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L. Zaharia et al.
10.1 Introduction
In the last decades, significant climatic variations and changes were detected from
global to regional and local spatial scales, causing multiple and various impacts on
both natural and human systems [1, 2]. One of the most sensitive natural systems to the
climate variability is the hydrological one. Thus, the alteration of the climatic parameters has direct and/or indirect effects on the hydrological cycle, causing changes in
streamflow regimes and water resources, with negative societal and environmental
consequences. Such changes have already been identified in the variability of the
observational data and are estimated for the future through model-based simulations
under different climate scenarios. Therefore, the water availability and quality could
become major issues for societies and the environment under climate change [3]. To
address these issues, societies are concerned about the development of appropriate
adaptation strategies to the hydrological effects of the climate change [4].
This chapter focuses on Romania, aiming (i) to provide an overview of changes
observed and projected for the main climatic and hydrological parameters and (ii)
to investigate the hydrological responses to climate changes in a catchment located
in the Romanian Carpathians (based on trend detection analysis of recorded data
and hydrological simulations). The hydrological changes in Romania are integrated
into the context of the changes signaled at global and European levels which are
synthesized in the first part of the chapter.
The paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of the main research findings on the
hydrological impact of climate changes in Romania and provides new and original
information on this topic, derived from our research.
10.2 Synthesis of Studies on Streamflow Change Detection
at Global and European Scale
10.2.1 Observed Hydrological Changes
Due to its scientific and practical interest, the analysis of the rivers flow variability and
trends, in the context of climate change, based on recorded data, has been a concern
for researchers worldwide. Thus, studies with such issue have been conducted in
many countries, such as Canada [5–7], China [8–18], Malaysia [19], Russia [20,
21], U.S.A. [22, 23], Turkey [24–26], as well as in countries/regions from the South
America [27–29] and from Africa [30]. Some studies investigated the streamflow
variation on a global scale [4, 31, 32].
In Europe, a large number of researches on rivers’ flow trends have been carried
out in the last decades, in many countries or regions: Austria [33], Czech Republic
[34], France [35, 36], Germany [37–40], Iceland [41], Poland [42], Slovakia [43,
44], Spain [45–47], Switzerland [48–51], UK [52–57], and the Nordic and Baltic
countries [58–62]. Some studies have referred to several countries and rivers within
Europe [4, 31, 63].
L. Zaharia et al.
10.1 Introduction
In the last decades, significant climatic variations and changes were detected from
global to regional and local spatial scales, causing multiple and various impacts on
both natural and human systems [1, 2]. One of the most sensitive natural systems to the
climate variability is the hydrological one. Thus, the alteration of the climatic parameters has direct and/or indirect effects on the hydrological cycle, causing changes in
streamflow regimes and water resources, with negative societal and environmental
consequences. Such changes have already been identified in the variability of the
observational data and are estimated for the future through model-based simulations
under different climate scenarios. Therefore, the water availability and quality could
become major issues for societies and the environment under climate change [3]. To
address these issues, societies are concerned about the development of appropriate
adaptation strategies to the hydrological effects of the climate change [4].
This chapter focuses on Romania, aiming (i) to provide an overview of changes
observed and projected for the main climatic and hydrological parameters and (ii)
to investigate the hydrological responses to climate changes in a catchment located
in the Romanian Carpathians (based on trend detection analysis of recorded data
and hydrological simulations). The hydrological changes in Romania are integrated
into the context of the changes signaled at global and European levels which are
synthesized in the first part of the chapter.
The paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of the main research findings on the
hydrological impact of climate changes in Romania and provides new and original
information on this topic, derived from our research.
10.2 Synthesis of Studies on Streamflow Change Detection
at Global and European Scale
10.2.1 Observed Hydrological Changes
Due to its scientific and practical interest, the analysis of the rivers flow variability and
trends, in the context of climate change, based on recorded data, has been a concern
for researchers worldwide. Thus, studies with such issue have been conducted in
many countries, such as Canada [5–7], China [8–18], Malaysia [19], Russia [20,
21], U.S.A. [22, 23], Turkey [24–26], as well as in countries/regions from the South
America [27–29] and from Africa [30]. Some studies investigated the streamflow
variation on a global scale [4, 31, 32].
In Europe, a large number of researches on rivers’ flow trends have been carried
out in the last decades, in many countries or regions: Austria [33], Czech Republic
[34], France [35, 36], Germany [37–40], Iceland [41], Poland [42], Slovakia [43,
44], Spain [45–47], Switzerland [48–51], UK [52–57], and the Nordic and Baltic
countries [58–62]. Some studies have referred to several countries and rivers within
Europe [4, 31, 63].