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Characterisation of the Sensitivity of Water Resources Systems to Climate Change

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Abstract

This paper offers a methodology that enables characterisation of the behaviour of water resources systems under the impact of climate change through assessment of sensitivity patterns in a wide range of hydrologic variations produced by such change. Analysis is based on the application of two indicators that, in turn, draw on the results of a system optimisation model. Under this methodology the potential sensitivity of water resources systems in the cases of different climate projections are visualised, allowing those systems that require special attention in their adaptation to climate change to be identified. The methodology is applied to three basins located in Spain: Guadalquivir, Ebro and the Spanish part of the international basin Duero.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been supported by the ARCO Project (200800050084350), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Environment, Rural, and Marine Affairs (MARM) and by VIAGUA Action (410AC0399).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Piura, Piura, Peru

    A. Chavez-Jimenez

  2. Department of Civil Engineering: Hydraulic and Energy Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    A. Chavez-Jimenez, B. Lama, L. Garrote, F. Martin-Carrasco & L. Mediero

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain

    A. Sordo-Ward

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  1. A. Chavez-Jimenez
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Correspondence to A. Chavez-Jimenez.

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Chavez-Jimenez, A., Lama, B., Garrote, L. et al. Characterisation of the Sensitivity of Water Resources Systems to Climate Change. Water Resour Manage 27, 4237–4258 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-013-0404-2

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