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M. O. Eduvie and I. F. Oseke
2 Literature
2.1 Climate Change and the Impact on Dams
Climate change and its impact of dams are characterized by
i. Observed changes in the hydrological circle (atmosphere, oceans) and the role
of human activity in those changes;
ii. Observed impacts of these changes on water resource systems, especially dams
and reservoirs and
iii. The role that adaptation can play in responding to these changes.
2.2 Projected Changes in the Climate System
Future emission of greenhouse gases and aerosols are driven by forces such as
changes in human population, socioeconomic development, technological and policy
with necessary action plans by Governments as well as other stakeholder interventions. In 2014, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented
in its special report on emissions six groups of scenarios or plausible futures which
are based on narrative storylines and account for a wide range of driving forces.
The scenarios project future emissions of the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide, and the aerosol sulphur dioxide. For gases that stay in the
atmosphere for a long period, such as carbon dioxide, the atmospheric concentration
responds to changes in emissions relatively slowly, whereas for short-lived gases and
aerosols, such as sulphate aerosols, the atmospheric concentration responds much
more quickly.
This is due to the length of the half-life of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
as well as inertia in the system. Even if emissions were to halt today, the Earth’s
surface temperature could continue to rise for a few centuries, and sea level could
continue to increase for several millennia, due to thermal expansion and melting
of ice. According to the IPCC, the following effects are likely to occur to surface
temperatures, precipitation and climate-related extreme events:
2.2.1 Projected Changes for Surface Temperatures, Precipitation
i. The globally averaged surface temperature is projected to increase by 1.4 to 5.8
°C between 1990–2100 and
ii. Some areas are projected to become wetter and others drier, with a net increase
in precipitation projected.
M. O. Eduvie and I. F. Oseke
2 Literature
2.1 Climate Change and the Impact on Dams
Climate change and its impact of dams are characterized by
i. Observed changes in the hydrological circle (atmosphere, oceans) and the role
of human activity in those changes;
ii. Observed impacts of these changes on water resource systems, especially dams
and reservoirs and
iii. The role that adaptation can play in responding to these changes.
2.2 Projected Changes in the Climate System
Future emission of greenhouse gases and aerosols are driven by forces such as
changes in human population, socioeconomic development, technological and policy
with necessary action plans by Governments as well as other stakeholder interventions. In 2014, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented
in its special report on emissions six groups of scenarios or plausible futures which
are based on narrative storylines and account for a wide range of driving forces.
The scenarios project future emissions of the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide, and the aerosol sulphur dioxide. For gases that stay in the
atmosphere for a long period, such as carbon dioxide, the atmospheric concentration
responds to changes in emissions relatively slowly, whereas for short-lived gases and
aerosols, such as sulphate aerosols, the atmospheric concentration responds much
more quickly.
This is due to the length of the half-life of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
as well as inertia in the system. Even if emissions were to halt today, the Earth’s
surface temperature could continue to rise for a few centuries, and sea level could
continue to increase for several millennia, due to thermal expansion and melting
of ice. According to the IPCC, the following effects are likely to occur to surface
temperatures, precipitation and climate-related extreme events:
2.2.1 Projected Changes for Surface Temperatures, Precipitation
i. The globally averaged surface temperature is projected to increase by 1.4 to 5.8
°C between 1990–2100 and
ii. Some areas are projected to become wetter and others drier, with a net increase
in precipitation projected.