24.08.2013 Views

Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...

Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...

Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>Climate</strong> <strong>Change</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>European</strong> <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Dimension</strong><br />

Chapter VI.C. <strong>Climate</strong> <strong>Change</strong> <strong>and</strong> Nutrient<br />

Dynamics in <strong>the</strong> Po River Basin<br />

Key Points<br />

• Effects of nutrient reduction in <strong>the</strong> coastal sea are nonlinear<br />

<strong>and</strong> related to a dynamic interaction of chemical,<br />

physical <strong>and</strong> biological processes acting on different<br />

temporal <strong>and</strong> spatial scales in <strong>the</strong> atmospheric, water <strong>and</strong><br />

soil ecosystems.<br />

• <strong>Change</strong>s in catchment level nutrient dynamics may impact<br />

water quality in <strong>the</strong> coastal zone. Warmer temperatures are<br />

expected to increase primary production, accelerate<br />

nutrient cycling <strong>and</strong> organic matter decomposition leading<br />

to an increase of marine vegetation growth.<br />

• The contribution of diffuse sources is higher (69%) than<br />

point sources (31%) for N, whereas point sources<br />

contribute with 62% of <strong>the</strong> total <strong>and</strong> diffuse sources with<br />

<strong>the</strong> remaining 38% for P.<br />

• <strong>Climate</strong> changes may lead to significant variations in<br />

natural conditions in <strong>the</strong> Po River watershed producing<br />

effects on major driving forces related to eutrophication in<br />

<strong>the</strong> coastal zone.<br />

182

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!