviews Vol. 105; no. 3; pp. 121 - 139
• Main Authors: García-Ruiz, José M., López-Moreno, J. Ignacio, Vicente-Serrano, Sergio M., Lasanta–Martínez, Teodoro, Beguería, Santiago
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.04.2011; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: agricultural land; Climate change; climate models; coasts; Creeks & streams; Evapotranspiration; floods; Forests; Freshwater; global change; grazing; groundwater; groundwater flow; humans; Hydrological change; irrigated farming; irrigation; issues and policy; land cover changes; land management; lowlands; Mediterranean region; melting; Mountains; Northern Africa; Precipitation; reservoir management; Reservoirs; rivers; runoff; saline water; Sedimentation & deposition; shrubs; snow; Snow accumulation; snowmelt; soil water content; spring; Springs; stream flow; summer; surface water; Temperature; uncertainty; urban areas; urbanization; water balance; Water resources; water reuse; water supply; winter; Northern Africa; Mediterranean region; Mediterranean Area; land cover changes; snow accumulation; reservoir management; Mediterranean region; Hydrological change; climate change

Mediterranean areas of both southern Europe and North Africa are subject to dramatic changes that will affect the sustainability, quantity, quality, and management of water resources. Most climate models forecast an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation at the end of the 21st centu...