KLÍMA-21 Füzetek 61. szám - VAHAVA Hálózat

188 „KLÍMA-21” FÜZETEK: KLÍMAVÁLTOZÁS – HATÁSOK – VÁLASZOK
EVALUATION OF THE HYDROLOGY ASPECTS
OF GROUNDWATER FLOODS IN 2010
By
PÁLFAI, IMRE
Keywords: precipitation, groundwater flood, climate change.
In 2010, extraordinary groundwater situations emerged in Hungary, primarily – as customary
– in the Great Plain. Although a huge area (180,000 hectares) was covered with water
in the early spring period as well, the true surprise and extraordinary event was caused by
the high water table in late spring and in summer, flooding 230,000 hectares and causing
especially extensive losses for agriculture but also in residential areas. The winter and early
spring high water tables comparable to those in 2010 occur every five or six years on the average.
The frequency of late spring and summer water table levels similar to those in 2010,
however, is forty years. The last time when summer water table levels were more serious was
in 1940! The total flooded area in 2010 is estimated at 270,000 hectares, as the affected areas
were slightly different in spring and summer. Over half of the flooded areas were ploughland,
mainly already sowed fields. The high water tables of winter and early spring were caused
by the melting of snow, accompanied by heavy rain – following strong precipitation earlier –,
while the high water tables of summer were caused by the multiple waves of extremely heavy
rainfall in May and June.
Even though the regional climate change expected to take place in the Carpathian Basin
over the upcoming decades is foreseen to cause appreciable warming and a reduction in the
mean annual precipitation, the natural conditions affecting water table will not improve significantly
– on the contrary, the situation may become even worse due to the higher number
of days with heavy rainfall, primarily in the summer. To reduce groundwater-related risks, it
is advised to carry out the long-delayed renewal of groundwater protection systems, including
certain significant improvements, based on a scientifically sound and coordinated strategic
programme of agrotechnological, settlement-based and regional tasks.
THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AND PROSPECTS
IN AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
By
BIRÓ, SZABOLCS – CZINEGE, ISTVÁN
Keywords: freshwater, precipitation, catchment, management, EU.
Freshwater is one of the strategic natural treasures of the 21 st Century, which should be
managed thoughtfully. One of the key factors in improving Hungary’s general position is how
existing water resources are managed and how water resources are protected and (re)used.