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

Table-VI.C.7: Main factors and consequences adopted in the assessment of climate change effects
on the Po River-North Adriatic system (data based on the scenario assessment for the
Mediterranean system)
Climate change effects
Catchment Coastal Zone
Agricultural effects Coastal erosion
Average crop yields • Increase Coastal shorelines • Increased erosion of shorelines
Extreme low and high
temperatures
• Reduced frost damage.
• Increased heat stress damage to
crops and livestock
Incomes and prices • Food prices increase.
Coastal wetlands • Permanent inundation
• Loss of wetland habitat
• Increase of flood risk
• Salt intrusion
• Change in river discharge
Water resource effects Marine ecosystem
Water supply • Peak river flow shifts. Habitat • Loss of biodiversity
Water quality • Degraded by higher
temperatures;
• Changes by water flow volume
changes.
• Increase in saltwater intrusion.
• Increase of algal blooms
• Increase in net primary productivity
• Change in ecological parameters
• Introduction of new species
Water demand • Increase of demand. Water quality • Change of trophic conditions
Extreme events • Increased flood damage.
Increased drought frequency.
• Increased flood damage.
increased drought frequency
Terrestrial ecosystems Tourism
Habitat • Increase in net primary
productivity.
• Increase in frequency of
ecosystem disturbance.
• Loss of habitats.
• Increase of fire risk
Economic activity Reduction of tourists hosted
Biodiversity
Ice environments
• Shifts in ranges of plant and
animals.
• Extinction of species.
Glaciers • Retreat of glaciers, Decreased
sea-ice extent
• Substantial loss of ice volume
from glaciers.
• Ground subsidence leading to
infrastructure damage.
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