An Overview of Climate Change Induced Hydrological Variations in Canada for Irrigation Strategies

Ahmad Zeeshan Bhatti, Aitazaz Ahsan Farooque, Nicholas Krouglicof, Qing Li, Wayne Peters, Farhat Abbas and Bishnu Acharya
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Ahmad Zeeshan Bhatti: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Aitazaz Ahsan Farooque: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Nicholas Krouglicof: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Qing Li: Department of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action, Government of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8, Canada
Wayne Peters: Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Farhat Abbas: School of Climate Change and Adaptation, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Bishnu Acharya: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Climate change is impacting different parts of Canada in a diverse manner. Impacts on temperature, precipitation, and stream flows have been reviewed and discussed region and province-wise. The average warming in Canada was 1.6 °C during the 20th century, which is 0.6 °C above the global average. Spatially, southern and western parts got warmer than others, and temporally winters got warmer than summers. Explicit implications include loss of Arctic ice @ 12.8% per decade, retreat of British Columbian glaciers @ 40–70 giga-tons/year, and sea level rise of 32 cm/20th century on the east coast, etc. The average precipitation increased since 1950s from under 500 to around 600 mm/year, with up to a 10% reduction in Prairies and up to a 35% increase in northern and southern parts. Precipitation patterns exhibited short-intense trends, due to which urban drainage and other hydraulic structures may require re-designing. Streamflow patterns exhibited stability overall with a temporal re-distribution and intense peaks. However, surface water withdrawals were well under sustainable limits. For agriculture, the rainfed and semi-arid regions may require supplemental irrigation during summers. Availability of water is mostly not a limitation, but the raised energy demands thereof are. Supplemental irrigation by water and energy-efficient systems, adaptation, and regulation can ensure sustainability under the changing climate.

Keywords: global warming; glacier melt; precipitation patterns; hydrology; aquifers; sea level rise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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