78
7 Transboundary River Basins in the European Union and the …
Table 7.1 (continued)
Variable
What is already happening
What could happen
Water
temperature
Water temperature in major European
rivers and lakes has increased by
1–3 °C over the last century
Lake and river surface water
temperatures are projected to increase
following further increases in air
temperature
Lake and
river ice
cover
The duration of ice cover on European
lakes and rivers has shortened at a
mean rate of 12 days per century over
the last 150–200 years
A further decrease in the duration of
lake ice cover is projected
Freshwater
ecosystems
and water
quality
Cold-water species have been observed
to move northwards or to higher
altitudes. Changes in life cycle events
have been observed. Phytoplankton
and zooplankton blooms in several
European lakes are now occurring one
month earlier than 30–40 years ago.
Biological invasions of species
(including toxic species) that originate
in warmer regions have been observed
The observed changes are projected to
continue with the progress of climate
change. Increases in nutrient and
dissolved organic carbon
concentrations in lakes and rivers may
occur, but management changes can
have much larger effects than climate
change
Based on EEA (2012c)
References
EEA (European Environment Agency) (2009) Water resources across Europe—confronting water
scarcity and drought. EEA Report No. 2/2009, Copenhagen
EEA (European Environment Agency) (2012a) European waters—assessment of status and pressures. EEA Report No. 8/2012, Copenhagen
EEA (European Environment Agency) (2012b) Water resources in Europe in the context of vulnerability. EEA Report No. 11/2012, Copenhagen
European Environment Agency (2012c) Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe
2012—an indicator-based report. EEA Report No. 12/2012, Copenhagen
Rieu-Clarke A (2009) Challenges to Europe’s water resources. In: UNEP (eds) Hydropolitical
vulnerability and resilience along international waters—Europe, Nairobi, pp 17–28
WRc plc (2012) International coordination (Part V). In: WRc plc (eds) Comparative study of
pressures and measures in the major river basin management plans
7 Transboundary River Basins in the European Union and the …
Table 7.1 (continued)
Variable
What is already happening
What could happen
Water
temperature
Water temperature in major European
rivers and lakes has increased by
1–3 °C over the last century
Lake and river surface water
temperatures are projected to increase
following further increases in air
temperature
Lake and
river ice
cover
The duration of ice cover on European
lakes and rivers has shortened at a
mean rate of 12 days per century over
the last 150–200 years
A further decrease in the duration of
lake ice cover is projected
Freshwater
ecosystems
and water
quality
Cold-water species have been observed
to move northwards or to higher
altitudes. Changes in life cycle events
have been observed. Phytoplankton
and zooplankton blooms in several
European lakes are now occurring one
month earlier than 30–40 years ago.
Biological invasions of species
(including toxic species) that originate
in warmer regions have been observed
The observed changes are projected to
continue with the progress of climate
change. Increases in nutrient and
dissolved organic carbon
concentrations in lakes and rivers may
occur, but management changes can
have much larger effects than climate
change
Based on EEA (2012c)
References
EEA (European Environment Agency) (2009) Water resources across Europe—confronting water
scarcity and drought. EEA Report No. 2/2009, Copenhagen
EEA (European Environment Agency) (2012a) European waters—assessment of status and pressures. EEA Report No. 8/2012, Copenhagen
EEA (European Environment Agency) (2012b) Water resources in Europe in the context of vulnerability. EEA Report No. 11/2012, Copenhagen
European Environment Agency (2012c) Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe
2012—an indicator-based report. EEA Report No. 12/2012, Copenhagen
Rieu-Clarke A (2009) Challenges to Europe’s water resources. In: UNEP (eds) Hydropolitical
vulnerability and resilience along international waters—Europe, Nairobi, pp 17–28
WRc plc (2012) International coordination (Part V). In: WRc plc (eds) Comparative study of
pressures and measures in the major river basin management plans