Water flow in Mediterranean rivers will fall by 34 percent by the end of the century

The rising global average temperature induced by climate change will cause regions such as the Mediterranean Basin to become drier and more arid, in turn directly affecting the availability of water. A study has revealed that river flows in this zone will decrease in headwaters, on average, by as much as 34 percent by the year 2100—a figure that will reach 50 percent during the autumn months.

2015 was the warmest year on record: The global average temperature was 1 º C hotter than those recorded during pre-industrial times according to the World Meteorological Organization. In fact, 15 out of the 16 hottest years occurred during the 21st century and this trend will continue into the coming decades. According to experts, we will see a rise in temperatures between 2.7 and 3.5 º C by the year 2100 if this tendency persists.
In this context, the climate will become increasingly dry and arid in the Mediterranean Basin—an area that is believed to be one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change on our planet. Forecasts also predict a major drop in water availability.


Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-03-mediterranean-rivers-fall-percent-century.html#jCp